# Smart Identifier vs Insect ID

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Insect ID at 87% against Smart Identifier's 7%. Insect ID also leads on rating (4.3 vs 3.7). Smart Identifier's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (2.1K vs 128). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Smart Identifier sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and Insect ID sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Insect ID holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Smart Identifier has 2.1K ratings behind it against 128, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 7% of Smart Identifier's written reviews are positive against 87% of Insect ID's.

Smart Identifier ships an update weekly, Insect ID every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Smart Identifier | Insect ID |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (2.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-identifier-plant-plus-insect/id1265061997/reviews) | **[4.3 (128 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/insect-id-bug-identifier/id1582615105/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **2.1K** | 128 |
| Positive reviews | 7.3% of reviews | **87.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 87 MB | 33 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Vulcan Labs Company Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1263008826) | [Manh Tran](https://appshunter.io/developer/1574942901) |

## What reviewers say

### Smart Identifier

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-identifier-plant-plus-insect/id1265061997)

Instantly identify plants, flowers, insects, and animals by taking a photo. This AI-powered app provides accurate identification with detailed information. Save your discoveries and access them later through your identification history.

**Highlights:** Identify from photo, Gallery identification, Identification history, AI-powered identification, Detailed information

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Premium Identifier | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly Premium Identifier | $29.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🤩 Fun to explore
- 🤖 Identifies objects well
- 👍 Useful for education

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤦‍♀️ Inaccurate identification
- 💰 Requires paid subscription
- 🙄 Vague and unhelpful results
- 🤯 Completely wrong identifications

**Reported bugs**

- Fails to identify common plants and insects
- Incorrect object identification
- Subscription paywall after limited free usage

**Requested features**

- More accurate plant and insect identification
- Ability to identify specific species
- Free access without subscription


### Insect ID

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/insect-id-bug-identifier/id1582615105)

Instantly identify over 100,000 insect species using your phone's camera. Simply point and learn about bugs, spiders, butterflies, and more. Perfect for anyone interested in entomology or curious about the insects around them.

**Highlights:** Instant insect identification, Identify 100,000+ species, Camera-based identification, Identify spiders and butterflies, Learn about insect orders, Identify anywhere, anytime

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Month Premium | $4.99 | per month |
| 1 Year Premium | $24.99 | per year |
| forever insect | $69.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Quick and accurate identification
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 🔍 Extensive insect database
- 💡 Helpful for nature enthusiasts
- 🤩 Sparks interest in insects

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App freezes at 75% during identification
- 🔌 Subscription issues and hidden costs
- 🤔 Occasional inaccurate identification

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes or freezes during use
- Login and subscription problems
- Identification issues with certain insects

**Requested features**

- More detailed information on each insect
- Offline mode for identification
- Improved search and filtering options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Smart Identifier free?

Smart Identifier is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Insect ID free?

Insect ID is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Smart Identifier or Insect ID?

Insect ID is rated higher. Smart Identifier averages 3.7 out of 5 from 2.1K ratings, while Insect ID averages 4.3 from 128 ratings.

### Do Smart Identifier or Insect ID have ads?

Insect ID shows ads; Smart Identifier does not.

### Which is updated more often, Smart Identifier or Insect ID?

Smart Identifier ships an update weekly, and Insect ID every 3 weeks. Most recently, Smart Identifier was updated on October 22, 2026 and Insect ID on October 21, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*