How was this comparison made?

We read each app's public App Store and Google Play listing and its website and recorded what they state, as of Oct 2026. Values such as species counts are the developers' own figures. We did not test identification results and don't publish accuracy scores, ratings or download numbers.

Which plant identifier app is free?

All four apps are free to download. Pl@ntNet is a free research project with no in-app purchases listed on the App Store; PictureThis, PlantSnap and PlantoScan offer in-app purchases. Check the store listing for current prices in your country.

Which apps remind me to water and fertilize?

PlantoScan has water and fertilizer reminders, and the PictureThis listing describes care reminders and a water tracker. The Pl@ntNet and PlantSnap listings don't describe care reminders.

Can I identify a plant without installing an app?

Yes. Pl@ntNet has a web version at identify.plantnet.org, and PlantoScan has a free web plant scanner with three scans and no sign-up.

Can these apps tell me if a mushroom or wild plant is safe to eat?

No app can. A photo identification is never reliable enough to decide whether a mushroom or wild plant is edible. Have it checked in person by a qualified expert.

Plant Identifier Apps Compared (2026)

PlantoScan is our app. To keep this page fair, every row below repeats what each developer says on its own store listing or website (as of Oct 2026), with links so you can check. We don't rank the apps or quote accuracy claims.

Side-by-side features

PlantoScan

Developer: UpVision GmbH (Switzerland)
Platforms: iPhone, Android, web scanner
Store pricing label: Free download, in-app purchases
Species coverage (as stated): 100,000+ species, including 500+ mushrooms
Plant health / disease check: Yes — health checks for diseases and pests from a photo
Care reminders: Yes — water and fertilizer reminders, home screen widgets
Web: Yes — free web plant scanner (3 scans, no sign-up)
Other features named: AI plant chat, garden planner with planting calendar, frost alerts, light meter, household sharing, plant-sitter links, 15 in-app languages

PictureThis

Developer: Glority Global Group Ltd.
Platforms: iPhone, iPad, Android
Store pricing label: Free download, in-app purchases (PictureThis Pro subscription)
Species coverage (as stated): Developer states 400,000+ plant species
Plant health / disease check: Yes — listing describes disease diagnosis with treatment advice
Care reminders: Yes — listing describes care reminders and a water tracker
Web: Website with a plant encyclopedia (picturethisai.com)
Other features named: Toxic plant warnings, weed identification, light meter, chat with plant experts

Pl@ntNet

Developer: Pl@ntNet consortium (Cirad, INRAE, Inria, IRD)
Platforms: iPhone, iPad, Android, web
Store pricing label: Free (no in-app purchases listed on the App Store)
Species coverage (as stated): Website lists 84,710 species across 77 floras
Plant health / disease check: Not described in the store listing
Care reminders: Not described in the store listing
Web: Yes — identify.plantnet.org
Other features named: Citizen-science project: shared observations are reviewed by the community and used by researchers; regional floras

PlantSnap

Developer: PlantSnap, Inc.
Platforms: iPhone, iPad, Android
Store pricing label: Free download, in-app purchases; Google Play lists “Contains ads”
Species coverage (as stated): Developer states 600,000+ plants
Plant health / disease check: Yes — Google Play listing describes pest and disease identification
Care reminders: Not described in the store listing
Web: Saved photos viewable on the web (per Google Play listing)
Other features named: Care and gardening tips, community feed and SnapMap of shared identifications

Plant identifier apps compared, from public store listings and websites, checked October 3, 2026
Feature	PlantoScan	PictureThis	Pl@ntNet	PlantSnap
Developer	UpVision GmbH (Switzerland)	Glority Global Group Ltd.	Pl@ntNet consortium (Cirad, INRAE, Inria, IRD)	PlantSnap, Inc.
Platforms	iPhone, Android, web scanner	iPhone, iPad, Android	iPhone, iPad, Android, web	iPhone, iPad, Android
Store pricing label	Free download, in-app purchases	Free download, in-app purchases (PictureThis Pro subscription)	Free (no in-app purchases listed on the App Store)	Free download, in-app purchases; Google Play lists “Contains ads”
Species coverage (as stated)	100,000+ species, including 500+ mushrooms	Developer states 400,000+ plant species	Website lists 84,710 species across 77 floras	Developer states 600,000+ plants
Plant health / disease check	Yes — health checks for diseases and pests from a photo	Yes — listing describes disease diagnosis with treatment advice	Not described in the store listing	Yes — Google Play listing describes pest and disease identification
Care reminders	Yes — water and fertilizer reminders, home screen widgets	Yes — listing describes care reminders and a water tracker	Not described in the store listing	Not described in the store listing
Web	Yes — free web plant scanner (3 scans, no sign-up)	Website with a plant encyclopedia (picturethisai.com)	Yes — identify.plantnet.org	Saved photos viewable on the web (per Google Play listing)
Other features named	AI plant chat, garden planner with planting calendar, frost alerts, light meter, household sharing, plant-sitter links, 15 in-app languages	Toxic plant warnings, weed identification, light meter, chat with plant experts	Citizen-science project: shared observations are reviewed by the community and used by researchers; regional floras	Care and gardening tips, community feed and SnapMap of shared identifications

Last checked October 3, 2026 from each app's public App Store and Google Play listings and websites (see sources below). Features and prices change — check the store listing before you decide.

How the apps differ

PictureThis and PlantSnap are commercial identifier apps with optional paid tiers; their listings also describe plant health diagnosis and care tips. Pl@ntNet is run by French research institutes as a citizen-science project focused on wild plants, and is free.

PlantoScan combines identification with looking after the plants you own: water and fertilizer reminders, health checks, household sharing and a garden planner. Its free web plant scanner works in the browser.

Comparing two apps directly? PlantoScan vs PictureThis, PlantoScan vs Pl@ntNet, PlantoScan vs PlantSnap.

Sources

Something out of date? Email info@upvision.media and we'll correct it. See how we source information.

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Frequently asked questions

How was this comparison made?: We read each app's public App Store and Google Play listing and its website and recorded what they state, as of Oct 2026. Values such as species counts are the developers' own figures. We did not test identification results and don't publish accuracy scores, ratings or download numbers.
Which plant identifier app is free?: All four apps are free to download. Pl@ntNet is a free research project with no in-app purchases listed on the App Store; PictureThis, PlantSnap and PlantoScan offer in-app purchases. Check the store listing for current prices in your country.
Which apps remind me to water and fertilize?: PlantoScan has water and fertilizer reminders, and the PictureThis listing describes care reminders and a water tracker. The Pl@ntNet and PlantSnap listings don't describe care reminders.
Can I identify a plant without installing an app?: Yes. Pl@ntNet has a web version at identify.plantnet.org, and PlantoScan has a free web plant scanner with three scans and no sign-up.
Can these apps tell me if a mushroom or wild plant is safe to eat?: No app can. A photo identification is never reliable enough to decide whether a mushroom or wild plant is edible. Have it checked in person by a qualified expert.