Comparison

Shroomify vs Local Layers

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Shroomify

Identify mushrooms and fungi offline using photo recognition or by answering descriptive questions. This field guide offers detailed species accounts, regional data, and learning tools like quizzes. It prioritizes safety, reminding users that identifications are suggestions and not guarantees of edibility.

Highlights
  • Offline identification by photo
  • Identify by descriptive features
  • Search species by name
  • Detailed species accounts
  • Regional and seasonal data
  • Logbook for saved finds
  • Interactive learning quizzes
Features
Read full description

Identify mushrooms and other fungi offline, even with no phone signal. Shroomify is an independent field guide to fungi, made by a forager in the UK. Take a photo or answer a few simple questions, and Shroomify narrows the list to the species that best match, ranked by what is recorded in your area at this time of year. WAYS TO IDENTIFY • Photo ID: take or choose a photo and Shroomify suggests likely matches and features such as type and cap colour. It works offline on your phone, even deep in the woods. • Identify by features: tap through clear, illustrated choices (cap shape and colour, gills or pores, size, how it grows) and watch the shortlist shrink. An Advanced mode adds finer detail. • Search by name: go straight to any species. WORKS OFFLINE, BUILT FOR THE FIELD • Works fully offline once installed. • Nearly 500 species with over 1,100 photos. • Species accounts covering what to check, lookalikes, habitat and edibility. • Results ranked for your region and the current month. • In English, French, German and Italian. LEARN AS YOU GO • Logbook: save favourite species and record your finds with notes and photos, stored on your device. • Quiz: practise the classic lookalikes, deadly doubles and boletes. • Spore-print and learning guides built in. WEATHER OUTLOOKS With a connection, see when recent and forecast weather may be more or less favourable than usual for a species in supported areas. Coverage varies by area and mushroom, and an outlook is never a promise of finds. SAFETY FIRST Photo suggestions are not a confirmed identification or a judgement of edibility. Shroomify helps you narrow things down, but it is not a guarantee. Check every feature, confirm with an expert or a trusted field guide, and never eat a wild mushroom unless you are completely certain what it is. ONE PRICE, EVERYTHING INCLUDED No adverts, no subscription and no selling of your data. Photos stay on your device unless you choose to contribute one. Your download includes every feature.

About

Local Layers

Features
Read full description

Drive with a tour guide that actually knows where you are. Local Layers automatically tells you about history, landmarks, and interesting places around you as you travel.

Screenshots

Shroomify4 screens
Local Layers3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Local Layers at Free against Shroomify's $5.99. Shroomify's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 6 weeks). On 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Local Layers is free to download; Shroomify costs $5.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Shroomify ships an update every 2 weeks, Local Layers every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Shroomify versus Local Layers: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterShroomifyLocal Layers
Price$5.99Free — better
Rating4.7 (2.1K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews84.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings2.1K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 6 weeks
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size104 MB6 MB
Age rating12+12+
DeveloperSimon GroganAlterscope Solutions LLC

Bugs and requests

Shroomify

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Identification feature not working (blank page)
  • Location settings stuck on UK despite being in US

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add photo identification feature
  • Expand mushroom species database
  • Allow users to upload and share photos
  • Add regional/location-based filtering options
  • Implement a 'what mushroom is this?' search

Local Layers

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Shroomify

No in-app purchases

None

Local Layers

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Shroomify free?
Shroomify costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Local Layers free?
Local Layers is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Shroomify or Local Layers have ads?
Local Layers shows ads; Shroomify does not.
Which is updated more often, Shroomify or Local Layers?
Shroomify ships an update every 2 weeks, and Local Layers every 6 weeks. Most recently, Shroomify was updated on November 11, 2026 and Local Layers on November 5, 2026.

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