The Best Bug Identifier Apps for Android & iPhone

The world of insects, though often overlooked, is filled with incredible diversity and beauty. If you are curious about insects and bugs and want to discover what’s buzzing in your backyard or fluttering around your local park, you are in for an exciting journey.

In this article, we present the top 8 best applications for identifying and learning about all kinds of bugs directly from your smartphone, whether you use Android or an iPhone.

1. Picture Insect: Bug Identifier

Platforms: Android, iOS | Price: Freemium | Rating: 4.6★

Picture Insect stands out as one of the best apps for identifying bugs, pests, and butterflies. Simply take a photo of the insect and upload it to the app, which uses AI to identify it. Picture Insect can accurately identify bugs and insects from a database of over 4,000 species. The app provides details such as scientific names, high-resolution images, common characteristics, and even informs you if the insect’s bite is toxic.

This app also educates users about dangerous insect bites, prevention tips, and first aid measures in case of a bite. You can keep a log of different species you observe and share your findings with others. Picture Insect is available on both Android and iOS. The main limitation is that full access to advanced features requires a paid premium version.

2. Seek By iNaturalist

Platforms: Android, iOS | Price: Freemium | Rating: 4.8★

Seek by iNaturalist uses powerful image recognition technology to identify not only insects but also birds and plants. No registration is required, and your data is not collected, making it suitable for users of all ages. This app is especially excellent for children, as it transforms learning into a fun game: you can earn badges and discover new species. It also allows you to follow friends and fellow nature enthusiasts to see what species they are identifying.

3. Insect ID: AI Bug Identifier

Platforms: Android | Price: Freemium | Rating: None

Insect ID is another outstanding application for bug and insect identification. Its intuitive interface means even beginners can use it with ease. You can identify bugs through images, names, or descriptions. Leveraging AI technology, the app accurately matches the insect against its extensive database.

Once the species is identified, the app provides information on its physical features, natural environment, and behavior—helping you expand your knowledge with each identification.

4. Insect Spider & Bug Identifier

Platforms: Android, iOS | Price: Freemium | Rating: 4.9★

Insect Spider & Bug Identifier is a user-friendly app perfect for quickly identifying a wide range of species. Just capture a photo of the insect and let the app analyze it. It covers species such as butterflies, beetles, bees, ants, spiders, and more. For students or enthusiasts, you can search by name to access in-depth details, including habitat, common and scientific names, and high-quality images.

The application features a Feed page for sharing your discoveries with the community, and an Explore page with educational blogs about insect biology and behavior. Note that you may encounter frequent pop-ups urging you to upgrade to the Premium version, which can be distracting.

5. Insect ID-Bug Identifier

Platforms: iOS | Price: Freemium | Rating: 4.4★

Insect ID-Bug Identifier is a user-friendly, iOS-exclusive app designed for easy insect identification. You can identify and explore insects by uploading a photo or using the in-app camera scanner. It boasts a large database with detailed information for each species, making it a robust educational tool.

The app offers unlimited free scans and provides useful guidance on how to safely interact with identified insects. The only notable downside is that it requires an active internet connection to function.

6. Bug ID: Insect Identifier AI

Platforms: iOS | Price: Paid with free trial | Rating: 4.4★

Bug ID: Insect Identifier AI is an iOS-exclusive app that excels in identifying insects and spiders. With a notable recognition accuracy rate of 95.07%, it sets itself apart. You can take a photo using the built-in camera or import images from your device. After identification, the app provides comprehensive details including the scientific name, colors, natural habitat, and food sources. You can also store your discoveries in a personal collection and share them easily.

The app can be downloaded for free, but in order to continue using it, you must subscribe to the premium plan at $30/year. If you want to evaluate its capabilities before purchasing, there is a free trial available. This can help you decide if the app meets your needs.

7. Insect Identifier

Platforms: iOS | Price: Freemium with free trial | Rating: 4.6★

If you want a simple yet effective app for insect identification, Insect Identifier on iOS is an excellent choice. Its clean interface allows you to easily snap a photo of any insect to receive general information about it. Like Bug ID, you can organize all your identified species into a personal collection.

A major advantage of this app is its ability to function offline, allowing you to identify insects even when you’re out of network coverage, such as while hiking. The main inconvenience is occasional ads, which can be removed by subscribing to Insect Identifier+ for $2.99/month. A 3-day free trial is included so you can try out the premium version first.

8. Bug Identifier: Bugs, Spiders

Platforms: iOS, Android | Price: Freemium | Rating: 4.3★

Bug Identifier: Bugs, Spiders offers an extremely straightforward interface with three main options: Search, Scan, and Settings. You can either upload a photo or scan an insect in real-time. The search menu contains a comprehensive list of bugs, butterflies, and spiders with detailed information about each one.

You can personalize the app by choosing between Dark and Light themes and selecting your preferred accent color. Although user reviews on the Play Store are mixed, our testing showed that the app performs reliably and efficiently in identifying bugs.