Seek by iNaturalist
An app that names plants, bugs and animals through your camera.
What Seek by iNaturalist does
Seek is a free nature ID app from iNaturalist. Point your camera at a plant, bug, bird or mushroom and it tries to name it live, going from a broad group down to the species. No account is needed, and badges and challenges make it a nice pick for kids and families.
Seek works like a camera that knows nature. Hold your phone up to a flower, a beetle or a mushroom and it names what it can, starting broad (like plants or insects) and narrowing down as it gets more confident. Once you snap it, it goes into your collection.
It's built to be friendly. There's no sign-up, the store listing says it collects no personal data by default, and you earn badges for finding new species and joining challenges. You can also see which species are commonly seen near you, based on iNaturalist records. Signing in to iNaturalist to share finds with scientists is optional.
The trade-off is caution. Seek often stops at a family or genus when it isn't sure, and testers found it weaker on hard groups like insects and grasses. That's honest, but it can feel less useful. And never rely on it to decide whether a plant or mushroom is safe to eat or touch.
Alternatives to Seek by iNaturalist
Who it's for
Skip it if: Anyone who needs species-level IDs for tricky groups like insects.
Pricing
Free planSeek is free. Its store listing doesn't mention any in-app purchases, and you don't need an account.
Prices can vary by country. Checked 19 Oct 2026.
What people like
- Free, with no account needed
- Fun for kids with badges and challenges
- Covers animals and fungi, not just plants
- Privacy-friendly by default
Watch out for
- Often stops at a broad group instead of a species
- Weaker on insects in independent tests
- Lower rating on Google Play than on the App Store
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Questions people ask
Is Seek free?
Yes. Seek is free and you don't need to create an account to use it.
What's the difference between Seek and iNaturalist?
Seek gives you quick, private IDs through your camera. iNaturalist lets you post observations so other people can confirm the ID and share it with science.
Can Seek tell me if a mushroom is safe to eat?
No. Never rely on an app to decide whether a mushroom or plant is safe to eat or touch. Check with a local expert.
Is Seek good for kids?
It's designed to be easy and playful, with badges and challenges, and it doesn't need an account.