Flora Incognita
Flora Incognita: A free mobile app for identifying plants and organizing observations for research. Ranked #11 of 49 in Visual Identification Apps by our editors (7.9/10); pricing: Free plan; best for plant identification with research observations.
At a glance
- Editor score7.9 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forPlant identification with research observations
- Free planYes
- Paid fromNone
- Identification scopePlants
- Founded2018
- Facts checked3 Oct 2026
Where it wins
- Identifies plants from photos and provides species fact sheets.
- Save, search, sort, export, and share confirmed observations.
- Record observations offline and identify them after reconnecting.
Where it doesn't
- Image identification requires an internet connection.
- Focused on plant identification rather than other visual categories.
- Available as a mobile app, not a desktop product.
Our verdict on Flora Incognita
Flora Incognita is a free mobile app for identifying plants from photographs, aimed at people who want species information as well as a way to keep observations. It supports more than 30,000 vascular plant species and provides fact sheets covering characteristics, distribution, and protection status. The project is jointly developed by Technische Universität Ilmenau and the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry. Its focus is specific: plant identification and observation, rather than broad visual search across unrelated subjects.
The observation workflow is its main point of distinction. Confirmed observations can be saved to a personal plant list, searched, sorted, exported, or shared. Observation tags also support participation in research projects, so the app can serve people who want their records to contribute to biodiversity research. This makes it a fit for curious observers and citizen-science participants who value an organized record alongside identification. People looking only for a one-off answer may not need the saved-list and research features.
Offline use has an important boundary: users can record observations without a connection, then identify them after reconnecting; image identification itself requires internet access. The app is available on iOS and Android, and support channels include email and documentation. Choose Flora Incognita if plant-focused identification, species facts, and exportable observations matter together. It is less suitable for anyone who needs offline image identification or identification beyond plants.
Flora Incognita pricing
Flora Incognita fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | None |
| Identification scope | Plants |
| Offline identification | No |
| Photo health diagnosis | Not verified |
| Mobile platforms | Both |
| Saved identifications | Yes |
| Community features | Yes |
| Deployment | Mobile |
| Platforms | iOS, Android |
| Support | Email, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | floraincognita.com |
| Facts checked | 3 Oct 2026 |
Alternatives to Flora Incognita
- Pl@ntNetPhoto-based plant identification with offline mobile models and community review.9.4
- Seek by iNaturalistA free mobile app for offline, camera-based identification of plants, animals, and fungi.9.3
- Merlin Bird IDA free mobile app for identifying birds by image, sound, or guided observations.9.2
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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