Bugs. They’re everywhere! They crawl, slither, hop, fly, and sometimes invade your space. Whether you want to identify an insect out of curiosity or fear it may be harmful, you must check out these bug identifier apps for iPhone.
To bring you the best of the best, I tested close to 20 bug identifier apps. I looked for accuracy, speed, ease-of-use, and the basic functionality you’d expect in such as tool. Give one or more a try the next time you see a creepy crawly you want to identify.
- Picture Insect: Spiders & Bugs
- Insect ID: Bug AI
- Insect Identification Bug ID
- Seek by iNaturalist
- Spider Identifier Bug Finder
1. Picture Insect: Spiders & Bugs – Ideal for identification
Snap a photo on the fly or pick one from the Photos app to find out what it is instantly. Picture Insect not only identifies an insect for you but provides a plethora of details about it.
Learn the common and scientific names, species, descriptions, and characteristics. You can also view additional photos of the insect and a range map of where it lives. Save identified bugs to reference them again later, check out articles, review insect varieties, and get help with bug bites all in one handy app for iPhone and iPad.
Pros
- Quick results with an option to report inaccurate identifications or details
- Helpful information for bug bites on humans and pets
- In-app chat for additional help
- Support for Mac
Cons
- Only three identifications with the free version
Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $2.99)
2. Insect ID: Bug AI – Use AI to identify pests
Another bug identifier for iPhone to check out is Insect ID, an AI-powered app. With an easy-to-use interface, you can capture a photo or select one and receive the identification in seconds.
Get the brief information you need, including the name, species, and description. Tap to see more details that include photos, behavior, and scientific data, depending on the insect. Then, save identifications to your collection to review later.
Pros
- Multiple language support
- More than one suggested result to select the best match
- Additional insect information by category and helpful blog articles
Cons
- Not as much detail on identified insects as similar apps
- Many ads, from banners to pop-ups
Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $9.99)
3. Insect Identification Bug ID – Get accurate results
If you’re interested in a bug identifier with a community for sharing your finds, check out Insect Identification Bug ID. Once you find out the type of insect you see using your Camera or Photos app, you can create “news” and share it with others.
Save identified bugs to your collection, get a description along with properties, and head to Wikipedia directly from the app for more information.
Pros
- Ability to identify fish and birds in addition to insects
- Many additional photos of the insect you identify
- Support for both iPhone and iPad
Cons
- Additional details are not stored within the app (link to Wikipedia)
Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $3.99)
4. Seek by iNaturalist – Identifies insects as well as plants
If you want to take your identifications beyond the insect world to plants, birds, animals, fish, and even reptiles, then Seek by iNaturalist is the app for you. Pop in your location and get details about other living creatures nearby, from plants to mammals to spiders.
When you’re ready to find out about that bug, you see, snap or upload a picture. See the species, description, range map, taxonomy, seasonality, observations, photos, and similar creatures. You can also earn achievements and build your collection of observations.
Pros
- Ability to identify plants, animals, and other living things beyond insects
- Daily challenges to earn badges
- Adjust settings for the identification details you receive
- Attractive interface
Cons
- Have to restart the app when selecting photos from your library
- Not all photos could be identified
Price: Free
5. Spider Identifier Bug Finder – Access to rich database
One more app to check out for identifying bugs is Spider Identifier Bug Finder. The app gives you just the basics you need to quickly determine what type of insect you’re looking at.
Take a photo or use one from your library and then get the name, description, and additional photos. If you would like further details, tap the link to see more on Wikipedia. You can save your finds to your collection so you can review them at any time.
Pros
- Quick and accurate identifications
- Super simple interface
- Helpful and clear additional photos
Cons
- Can only scan and save two insects with the free version
- Additional details are not stored within the app (link to Wikipedia)
Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $2.99)
Get your insect’s ID!
You may appreciate those little critters that crawl around or buzz about. At the same time, it’s best to be cautious about getting too close until you know exactly what the bug has in mind. Using these insect identifiers, you can find out what type of bug it is before you take another step.
Let us know which app you think is the top for bug IDs, and for more, look at how to identify objects on iPhone and iPad with Visual Look Up.
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