It’s Shazam, but for plants – and it works incredibly well
Developer: PlantSnap, Inc.
Price: Free
Subscription: $2/£2 per month
Size: 168 MB
Version: 1.22
Update! PlantSnap impressed us a few years ago, but a lot has changed since then. Let’s find out if these changes are for better or worse.
So what’s new? First of all, PlantSnap has moved to a free-with-subscription model, where $2/£2 per month lets you access the app’s full array of features. You can also pay a one-off fee of $20/£20 for PlantSnap Pro, which is the full version of the app (minus the subscriptions). There’s a brand new social dimension called PlantSnap Social, where users can share pictures of plants to a feed and can check on the snapped-scans of other people’s plants. It’s a nice move, especially for those keen to receive advice on how best to tend to their plants. On top of all that, PlantSnap has received a visual makeover, and looks cleaner and crisper than before.
Revised rating: Our only previous criticism centered on the app’s tired UI. We’re so pleased to see PlantSnap’s revamped design that we’re awarding an extra star. PlantSnap is better than ever. ★★★★★
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Our original review, written in April 2018, is presented in its entirety below.
PlantSnap is the perfect app for gardeners and nature enthusiasts alike, allowing users to quickly identify any plant they encounter using their iPhone or iPad’s camera.
Undoubtedly the best thing about PlantSnap is that the app’s plant recognition technology works incredibly well. Part of the reason for this is that PlantSnap is careful to explain to users exactly how they should position the camera for best results. You can’t have multiple plants in one frame, for instance, or snap a picture of a whole tree. In PlantSnap, snaps need to be close-up and clutter-free to give the app the best chance of analyzing the image accurately.
You can take a new snap of a plant, or select one from your Photos library.
After you snap a plant, you can crop and zoom in on the image to get a clearer view. Then the app works its magic. PlantSnap takes a few seconds to analyze what you’ve snapped, before presenting the most probable plant alongside some general information about the species.
The app guides users in taking a suitable picture of their chosen plant.
You can then save the plant into your collection, which can be accessed from a tab along the bottom of the app. From here, plants can be shared or users can add notes.
Plenty of information is provided about your identified plant.
PlantSnap worked really well in our testing, accurately identifying everything we pointed our iPhones at. The developers have gradually improved and refined their algorithm over the years, and it shows. This kind of feature would work brilliantly on a nature walk, or for those times when the garden center hasn’t labeled its bedding plants properly.
You can also browse through trending plants in PlantSnap, and read all about them.
However, plant identification is only one part of PlantSnap. The app also includes an Explore section, where trending plant species are listed. Here, you can read all about individual plants, including tips on how they can be grown. The information presented is sourced from Earth.com, and a tap of a button will let PlantSnap users read the article online.
Overall, the experience of using PlantSnap is great. The app accurately identifies different plant species and includes a handful of extra features to sweeten the deal. If you’re a plant enthusiast or just a little curious about nature, PlantSnap is definitely worth its price tag.