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Education · head to head

Flip vs Merlin Bird ID

F

Flip

Education

Empower student voice with video discussions

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Merlin Bird ID logo

Merlin Bird ID

Education

Free bird identification app from Cornell Lab of Ornithology using photo, sound and step-by-step ID

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Flip the Internet Archive's capture of Flip's homepage on 28 June 2022 stated 'Flip is a free video discussion app', confirming the Microsoft-owned product (rebranded from Flipgrid) carries no subscription fee.; Merlin Bird ID it only identifies birds, so it is not useful for plants, insects or other wildlife the way a general nature app is.
  • They diverge on capability: Flip covers Video responses, Merlin Bird ID covers Sound ID.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Flip and Merlin Bird ID actually diverge.

Attributes where Flip and Merlin Bird ID differ
AttributeFlipMerlin Bird ID
Pricing modelfreeFree, no ads and no in-app purchases
PlatformsWeb, IOS, AndroidiOS, Android
Founded1975Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Education).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Flip

  • Video responses
  • Topics
  • Camera effects
  • Stickers
  • Text responses
  • Moderation
  • Mixtapes
  • AR camera

Only in Merlin Bird ID

  • Sound ID
  • Photo ID
  • Step-by-step ID
  • Offline regional packs
  • eBird-linked suggestions
  • No account required for basic use

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Flip

  • Video discussionsnot Merlin Bird ID
  • Student portfoliosnot Merlin Bird ID
  • Book talksnot Merlin Bird ID
  • Language practicenot Merlin Bird ID

Merlin Bird ID

  • A casual walker who hears a bird and wants to know what it is without paying for an appnot Flip
  • A birdwatcher building a life list who wants identification tied to real regional sighting datanot Flip
  • Someone teaching a child to identify birds without exposing them to ads or a paywallnot Flip
  • A hiker who wants offline bird identification in an area with no signalnot Flip

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Flip

  • The Internet Archive's capture of Flip's homepage on 28 June 2022 stated 'Flip is a free video discussion app', confirming the Microsoft-owned product (rebranded from Flipgrid) carries no subscription fee.

Merlin Bird ID

  • It only identifies birds, so it is not useful for plants, insects or other wildlife the way a general nature app is.
  • Sound ID can struggle in noisy environments or with overlapping bird calls, since it depends on a clean audio signal.
  • Being a free institutional project, feature releases and interface polish move more slowly than a funded commercial app.
  • Photo ID accuracy drops for juvenile birds, moulting birds or poor-quality photos, more so than for well-lit adult specimens.
  • It has no social or gamified layer, so users who want streaks, badges or a community feed will find it plain by comparison.

Pricing, plan by plan

Flip

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited groups
    • Unlimited topics
    • Video responses

Merlin Bird ID

Free
  • Merlin Bird IDFree
    • All identification modes included
    • Offline regional bird packs
    • No account required for identification

Which should you pick?

Choose Flip if

  • You need video responses.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android.
  • You also want topics.
Flip review

Choose Merlin Bird ID if

  • You need sound id.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android.
  • You also want photo id.
Merlin Bird ID review

Questions people ask

Is Flip or Merlin Bird ID better?
Neither clearly leads. Flip starts at Free and Merlin Bird ID at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Flip or Merlin Bird ID?
Flip starts at Free and Merlin Bird ID at Free.
Does Flip or Merlin Bird ID run on more platforms?
Flip runs on Web, IOS, Android. Merlin Bird ID runs on iOS, Android.
Can I use Flip for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Flip best used for?
Flip is most often used for video discussions, student portfolios, book talks, language practice. Of those, video discussions and student portfolios are not what Merlin Bird ID is typically brought in for.
What can Flip do that Merlin Bird ID cannot?
Flip covers Video responses, Topics, Camera effects, Stickers. Merlin Bird ID covers Sound ID, Photo ID, Step-by-step ID, Offline regional packs.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Merlin Bird ID: Is Merlin Bird ID really free with no catch?

Yes. It has no ads, no in-app purchases and no subscription; it is funded by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology as a research and outreach tool.

Merlin Bird ID: How is it different from eBird?

Merlin identifies birds; eBird is where you log checklists and sightings that feed the research database Merlin draws its suggestions from.

Merlin Bird ID: Does it work offline?

Yes, once you download the regional bird pack for your area.

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