RadicleBotany vs Hākilo
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
RadicleBotany
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RadicleBotany is a plant observation & identification and botany learning app. Identify Photograph a plant and get a species match. Or key through visible traits manually — leaf shape, flower structure, bark, fruit, habitat — to reach a confident ID without a photo. Combine both methods for higher accuracy. Library Browse and search 2,330+ species, 180+ plant families, and 460+ botanical terms. Every entry includes taxonomy, morphology, ecology, bloom timing, conservation status, regional distribution, and related species. Field Journal Log observations with photos, GPS location, date, and notes. Track what has been confirmed and what needs verification. Study Flashcard decks for species, families, and terms. Plant Assistant A botanical Q&A grounded in the app's own database. SUBSCRIPTION Free to download. RadicleBotany — $33.99 / year 7-day free trial included. Billed annually at $33.99 USD after the trial ends. Auto-renews each year unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the renewal date. Cancel in Settings → Apple ID → Subscriptions. Payment charged to your Apple ID at confirmation. Prices may vary by region.
Hākilo
This app guides users through a daily observation practice rooted in Hawaiian epistemology. It uses the Papakū Makawalu framework to prompt reflection on the sky, earth, natural cycles, and internal state. Entries can be made via voice or text, with photo support, and a history view for review.
- Daily observation prompts
- Papakū Makawalu framework
- Voice and text input
- Photo capture
- Calendar-backed history
- In-app reference section
- Place-based identity profile
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Hākilo's foundation is the Hawaiian practice of kilo - the deep, intentional observation of the world around and within us - and the Papakū Makawalu framework. A DAILY KILO Each day, Hākilo guides your observation through the three main knowledge houses of the Papakū Makawalu framework & an internal check to see how your internal state connects with the environment: • Papahulilani — the space above your head to where the stars sit (sky, wind, temperature, air) • Papahulihonua — the earth and oceans (ground, water, shoreline, land) • Papahanaumoku — all things that give birth, regenerate, and procreate (plants, birds, insects, cycles) • Na'au — how you are feeling internally and what you are grateful for today Answer each question by voice, by typing, or both. Tap the microphone to speak what you observed and Hākilo will transcribe it for you. You can also take a photo on each layer. REVIEW YOUR PRACTICE A calendar-backed history view shows every entry you've made. Open any past day to read, edit, or delete it. LEARN THE FOUNDATIONS An in-app reference section explains: • Papakū Makawalu — the framework that organizes the four daily questions • Kilo — the practice itself • Kaulana Mahina — the Hawaiian lunar calendar, with all 18 moon phases across the three anahulu • Kau — the two primary seasons, Wela and Ho'oilo PLACE-BASED IDENTITY Set up your profile with the place identifiers meaningful to a kilo practice: your mauna, 'āina/moku, wai, and kula. PRIVACY YOU CAN VERIFY • All entries are encrypted at rest using AES-256-GCM. • Hākilo is free, ad-free, and contains no third-party trackers, analytics, or attribution SDKs. • Your kilo is yours alone. There is no public feed and no sharing with other users in this release. • You can delete your account, including all entries and photos, from inside the app at any time. WHO IT'S FOR Students, educators, cultural practitioners, and community members who want to build a daily observation practice rooted in Hawaiian epistemology. Hākilo is built and maintained by the Purple Mai'a Foundation. Mahalo to the Edith Kanaka'ole Foundation and the cultural practitioners whose teachings inform the Papakū Makawalu content shown in the app. Support: kokua@purplemaia.org
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Hākilo at none against RadicleBotany's 2. Hākilo also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). RadicleBotany's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs monthly). On price, ads 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
Both are free to download. RadicleBotany sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $33.99 per year. Hākilo asks for nothing beyond the download.
RadicleBotany ships an update weekly, Hākilo monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 14, 2026 and September 15, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | RadicleBotany | Hākilo |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Number of ratings | — | 2 — better |
| Update frequency | Weekly — better | Monthly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 15.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 152 MB | 37 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Christopher Rodgers | MAI A PURPLE FOUNDATION |
In-app purchases
RadicleBotany
- RadicleBotany7 Days trial$33.991 Year
- RadicleBotany Path7 Days trial$63.991 Year
Hākilo
No in-app purchases









