Seek
Point your camera at a plant, bug or mushroom and get a likely ID, no account needed
by iNaturalist · listed Oct 21, 2026
Quick verdict
An easy recommendation: free, private and genuinely fun for getting outside, as long as you treat its IDs as a starting point rather than the final word.
Best for Families and curious walkers who want quick, private plant and animal IDs on their phone
Reviewed by AppsPicks on Oct 21, 2026. How we review
Seek review
Seek is a free nature identification app from the team behind iNaturalist. You aim your phone camera at a plant, insect, bird, fungus or other living thing, and the app works its way down the tree of life from broad groups like kingdom or family toward a species name as it gains confidence. It draws on the large pool of community observations on iNaturalist to suggest what is commonly recorded near you. It suits families, kids and casual walkers who are curious about what they are looking at, rather than serious naturalists logging records.
In practice you open the camera, hold steady, and watch the suggestion narrow down. Saved sightings earn badges, and there are challenges that nudge you to look for new kinds of species. There is no sign-up, and by default it collects no personal data, which makes it easy to hand to a child.
Why we picked it: It is completely free with no ads or purchases, takes privacy seriously, and makes identifying wildlife on a walk quick and fun.
Watch out for: Identifications are not always right, and the app often stops at genus or family level. The Android version is rated noticeably lower than the iOS one.
What we like
- Free with no ads or in-app purchases
- Works without an account and collects no user data by default
- Live camera ID that narrows from broad group to species
- Shows species commonly recorded in your area
- Badges and challenges keep kids engaged
What could be better
- Often cannot get past genus or family for tricky subjects
- Suggestions can be wrong, so not reliable for foraging or safety decisions
- Android ratings are much weaker than iOS, suggesting a rougher experience there
Questions about Seek
Is Seek free?
Yes. It is free on both iOS and Android, with no ads and no in-app purchases listed.
Do I need an iNaturalist account?
No. You can use Seek without registering. Signing in with an iNaturalist account is optional and must be done by users over 13 or with parental permission.
Is it safe for kids?
It is rated 4+ on the App Store and Everyone on Google Play, and it does not collect user data by default. Location is obscured to protect privacy.
Can I use it to tell if a mushroom or plant is safe to eat?
No. Seek is a learning tool and its identifications can be wrong, so never rely on it for foraging or safety decisions.
How is it different from the main iNaturalist app?
Seek is a simpler, family-friendly identifier with badges and no required account. The iNaturalist app is aimed at sharing observations with a community that helps verify them.
From the developer: how Seek describes itself
Use the power of image recognition technology to identify the plants and animals all around you. Earn badges for seeing different types of plants, birds, fungi and more!
• Get outside and point the Seek Camera at living things • Identify wildlife, plants, and fungi and learn about the organisms all around you • Earn badges for observing different types of species and participating in challenges
OPEN THE CAMERA AND START SEEKING!
Found a mushroom, flower, or bug, and not sure what it is? Open up the Seek Camera to see if it knows!
Drawing from millions of wildlife observations on iNaturalist, Seek shows you lists of commonly recorded insects, birds, plants, amphibians, and more in your area. Scan the environment with the Seek Camera to identify organisms using the tree of life. Add different species to your observations and learn all about them in the process! The more observations you make, the more badges you’ll earn!
This is a great app for families who want to spend more time exploring nature together, and for anyone who wants to learn more about the life all around them.
KID-SAFE
Seek does not require registration and does not collect any user data by default. Some user data will be collected if you choose to sign in with an iNaturalist account, but you must be over 13 or have your parents permission to do so.
Seek will ask permission to turn on location services, but your location is obscured to respect your privacy while still allowing species suggestions from your general area. Your precise location is never stored in the app or sent to iNaturalist unless you sign in to your iNaturalist account and submit your observations.
Our image recognition technology is based on observations submitted to iNaturalist.org and partner sites, and identified by the iNaturalist community.
Seek is part of iNaturalist, a not-for-profit organization. Seek was made by the iNaturalist team with support from the California Academy of Sciences, the National Geographic Society, Our Planet on Netflix, WWF, HHMI Tangled Bank Studios, and Visipedia.
Text from the app store listing, quoted for reference. Our own take is above.
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