Comparison

Bug Identifier vs BugKnow

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

Head to head
About

Bug Identifier

Identify bugs, spiders, and insects instantly with AI. Snap a photo to get detailed information including common and scientific names, habitat, behavior, and ecological role. Save and share your discoveries.

Highlights
  • AI-powered insect identification
  • Identify bugs and spiders from photos
  • Detailed insect information
  • Save and share identifications
  • Light and dark mode
  • Educational insect facts
Read full description

Know what bit you — and whether it's dangerous. BugAlert turns your camera into a fast bug, spider and bite identifier built for one moment: when you find something and need to know if it's a threat. Snap a photo and get three ranked matches with honest confidence, a clear danger flag, and what to do next. Built around the danger question • Colour-coded danger verdict on every result: venomous, bites, stings, disease-carrier or harmless. • "What bit me?" mode narrows welts and stings to a likely culprit — mosquito, tick, flea, bedbug, spider, ant or wasp — with first-aid steps and clear red-flag guidance on when to seek care. • Pest mode helps you tell a cockroach from a carpenter ant from a termite, read the signs of an infestation, and decide DIY vs. call a pro. Accurate, honest identification • Three candidates with confidence — never a single overconfident guess. • Species info: common and scientific name, reference photos, range and season. • Voice input for the bug that got away: describe it and get likely matches. • Every scan saved to your history. Important BugAlert provides informational identification and general safety guidance only. It is not medical, veterinary or pest-control advice. For a bite or sting that worries you, or a suspected infestation, consult a qualified professional. ——— This app requires a subscription to use. Subscriptions are managed by users and you can cancel at any time. Your subscription will automatically renew at the end of each term unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can cancel your subscription at any time using the account settings on your phone. Manage your subscription and turn off auto-renewal in your account settings after purchase if you would not like to get an auto renewing subscription. Privacy Policy: https://famoconnect.com/privacy-policy/ Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

BugKnow

Instantly identify insects, spiders, and other arthropods with a photo. Get detailed species profiles, check bites, assess pest severity, and build a personal bug collection. Connect with a community for identification help.

Highlights
  • Instant bug identification via photo
  • Detailed species profiles
  • Bite and sting reference checker
  • Pest severity assessment
  • Personal bug collection
  • Community identification help
Features
Read full description

BugKnow is a bug identifier app designed for everyday Americans who want to understand the bugs around them. Whether you're a curious homeowner, an outdoor enthusiast, or a parent trying to keep your family safe — BugKnow gives you fast answers when you need them most. Spotted something crawling across your floor? Woke up with a bite you can't explain? Found pests in your garden and don't know where to start? Open BugKnow, point your camera, and get the answers you need — instantly. Key Features: Instant Bug Identification Identify thousands of insect species, spiders, and other arthropods with a single photo. Fast, accurate, and easy to use — no expertise required. In-Depth Species Profiles Explore detailed information on each species, including behavior, habitat, impact on humans and pets, life cycle, and more. Your pocket field guide, always with you. Bite Checker Not sure what bit you? Upload a photo of the bite or sting area and get a reference result based on visual patterns. For informational purposes only — not a medical tool. Pest Severity Assessment Found signs of an infestation at home? Answer a few quick questions and get a reference assessment of how serious the situation may be, along with practical next steps. Build Your Bug Collection Save every find and organize your discoveries into custom folders. Track the species you've encountered and build your personal insect collection over time. Community Bug Identification Help Not confident in your ID? Post your find and let fellow enthusiasts help you figure it out. Together, we know more. end user license agreement: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ privacy policy: https://bugknow.com/privacy-policy/ terms of use: https://bugknow.com/terms-of-use/ Support: Support@bugknow.com

Screenshots

Bug Identifier4 screens
BugKnow4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: BugKnow at 100% against Bug Identifier's 24%. BugKnow also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.3). Bug Identifier's advantage is ratings volume (4.1K vs 15) and monetization model (ad-supported vs free with in-app purchases). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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

Both are free to download. Bug Identifier sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and BugKnow sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $39.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

BugKnow holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bug Identifier has 4.1K ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 24% of Bug Identifier's written reviews are positive against 100% of BugKnow's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Bug Identifier ships an update every 2 months, BugKnow every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Bug Identifier versus BugKnow: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBug IdentifierBugKnow
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (4.1K ratings)4.7 (15 ratings) — better
Positive reviews24.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings4.1K — better15
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationAd-supported — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.615.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size103 MB140 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFAMO Connect LLCSenseWake Limited

Customer experience

Bug Identifier

All ratings4,057 ratings
Positive81.5%
Neutral5.3%
Negative13.2%
Written reviews167 reviews
Positive24.0%
Neutral6.6%
Negative69.5%

BugKnow

All ratings15 ratings
Positive93.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative6.7%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Bug Identifier

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Misidentifies common insects like spiders and beetles
  • App crashes or freezes when trying to identify bugs
  • Requires full photo library access instead of selected photos

Requested features

3 requests
  • Add option to save identified insects
  • Improve accuracy of identification
  • Reduce number of ads and in-app purchases

BugKnow

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Bug Identifier

Subscriptions4
  • Weekly$4.997 Days
  • Weekly3 Days trial$7.997 Days
  • Annual$19.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Annual$24.991 Year
2 purchases

BugKnow

Subscriptions2
  • Bugknow Annual Plan7 Days trial$39.991 Year
  • BugKnow VIP Annual1 Month trial$39.991 Year

Questions

Is Bug Identifier free?
Bug Identifier is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is BugKnow free?
BugKnow is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Bug Identifier or BugKnow?
BugKnow is rated higher. Bug Identifier averages 4.3 out of 5 from 4.1K ratings, while BugKnow averages 4.7 from 15 ratings.
Do Bug Identifier or BugKnow have ads?
Neither Bug Identifier nor BugKnow shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Bug Identifier or BugKnow?
Bug Identifier ships an update every 2 months, and BugKnow every 3 months. Most recently, Bug Identifier was updated on October 19, 2026 and BugKnow on October 7, 2026.

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