ML Image Identifier Lite vs Lens
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ML Image Identifier Lite
This educational app uses machine learning to identify various images in real-time through your device's camera. It can recognize objects, cars, food, text, and faces, displaying top predictions with confidence levels.
- Real-time image identification
- Recognizes objects, cars, food, text, and faces
- Displays top 5 predicted matches with confidence levels
- Works on iOS 12 and later
- OCR for text recognition on iOS 13+
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FEATURES: ML Image Identifier is an educational app that allows your iOS device to identify images in real-time, as you move the camera around your environment. It can scan for 3 categories of images ("Objects", "Cars", and "Food") and recognize "Text" (character boxes, OCR) and "Faces" (feature landmarks). The app automatically throttles the image processing to work on any device running iOS 12, though it may be sluggish on older devices. Devices running iOS 13 additionally have optical character-recognition (OCR) in "Text" mode. For the categorized images, the app displays the top-5 predicted matches, based on the neural networks' confidence levels as percentages. BACKGROUND: Once merely a subject of science-fiction, machine learning has permeated our lives in recent decades. We see it in numerous uses, such as handwriting recognition, facial recognition, image tagging, AI in games, targeted advertisements, predictive typing, and many automated tasks. Social networks are free because the data (i.e. text, images, survey responses, etc.) you provide can be valuable for numerous purposes. In short: Knowledge is power. With the release of iOS 11, Apple brought machine learning to the masses with CoreML, making it possible to run neural networks and other ML-related tools via hardware acceleration on any iOS device. This app is a demonstration of some possibilities - and some deficiencies - of machine learning. Modeling a neural network is only one part of the task. For a ML model to work, it must be fed massive amounts of test data (similarly to how it takes a living creature numerous stimuli to learn). Good test data can yield good results; poor test data can yield poor results. Sometimes, biases of those creating the tests can come into play, since they may unknowingly weigh certain test values over others. SPECIFICS: ML Image Identifier makes use of 3 ML models (all MIT- or Apache- licensed) and Apple's own Vision framework to serve as examples: "MobileNet" - This scans general objects. It works fairly well with household items. It cannot identify people. This ML model is an example of fairly high-quality results in image recognition and is much more compact than similar ML models that can be as large as 500MB. "CarRecognition" - This scans for makes and models of vehicles. It is very hit-or-miss and seems to heavily match automobiles from specific regions of the world. Most matches are the right body type but wrong make. This ML model is an example of mixed results in image recognition. "Food101" - This scans for prepared foods. It rarely works with general food items and seems to focus on foods that most people will not have in their houses, such as caviar and lobster. It also returns many false-positives for desserts. This ML model is an example of poor results in image recognition when used outside of very specific cases. The text-recognition mode looks for all potential text in view and highlights the words and individual characters in those words for easy viewing. It also supports OCR on iOS13. The facial-recognition mode looks for all potential human or human-like faces. Of those found, the app highlights the facial landmarks, such as eyes, nose, jawline, etc. This mode in particular works better on a newer device at a usable framerate, due to the hardware required for real-time image processing. If you enjoy this app, please consider ad-free version. If you enjoy the facial-recognition, consider HullBreach Studios' game "Exprestive", which is also available in the App Store.
Lens
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Identify anything with a photo. Point your camera at a plant, coin, insect, rock, antique, or everyday object—OmniSnap uses AI to name it and explain what you’re looking at. WHAT YOU GET • Photo identification for plants, animals, coins, rocks, insects, art, and more • Clear details: key facts, category insights, and confidence so you know how sure the match is • Suggested price ranges and web references for collectibles and everyday items (estimates, not appraisals) • Ask AI to dig deeper—value, care tips, history, and fun facts about your find • A personal collection of discoveries that backs up securely and restores after reinstall HOW IT WORKS 1. Open OmniSnap and take a photo—or pick one from your library 2. Optionally choose a category (Plants, Coins, Insects, Stones, and more) for a sharper result 3. Review the AI report, explore live web matches, and save it to your collection 4. Tap Ask AI anytime you want a quick follow-up Built for curious minds: hikers identifying plants, collectors checking coins and stamps, shoppers comparing finds, and anyone who’s ever asked “what is this?” Download OmniSnap and start discovering. Questions or feedback: support@thoccy.com Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://colossal-dinghy-74a.notion.site/397367cb0d0d801080a2ca07cd2f20aa
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ML Image Identifier Lite at none against Lens's 3. ML Image Identifier Lite also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (12.2 vs 18.6). Lens's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). On price and ads there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Lens sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. ML Image Identifier Lite asks for nothing beyond the download.
ML Image Identifier Lite ships an update every 2 months, Lens every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ML Image Identifier Lite | Lens |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.0 (12 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 12 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 12.2 — better | 18.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 127 MB | 53 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | HullBreach Studios Ltd. | Wing Hei Brian Tam |
In-app purchases
ML Image Identifier Lite
No in-app purchases
Lens
- OmniSnap Pro$6.997 Days
- OmniSnap Pro$12.997 Days
- OmniSnap Pro3 Days trial$39.991 Year
Questions
Is ML Image Identifier Lite free?
Is Lens free?
Do ML Image Identifier Lite or Lens have ads?
Which is updated more often, ML Image Identifier Lite or Lens?
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