apps that…by

BirdNET Live

An app that names singing birds in real time, even with no signal.

Identify anythingBirds and wildlifeInsects and bugsFree plan+2 more
Get BirdNET LiveBuild your own plant appFree plan

What BirdNET Live does

BirdNET Live is a free app from the BirdNET research team that identifies animals by sound in real time, right on your phone. It works without internet and, per the Cornell Lab, recognizes thousands of bird species plus some mammals, insects and amphibians. It's open source.

Live sound ID with a scrolling spectrogram
Runs on your phone, no internet needed
Birds plus some mammals, insects and amphibians
Point count and survey modes with GPS
Session library with export to CSV, JSON, GPX and more

BirdNET Live is the newer, more powerful sibling of BirdNET. Instead of recording a clip and analyzing it later, it listens continuously and shows a live, scrolling spectrogram with detections as they happen. The AI runs on your phone, so it works deep in the woods with no signal.

The Cornell Lab says it recognizes 8,927 bird species plus hundreds of mammals, insects and amphibians. It has modes for timed point counts and long survey routes with GPS, lets you browse species expected where you are, and keeps a library of your sessions that you can review and export.

It launched in 2026 from the Cornell Lab and Chemnitz University of Technology with research partners, and it's free and open source. It's aimed at field researchers and serious birders, so expect more settings than in a casual app. Distant singers and background noise can still cause wrong IDs, so treat results as suggestions.

Alternatives to BirdNET Live

Seek by iNaturalistPoint your camera at nature and learn what it is, no account needed
Plants and flowersBirds and wildlife
FreeFree plan
View
iNaturalistShare nature photos and get IDs from AI and a real community
Plants and flowersBirds and wildlife
FreeFree plan
View
ObsIdentifyFree wildlife ID for Europe, from wildflowers to moths
Insects and bugsPlants and flowers
FreeFree plan
View
Merlin Bird IDIdentify birds by song, photo or a few simple questions
Birds and wildlifeFree plan
FreeFree plan
View
Picture InsectSnap a bug or spider and find out what it is
Insects and bugsFree plan
Free, paid from $5.99/moFree plan
View
Audubon Bird GuideA free field guide to 800+ North American birds
Birds and wildlifeFree plan
FreeFree plan
View

Who it's for

Birders and hikers in places with no signal
Students and researchers running bird surveys

Skip it if: Casual birders who want a simple, guided app.

Pricing

Free plan
Free

BirdNET Live is free on iPhone, iPad and Android.

Prices can vary by country. Checked 19 Oct 2026.

What people like

  • Free and open source
  • Works fully offline
  • Huge species list
  • Serious survey and export tools

Watch out for

  • More complex than casual bird apps
  • Few ratings so far since it's new
  • Sound only, no photo ID

Want a bird walk log made your way? Build your own.

Describe your app idea and Bilt builds it. Free to start, on your phone in minutes.

Start building free
Try this idea: “an app where I log the birds I hear on my morning walk, with the time and place”

Questions people ask

Is BirdNET Live free?

Yes. It's free on iPhone, iPad and Android.

Does BirdNET Live work offline?

Yes. The identification runs on your phone, so it doesn't need an internet or cell connection.

How is it different from BirdNET?

BirdNET Live listens in real time, runs fully offline, covers far more species and adds survey and export tools. The original BirdNET analyzes recordings you make.

Can it identify insects?

The Cornell Lab says it also recognizes some insects, mammals and amphibians by sound, but its focus is birds.