Softwr

Education · head to head

Memrise vs Pl@ntNet

Memrise logo

Memrise

Education

Vocabulary and spaced repetition language app built around video clips of native speakers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Pl@ntNet logo

Pl@ntNet

Education

Free plant identification app run by a consortium of French public research institutes

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Memrise the free tier caps daily reviews tightly enough that consistent vocabulary building in practice requires the Pro subscription.; Pl@ntNet it offers no plant care guidance, watering reminders or disease diagnosis, unlike commercial apps built around ongoing plant care.
  • They diverge on capability: Memrise covers Spaced repetition flashcards, Pl@ntNet covers Photo identification.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Memrise and Pl@ntNet actually diverge.

Attributes where Memrise and Pl@ntNet differ
AttributeMemrisePl@ntNet
Pricing modelFree with a Pro subscriptionFree, no ads and no in-app purchases

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (iOS, Android, Web), 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 Memrise

  • Spaced repetition flashcards
  • Learn with Locals videos
  • Official courses
  • Speaking practice
  • Offline mode
  • Grammar bot

Only in Pl@ntNet

  • Photo identification
  • Large species coverage
  • Multi-language support
  • Community-sourced database
  • Regional flora filtering
  • Contribution to research

What people use each for

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

Memrise

  • A learner who wants vocabulary tied to real spoken usage through native speaker video rather than only text flashcardsnot Pl@ntNet
  • Someone using a grammar-focused course elsewhere and wanting Memrise purely for vocabulary retentionnot Pl@ntNet
  • A traveller wanting practical phrase recognition for a specific trip rather than formal fluencynot Pl@ntNet
  • A learner comparing subscription convenience against building free custom decks in Ankinot Pl@ntNet

Pl@ntNet

  • A gardener or hiker who wants free plant identification without a subscriptionnot Memrise
  • A student or researcher wanting a citation-friendly, institutionally-run identification toolnot Memrise
  • Someone identifying plants outside English-speaking regions who needs one of its 50-plus languagesnot Memrise
  • A forager wanting a second opinion on a plant before relying solely on one sourcenot Memrise

Where each one falls short

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

Memrise

  • The free tier caps daily reviews tightly enough that consistent vocabulary building in practice requires the Pro subscription.
  • Memrise phased out much of its earlier community-created course library in favour of official courses, so learners who relied on community decks for less common languages lost access to that content.
  • It teaches vocabulary and set phrases well but offers comparatively thin grammar instruction, so it works best as a companion to a grammar-focused course rather than a standalone method.
  • Language coverage for the flagship Learn with Locals video feature and speaking practice is uneven, concentrated in a handful of popular languages.
  • Unlike Anki, the spaced repetition algorithm and content are closed and cannot be customised or exported, so a learner cannot take their review data to another tool.

Pl@ntNet

  • It offers no plant care guidance, watering reminders or disease diagnosis, unlike commercial apps built around ongoing plant care.
  • Identification accuracy varies by region depending on how well local flora is represented in the community-submitted training data.
  • The interface is more utilitarian than a commercial app, reflecting its research origins rather than consumer product design.
  • It should never be relied on alone to determine whether a wild plant or fungus is safe to eat, and the project itself does not claim otherwise.
  • Because it is run by a nonprofit research consortium rather than a company, feature development and interface updates move more slowly than a funded commercial competitor.

Pricing, plan by plan

Memrise

Free
  • Memrise Pro$8.99/month
    • Free tier allows basic vocabulary practice with daily limits and ads
    • Pro unlocks Learn with Locals videos, full official courses and offline mode
    • Annual Pro plans typically run $69.99 to $89.99, cheaper per month than monthly billing

Pl@ntNet

Free
  • Pl@ntNetFree
    • Full identification for over 80,000 species
    • Available in over 50 languages
    • No account required for basic identification

Which should you pick?

Choose Memrise if

  • You need spaced repetition flashcards.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want learn with locals videos.
Memrise review

Choose Pl@ntNet if

  • You need photo identification.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want large species coverage.
Pl@ntNet review

Questions people ask

Is Memrise or Pl@ntNet better?
Neither clearly leads. Memrise starts at Free and Pl@ntNet at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Memrise or Pl@ntNet?
Memrise starts at Free and Pl@ntNet at Free.
Does Memrise or Pl@ntNet run on more platforms?
Both run on iOS, Android, Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Memrise for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Memrise best used for?
Memrise is most often used for a learner who wants vocabulary tied to real spoken usage through native speaker video rather than only text flashcards, someone using a grammar-focused course elsewhere and wanting memrise purely for vocabulary retention, a traveller wanting practical phrase recognition for a specific trip rather than formal fluency, a learner comparing subscription convenience against building free custom decks in anki. Of those, a learner who wants vocabulary tied to real spoken usage through native speaker video rather than only text flashcards and someone using a grammar-focused course elsewhere and wanting memrise purely for vocabulary retention are not what Pl@ntNet is typically brought in for.
What can Memrise do that Pl@ntNet cannot?
Memrise covers Spaced repetition flashcards, Learn with Locals videos, Official courses, Speaking practice. Pl@ntNet covers Photo identification, Large species coverage, Multi-language support, Community-sourced database.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Memrise: Is Memrise free?

A limited amount of vocabulary practice is free with daily caps and ads. Learn with Locals videos, full courses and offline mode require Memrise Pro.

Pl@ntNet: Is Pl@ntNet free?

Yes, entirely free with no ads or in-app purchases, run by a consortium of French public research institutes.

Memrise: What is Learn with Locals?

Short video clips of native speakers using vocabulary and phrases in real settings, intended to show how language is actually spoken rather than textbook delivery.

Pl@ntNet: How accurate is it?

Accuracy varies by region and species depending on how much community-submitted photo data exists for that flora, but it is generally strong for well-represented regions.

Memrise: Can I still use community-created courses?

Memrise moved away from most of its earlier community course library toward its own official courses, so availability of community content is now limited.

Pl@ntNet: Can I use it to check if a plant is safe to eat?

No. It is an identification aid, not a safety tool, and should not be relied on alone for foraging decisions.

Share

Related pages

More on Memrise

More on Pl@ntNet

Keep looking

Other head to heads