10 Best Nature Apps for Identifying Plants, Birds, and More

You spot a strange flower on the trail or see a bird on the tree but don’t know its name. Several smartphone apps can help you to identify plants and birds and perform even more helpful tasks. 

The best nature apps to use are Botan, which identifies types of plants, Seek, which recognizes wildlife, and Merlin Bird ID, which names birds. With these apps, you can learn about nature while out for a walk. There are also services that can help you navigate hiking trails or identify mountain peaks.

Top 10 Nature Apps at a Glance

Each of the apps featured below focuses on a specific aspect of the natural world. Use this table to compare what types of subjects they can identify, their costs, and the platforms on which they are available.

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1. Botan App

Botan is a nature app created for plant identification and care. It recognizes plants, trees, flowers, and mushrooms from a photo. At home, the app works like other plant care apps — it performs disease checks and watering recommendations. 

While walking on the trail, it allows you to name a red maple (Acer rubrum) or a roadside flower in seconds. Toxicity checks are also available.

• Best for: Plant identification on hikes and at home
• Main features: Photo ID, disease diagnosis, care reminders
• Pricing: 3-day free trial; premium plan $11.99 for seven days, $59.99 yearly, 69,99$ lifetime
• Platforms: iOS and Android

2. Seek by iNaturalist

Beginners can use Seek as a nature identification app. Point your phone’s camera at a plant, fungus, or animal, and the name of the plant with a picture appears on screen.

You need no account, and Seek does not show ads. With its system of badges and challenges, it’s engaging for younger users. 

• Best for: Beginners, families, and kids
• Main features: Live camera ID, badges, challenges
• Pricing: Free
• Platforms: iOS and Android

3. iNaturalist

People use iNaturalist as a citizen science platform. You take a photograph of a plant or animal and upload the image. Other members help identify the species. You can even use this app to identify wild berries.

Observations that reach "research grade" status are shared with biodiversity databases. Scientists use this data to study the habitats of various species.  

• Best for: Learners who want expert feedback on species identification
• Main features: Community IDs, species lists, observation maps
• Pricing: Free
• Platforms: iOS and Android

4. Merlin Bird ID

The Merlin Bird ID app was developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Its Sound ID feature recognizes a bird's song and identifies the species in real time. If you spot a bird, you can use Photo ID or a step-by-step questionnaire to help identify it. 

Before you start using it, be sure to download the bird data pack for your region, as the app works offline.

• Best for: Beginner and intermediate birders
• Main features: Sound ID, Photo ID, offline bird packs
• Pricing: Free
• Platforms: iOS and Android

5. BirdNET

This is another app for identifying birds. It records birdsong and suggests species. You can save recordings and review them later. 

Use it as an alternative opinion when Merlin gives an uncertain result.

• Best for: Birdsong checks
• Main features: Sound recognition, saved recordings
• Pricing: Free
• Platforms: iOS and Android

6. eBird

Developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the eBird app is designed for recording the birds you see or hear. Every observation list you create contributes to a global database used by researchers to track the status of bird populations. 

The app also helps you discover popular birdwatching locations and provides information on recent sightings.

• Best for: Birders who keep observation lists
• Main features: Checklists, hotspot maps, life lists
• Pricing: Free
• Platforms: iOS and Android

7. Sky Tonight

Simply point your phone toward the sky, and Sky Tonight will show you stars, planets, and constellations. The "Visible Tonight" section tells you exactly what you can observe from your current location. 

The free version includes ads, and some lists are blurred. A premium subscription removes the ads. 

• Best for: Casual stargazing
• Main features: Live sky map, Visible Tonight list, event calendar
• Pricing: Premium $0.99–$2.99/month; $4.99–$5.99/year; $12.99 lifetime
• Platforms: iOS and Android

8. PeakVisor

PeakVisor identifies the mountains around you. Simply point your phone’s camera at the landscape, and the names and elevations of the peaks will appear right on your screen. 

You can also upload old photos from your hiking sessions to recognize the mountain peaks shown in them. 3D maps are available to help you plan your routes. The free version has limited features, while the PRO subscription includes an offline mode. 

• Best for: Hiking in the mountains
• Main features: Peak ID, 3D maps, photo labeling
• Pricing: PRO $9.99/month; $39.99/year; $159 one-time purchase
• Platforms: iOS and Android

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9. AllTrails

If you need an extensive database of trails that includes maps, photos, and user reviews, you can use AllTrails. It allows you to filter routes by length, difficulty, and dog access. Recent reviews often provide updates on trail conditions or closures. 

The free version makes it possible to save routes and follow them. An AllTrails+ subscription provides access to offline maps and a printing feature.

• Best for: Finding and planning day hikes
• Main features: Trail maps, filters, reviews, photos
• Pricing: AllTrails Plus $35.99/year; AllTrails Peak $79.99/year
• Platforms: iOS and Android

10. My Aurora Forecast

My Aurora Forecast predicts the appearance of the aurora borealis (northern lights) or aurora australis (southern lights). It displays the K-index and real-time aurora maps, and includes an alert system tailored to your location. 

Forecasts are based on space weather data provided by organizations such as NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center. Don’t forget to account for cloud cover — be sure to check your local weather forecast.

• Best for: Aurora hunters
• Main features: Kp index, live maps, alerts
• Pricing: Free with ads; separate ad-free Pro app $3.99 one-time
• Platforms: iOS and Android

Other Nature Apps Worth Trying

If you can’t find the best nature identification app among the previous 10 solutions, don’t worry. These additional tools can help you in terms of mapping, weather forecasting, stargazing, and even following plant news from around the world:

• Gaia GPS: topographic maps and route planning for wilderness hiking.
• Windy: detailed forecasts for wind, precipitation, and temperature — handy if you’re planning to spend the day outdoors.
• Stellarium Mobile: a star map that shows you exactly what is in the sky above you at any given moment.
• Flora Incognita: plant identification, botanical facts, and regularly updated content on plant diversity and nature research. 
• Sun Surveyor: tracks the position of the Sun and Moon, which helps you plan outdoor photography sessions by accounting for sunrise, sunset, and "golden hour" times.

Try a few out and see which ones become your indispensable outdoor companions.