Google Lens
An app that searches what your camera sees, from plants to pets.
What Google Lens does
Google Lens is Google's visual search app. Point your camera at a plant, animal, landmark, product or text and it searches for what it sees. On Android it's a standalone app. On iPhone, you get Lens inside the Google app instead. It's free.
Google Lens isn't a plant app, but it's often the fastest way to put a name to something. Point your camera at a flower, a tree or a dog in the park and Lens looks for visual matches, then shows you likely names and links to learn more.
It does a lot more than nature. It can translate signs, copy text, scan QR codes, find similar products and tell you about landmarks and restaurants. On Android, Lens is its own app on Google Play. On iPhone there's no separate Lens app, but the same feature is built into the Google app.
For plants and bugs, testers found it fine for common species and weaker on tricky groups like sedges, ferns and many insects, where it often stops at a family. If you need a careful species ID, use a dedicated app like PlantNet or iNaturalist. And never rely on any app to decide whether a plant, mushroom or bug is safe to eat or touch.
Alternatives to Google Lens
Who it's for
Skip it if: Anyone who needs reliable species-level IDs.
Pricing
Free planGoogle Lens is free on Google Play. On iPhone, the same feature is free inside the Google app.
Prices can vary by country. Checked 19 Oct 2026.
What people like
- Free and fast
- Does far more than nature ID
- Huge install base on Android
Watch out for
- Often stops at a broad group for insects and wild plants
- No plant care, collections or logbook
- Not a separate app on iPhone
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Questions people ask
Is Google Lens free?
Yes. It's free on Android, and free inside the Google app on iPhone.
Is there a Google Lens app for iPhone?
Not a separate one. On iPhone, Lens is built into the Google app, which describes using your camera to identify plants and animals.
Can Google Lens identify plants?
Yes, for many common plants. Testers found it weaker on tricky wild plants and insects, where dedicated ID apps did better.
Can Google Lens tell me if a plant is safe to eat?
No. Never rely on an app to decide whether a plant, mushroom or bug is safe to eat or touch.