# PlantNet vs Arbolapp

The clearest difference is rating: PlantNet at 4.6 against Arbolapp's 4.1. PlantNet also leads on ratings volume (7K vs 8) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 8 months). Arbolapp's advantage is iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.1). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

PlantNet holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PlantNet has 7K ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 83% of PlantNet's written reviews are positive against 81% of Arbolapp's.

PlantNet ships an update every 2 months, Arbolapp every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and June 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PlantNet | Arbolapp |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plantnet/id600547573/reviews)** | [4.1 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arbolapp/id936600048/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **7K** | 8 |
| Positive reviews | **82.7% of reviews** | 81.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 8 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 80 MB | 81 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **8.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Cirad-France](https://appshunter.io/developer/582949607) | [One2one Digital Strategy S.L.](https://appshunter.io/developer/342652099) |

## What reviewers say

### PlantNet

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plantnet/id600547573)

Identify plants by taking photos with your smartphone. Contribute to a global citizen science project to understand and preserve plant biodiversity. Recognizes thousands of wild and cultivated species.

**Highlights:** Identify plants by photographing them, Citizen science project for biodiversity, Supports identification of flowering plants, trees, grasses, and more, Recognizes cultivated plants in parks and gardens, Filter recognized species by genus or family, Map your observations, Links to plant factsheets

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🌟 Accurate plant identification
- 📚 Extensive plant database
- 🔍 Multiple identification options (flower, leaf, bark, etc.)
- 🤝 Community-driven identification
- 🆓 Free to use with no ads or subscriptions

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional identification errors
- 🌍 Limited coverage of certain regions/countries
- 🤖 Struggles with rare or unusual plants
- 🤔 Confusing interface for some users
- 📤 Difficulty uploading/accessing past photos

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes or freezes on some devices
- Geolocation issues (app thinks user is in wrong location)
- Inconsistent or missing plant identification results

**Requested features**

- Add more regional/local plant information
- Improve search and filtering options
- Provide plant care and usage details
- Allow users to save and organize identified plants
- Add a community forum or discussion features


### Arbolapp

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arbolapp/id936600048)

Identify native trees with detailed descriptions, distribution maps, and photos. This offline app uses intuitive search methods and illustrations to help you learn about the trees around you. It's designed for anyone interested in expanding their knowledge of local flora.

**Highlights:** 143 native tree species identification, Distribution maps and photos, Intuitive directed and open search, Over 370 identification illustrations, Glossary of botanical terms, Offline functionality

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PlantNet free?

PlantNet is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Arbolapp free?

Arbolapp is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, PlantNet or Arbolapp?

PlantNet is rated higher. PlantNet averages 4.6 out of 5 from 7K ratings, while Arbolapp averages 4.1 from 8 ratings.

### Do PlantNet or Arbolapp have ads?

Neither PlantNet nor Arbolapp shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PlantNet or Arbolapp?

PlantNet ships an update every 2 months, and Arbolapp every 8 months. Most recently, PlantNet was updated on September 24, 2026 and Arbolapp on June 11, 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.*