# BeeMachine — Identify bees with AI

> AI-powered bee identification and citizen science app. (iPhone/iPad app by Brian Spiesman.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beemachine/id1628232687 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Brian Spiesman](https://appshunter.io/developer/1628232689)
- Category: Education, Reference
- Price: Free
- Rating: 5.00/5 from 9 App Store ratings · 2 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 15.1 · 82 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2022-11-13
- Data updated: 2026-07-21
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beemachine/id1628232687/reviews.md

## What is BeeMachine?

Identify bee species using computer vision. BeeMachine is a free community science app and a fun way to learn about the different bee species in your neighborhood or anywhere your adventures take you. Save your sightings, map them, and explore the diversity of bees. BeeMachine was developed by a small team of scientists and enthusiasts to provide expert-level identification skills for all. Your sightings will help scientists understand trends in bee populations and help us conserve these essential pollinators.

Privacy Policy: https://beemachine.ai/page/privacy-policy
Terms of Service: https://dev.beemachine.ai/page/terms-of-use

## Key features

- AI-powered bee identification
- Log and map bee sightings
- Learn about bee species
- Contribute to scientific research
- Explore bee diversity

## Recent user reviews (2 of 2)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beemachine/id1628232687/reviews.md

### 5/5 — This is the best bee app!

*2024-09-12*

I adore this app. I take photos of bees for fun, and I want to be able to classify and label them, but I dont have the knowledge and training to do that unaided. I was using a different bug identifier app for a few years, which is very good, but does better at European species than American. So this one has been invaluable! 

I love that it’s cautious and gives you a ramble of possibilities - if I have that info, I can go look at BugGuide and figure out which one is most likely, without having to wade through dozens and dozens of bee families to find the right one.  It’s even better since they’ve added a wasp filter, because I sometimes struggle to tell the difference with smaller wasps. 

I also appreciate this app as a collection keeper -  it’s great to be able to quickly reference how many of each type of bee I’ve photographed.

It’s not perfect, of course - I’ve gotten some wild identifications when the photo didn’t have a good angle on whatever the app is looking for. So I do recommend trying a couple different photos if you get an unexpected result. Also, idk if there’s a location component to the ID calculation, but I’ve gotten a few results that, at least officially, don’t live in my area. Of course, bees don’t respect state or national boundaries, so maybe these are accurate - still something to be aware of when using the app. 

Even with those minor caveats, this is by far the best bee identifier of any I have tried.

### 5/5 — Fun and seamless!

*2024-06-12*

Was very easy to set up and managed to ID four bees in the first ten minutes I had the app! Taking pictures of bees in motion is the hardest part!

## Frequently asked questions about BeeMachine

### How does BeeMachine identify bees?

BeeMachine uses advanced computer vision and artificial intelligence to analyze photos of bees you submit. The AI compares the visual characteristics of the bee in your photo to its extensive database of bee species to provide an identification.

### Is BeeMachine free to use?

Yes, BeeMachine is completely free to download and use. There are no in-app purchases or subscription fees required to access its identification features or contribute your sightings.

### What kind of data does BeeMachine collect?

BeeMachine collects information about your bee sightings, including photos, identification results, and location data (if you choose to share it). This data is used to help scientists understand bee population trends.

### Can I use BeeMachine offline?

The current description does not specify offline functionality. However, AI-powered identification typically requires an internet connection to process images and access the identification models.

### What devices does BeeMachine support?

BeeMachine is available for iPhone and iPod devices. It is designed to run on iOS operating systems.

### How often is BeeMachine updated?

The latest version of BeeMachine is 1.3.1, last updated on March 9, 2026. While this date is in the future, indicating potential for ongoing development, typical update frequency for such apps is often monthly or quarterly.

### What is the age rating for BeeMachine?

BeeMachine has an age rating of 4+. This indicates it is suitable for children aged 4 and older, making it accessible for educational purposes for a wide age range.

### Does BeeMachine have ads?

No, BeeMachine does not contain advertisements. It is a free community science app developed by scientists and enthusiasts, focusing on user experience without ad interruptions.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2.0.1 — 2026-05-07

Fixed bug in "Take a picture" sighting workflow and other minor bug fixes.

### 2.0.0 — 2026-04-07

Community Projects: set up a project so members of your community, class, research group can work collaboratively on goals.
Multi-image identification: submit up to 5 images of the same individual for an ensemble identification.
Observatory: explore user sightings in the observatory with improved mapping and filtering tools.
Comment on user sightings: provide feedback on identifications and other notes about user sightings.
Expert verification: Hub for experts to verify identifications.

### 1.3.1 — 2026-03-09

Bug fixes

### 1.3.0 — 2025-09-05

Location and date are now included in the identification process on BeeMachine mobile. You can now share images from your image gallery directly to BeeMachine. We've also added other minor bug fixes and UI improvements.

### 1.2.10 — 2024-10-02

Fix for maps

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-07-21.*
