PictureThis - Plant Identifier
Common Sense says
- iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
- Free to try
- Education
Parents say
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A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this app.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that PictureThis - Plant Identifier allows users to take pictures of real plants and flowers and submit them for identification. The app is a plant encyclopedia that recognizes over 10,000 different types of plants. Users can also learn facts and care information for plants, trees, flowers, and shrubs. In the app's free version, in order to receive more credits, which are used to identify additional plants, there's a social media requirement of watching ads, logging in to an account, and sharing photos socially on Facebook, which will require parent monitoring. Read the developer's privacy policy for details on how your (or your kids') information is collected, used, and shared and any choices you may have in the matter, and note that privacy policies and terms of service frequently change.
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What's it about?
PICTURETHIS - PLANT IDENTIFIER is a digital plant encyclopedia that identifies flowers, trees, succulents, cacti, mushrooms, herbs, shrubs, and grasses. There are 10,000 different types of plant species included in the app. After allowing access within the app to use the camera on the device, find a plant or flower, position the camera, and snap a photo. Within seconds, the app will identify the item and share similar options the plant might be. Descriptions of the plants in the app include interesting facts, scientific classification, symbolism, and more. Care information provides planting difficulty, planting seasons, soil requirements, watering frequency, and other elements. The free version includes some initial free credits to photograph a few plants. Users can upgrade to a paid premium account for unlimited credits. It's possible to sustain a free account, but users will have to log in to an account, watch commercials, or share photos with friends to earn more free credits. Photos taken can be posted in a forum within the app, where users can comment on pictures.
Is it any good?
Apps claiming to identify plants are sprouting up everywhere, and this one works fairly well. PictureThis - Plant Identifier shares a lot of great information about plants, which is educational and helpful. For kids and adults with an interest in science, gardening, and horticulture, this app is a valuable tool, but unfortunately with requirements such as social sharing on Facebook, logging in to an account, and watching irrelevant ads being required to use it for free, it's not great for young kids to use on their own. Also, given that there's a community within the app where users can like and comment on pictures, there's limited opportunity for users to interact with strangers. Since you have to subscribe to remove the ads and be able to identify more plants, it might not be worth it for all families. But if you're avid hikers, campers, or gardeners and don't mind if the app occasionally can't identify a plant, it might be worth a try.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about how PictureThis - Plant Identifier can help kids learn about the plants and flowers in their yard, neighborhood, and community. Have you ever wondered what the name of the wildflowers are that you see on a family walk? Did you see plants in a friend's garden you'd like to plant at your house?
Talk about how apps make money. We recognize ads, but why would an app require sharing to social media? What if an app is totally free?
Use the app to get outside and be in nature. Consider using the app to educate yourselves about the plants around you when traveling. Will the plants you saw on vacation survive in your yard? Are they safe to touch, or could they be poisonous?
App details
- Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
- Subjects: Science: biology, ecosystems and the environment, life cycle, plants
Hobbies: gardening - Skills: Tech Skills: using and applying technology
- Price: Free to try
- Pricing structure: Free to try (premium $1.99/month; $19.99/year;)
- Release date: September 13, 2017
- Category: Education
- Topics: Science and Nature
- Size: 89.90 MB
- Publisher: Glority LLC
- Version: 1.16
- Minimum software requirements: iOS 10.0 or later
- Last updated: February 6, 2020
Our editors recommend
For kids who love science and being outdoors
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.