Nature's Notebook vs FloraQuest
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Nature's Notebook
Record observations of plant and animal life cycles, such as flowering and migration. Mark observation sites, create species lists, and log seasonal changes in nature.
- Record plant and animal life cycle events
- Mark observation sites
- Create species lists
- Log seasonal observations
- Citizen science program
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Nature's Notebook is a program for observing and recording plant and animal life cycle events, like flowering and bird migration. Use this app to mark your sites, create a list of plants and animals, and going into the field to record observations throughout the seasons. Find out more at www.usanpn.org/nn/guidelines.
FloraQuest
Explore and identify over 5,500 plant species in Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee with detailed keys, habitat descriptions, and diagnostic photos. This offline identification tool offers enhanced search, dark mode, and recommendations for botanical exploration sites.
- 5,549 plant species identification
- Graphic and dichotomous keys
- Detailed habitat descriptions
- Over 38,000 diagnostic photographs
- Offline plant identification
- Illustrated glossary terms
- Dark mode support
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Identify 5,500+ plants across Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee with FloraQuest™: South Central—an offline plant identification app built by UNC Herbarium’s Southeastern Flora Team. Identify wildflowers, trees, shrubs, grasses, and aquatic plants using graphic keys, image-enhanced dichotomous keys, and expert-vetted species profiles with diagnostic photos, habitat details, and range maps. KEY FEATURES: • 5,500 Species: Complete coverage of Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee's native and naturalized vascular plants • Works Offline: No internet needed—identify plants anywhere in the field • 43,000 Photos: High-quality diagnostic images for accurate identification • Graphic Keys: Easy-to-use visual identification for beginners • Image-Enhanced Dichotomous Keys: Advanced botanical keys with photos • Illustrated Glossary: Botanical terms now include illustrations • Share Plants: Share discoveries with friends and fellow botanists • Great Places to Botanize: 92 selected botanical sites across all 3 states • Habitat & Range Maps: Learn where species naturally occur • Enhanced Search: Find plants quickly by common or scientific name COMPLETE BOTANICAL DIVERSITY: From Smoky Mountain wildflowers to Gulf Coast species, longleaf pine savannas to hardwood bottomlands, FloraQuest: South Central covers every plant type: • Ferns and fern allies • Grasses, sedges, and rushes • Orchids and other monocots • Composites and other dicots • Palms & cycads • Cacti & stem succulents • Conifers & other gymnosperms • Woody angiosperms PERFECT FOR: • Field botanists and plant taxonomists • Master Naturalists and nature guides • Hikers exploring state parks and national forests • Native plant gardeners and landscapers • Students and educators • Environmental consultants and land managers • Photographers • Anyone curious about Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee plants DEVELOPED BY EXPERTS: Created by the University of North Carolina Herbarium's Southeastern Flora Team, with decades of botanical research throughout the region. Every species, photo, and identification key has been vetted by professional botanists specializing in southeastern flora. GREAT PLACES TO BOTANIZE: Discover 92 recommended botanical exploration sites throughout Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee. From Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Gulf State Park, Natchez Trace Parkway to Oak Mountain State Park—find the best locations for botanical adventures. WORKS COMPLETELY OFFLINE: No cell service in remote forests or wilderness areas? No problem! FloraQuest: South Central works entirely offline. All 5,549 species, 38,000 photos, and identification keys are stored on your device. WHY FLORAQUEST? Unlike generic plant ID apps that use AI and may misidentify species, FloraQuest is built by professional botanists with deep regional expertise. Our app is specifically designed for the South Central region's unique flora, ensuring accurate identifications across diverse habitats from mountains to coast. PART OF A GROWING FAMILY: FloraQuest: South Central joins our expanding collection: • FloraQuest: Northern Tier (12 Mid-Atlantic states) • FloraQuest: Carolinas & Georgia • FloraQuest: Florida Coming 2027: FloraQuest: Western Tier (Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma & Texas)! Together, we're building comprehensive flora guides for all 25 states in the Eastern United States. Download FloraQuest: South Central today and start exploring Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee's incredible botanical diversity!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: FloraQuest at 100% against Nature's Notebook's 40%. FloraQuest also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.2) and chart position (#187 vs unranked). Nature's Notebook's advantage is price (Free vs $19.99) and ratings volume (27 vs 4). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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
Nature's Notebook is free to download; FloraQuest costs $19.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
FloraQuest holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Nature's Notebook has 27 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 40% of Nature's Notebook's written reviews are positive against 100% of FloraQuest's.
Nature's Notebook ships an update every 3 weeks, FloraQuest every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Nature's Notebook | FloraQuest |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $19.99 |
| Rating | 3.2 (27 ratings) | 5.0 (4 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 40.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 27 — better | 4 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | #187 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 47 MB | 767 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | National Phenology Network | High Country Apps, LLC |
Customer experience
Nature's Notebook
FloraQuest
In-app purchases
Nature's Notebook
No in-app purchases
FloraQuest
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Nature's Notebook free?
Is FloraQuest free?
Which has better reviews, Nature's Notebook or FloraQuest?
Do Nature's Notebook or FloraQuest have ads?
Which is updated more often, Nature's Notebook or FloraQuest?
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