Comparison

Sea Shell Identifier vs Shell ID

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

Head to head
About

Sea Shell Identifier

Features
Read full description

IDENTIFY EVERY SHELL YOU FIND Point your camera at a shell and ShellMap tells you what it is: common name, scientific name, family, how rare it is, and which coastlines it comes from. Then it cuts the shell out of the photo and turns it into a sticker on your own private shelf. SNAP AND KNOW - Opens straight into the camera, or pick a photo from your library - The shell is lifted out of its background automatically, no tracing - A full report: species, family, rarity, typical size, habitat and known regions - Honest about doubt: when a worn or broken shell cannot be pinned down, ShellMap says so instead of inventing a species YOUR OWN COLLECTION - Every shell becomes a die-cut sticker on a paper shelf - Tap any shell for its full field-guide entry - Add your own notes: the tide, the weather, who you were with - A private map shows exactly where you picked each one up COMPLETELY PRIVATE - No account, no profile, no feed, no followers - Your shells sync between your own devices through your iCloud, and nowhere else - Nothing is ever shared or made public - Free, with no limits and nothing to unlock WORKS ON THE BEACH Shells save instantly, even with no signal. When you are back online, one tap identifies them. PERFECT FOR - Beachcombers and rock-pool wanderers - Families on summer holidays - Naturalists, biologists and amateur conchologists - Anyone who cannot walk past a beach without looking down Pick it up. Point the camera. Know what it is. EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Shell ID

Identify seashells using AI, organize your finds into a personal collection, and learn detailed information about each species. Discuss shell topics with AI and export your collection as a PDF.

Highlights
  • AI Shell Identification
  • AI Shell Chat
  • Personal Shell Collection
  • Comprehensive Shell Information
  • Personal Notes
  • PDF Export
  • Backup & Restore
Features
Read full description

Discover the seashells around you with AI-powered identification. Unlike other shell identification apps, Shell ID makes it easy to organize your finds into a personal collection, add your own notes, discuss each species with AI, and export your collection as a beautifully formatted PDF. FEATURES • AI Shell Identification Take a photo of any seashell, and our AI will identify the species. Get both common and scientific names, along with detailed information about its family, habitat, size range, and the features — shape, coloration, texture, and patterns — that set it apart. Each identification also includes a short collector summary. • AI Shell Chat Get personalized shell knowledge through natural conversation with AI. Ask where a species is found, how to tell similar shells apart, conservation and collecting etiquette, or any shell topic. You can return to past conversations anytime. • Personal Shell Collection Build your own seashell archive. Save every identification with high-quality images, automatic dates, and notes. Your knowledge grows as your collection grows — whether you collect shells on the beach, study them closely, or are simply curious about what you found. • Comprehensive Shell Information Each identification includes family classification, habitat preferences, typical size, and identification tips. Learn what makes each species unique and how to recognize conchs, scallops, cowries, and whelks in nature. • Personal Notes Add your own observations to each shell. Record where and when you found it, the conditions at the beach, or any special memories from your walks, dives, and travels. • Favorites Collection Mark your favorite shells so you can find them quickly. Keep your most prized finds and most beautiful specimens ready to view. • PDF Export Export your entire shell collection as a beautifully formatted PDF. Choose whether to include images, species information, and your notes — useful for sharing your finds, keeping a record of every species you identify, or saving a printed catalog. • Backup & Restore Keep your collection safe. Export everything to a single backup file and restore it anytime, so your collection stays with you when you change devices. Transform every beach walk, snorkel, or dive into a learning opportunity. Shell ID helps you develop a deeper appreciation for the natural beauty along the shore. There is an optional Premium subscription for unlimited access. The subscription will be charged to your iTunes account upon purchase. Your account will be charged for renewal 24 hours before the current period ends. You can turn off auto-renewal at any time in your Account Settings. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.productivetap.com/shell-id-privacy-policy/

Screenshots

Sea Shell Identifier4 screens
Shell ID4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Sea Shell Identifier at none against Shell ID's 2. Sea Shell Identifier also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 5 weeks). Shell ID's advantage is iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Shell ID sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Sea Shell Identifier asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sea Shell Identifier ships an update every 3 weeks, Shell ID every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
Sea Shell Identifier versus Shell ID: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSea Shell IdentifierShell ID
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 5 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Freemium
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS26.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size15 MB50 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAlejandro PachecoProductiveTap

In-app purchases

None

Sea Shell Identifier

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Shell ID

Subscriptions2
  • Premium Weekly3 Days trial$2.997 Days
  • Premium Yearly$29.991 Year

Questions

Is Sea Shell Identifier free?
Sea Shell Identifier is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Shell ID free?
Shell ID is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Sea Shell Identifier or Shell ID have ads?
Neither Sea Shell Identifier nor Shell ID shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Sea Shell Identifier or Shell ID?
Sea Shell Identifier ships an update every 3 weeks, and Shell ID every 5 weeks. Most recently, Sea Shell Identifier was updated on September 24, 2026 and Shell ID on September 22, 2026.

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