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Education · head to head

Pl@ntNet vs SkySafari

Pl@ntNet logo

Pl@ntNet

Education

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SkySafari logo

SkySafari

Education

Astronomy app sold in three tiered editions, from a cheap star chart to telescope control

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Pl@ntNet has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Pl@ntNet it offers no plant care guidance, watering reminders or disease diagnosis, unlike commercial apps built around ongoing plant care.; SkySafari the three tiers are separate purchases, so upgrading from Basic to Plus or Pro later means buying again rather than paying the price difference.
  • They diverge on capability: Pl@ntNet covers Photo identification, SkySafari covers Tiered editions.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Pl@ntNet and SkySafari differ
AttributePl@ntNetSkySafari
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelFree, no ads and no in-app purchasesOne-time purchase per tier
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsiOS, Android, WebiOS, Android, macOS

Identical on both: 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 Pl@ntNet

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

Only in SkySafari

  • Tiered editions
  • Telescope control
  • Large object catalogue
  • Event finder
  • Observing log
  • Time control

What people use each for

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

Pl@ntNet

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

SkySafari

  • An amateur astronomer with a motorised telescope mount who needs live control from a phone or tabletnot Pl@ntNet
  • A serious hobbyist who wants a deep-sky catalogue far larger than a casual sky map app providesnot Pl@ntNet
  • Someone planning an observing session who wants an event finder for conjunctions and eclipsesnot Pl@ntNet
  • A buyer choosing Basic first as a cheap star chart with no intention of telescope controlnot Pl@ntNet

Where each one falls short

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

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.

SkySafari

  • The three tiers are separate purchases, so upgrading from Basic to Plus or Pro later means buying again rather than paying the price difference.
  • Even the Basic tier costs more than a comparable free or freemium app like Star Walk 2 for a casual user.
  • Telescope control only works with compatible motorised mounts, so it is useless to someone with a manual telescope or no telescope at all.
  • Pricing fluctuates with frequent promotional sales, so the list price is not a reliable guide to what most buyers actually pay.
  • The interface, particularly on the Pro tier, has a steeper learning curve than a simple AR sky map app aimed at casual users.

Pricing, plan by plan

Pl@ntNet

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

SkySafari

On request
  • SkySafari Basic$4.99/one-time
    • Core star chart
    • Modest object catalogue
    • No telescope control
  • SkySafari Plus$14.99/one-time
    • About 2.5 million stars and 32,000 deep-sky objects
    • Telescope control
    • Event finder and observing log
  • SkySafari Pro$29.99/one-time
    • Largest catalogue tier
    • Telescope control
    • Advanced observation planning tools

Which should you pick?

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

Choose SkySafari if

  • You need tiered editions.
  • You work on iOS, Android, macOS.
  • You also want telescope control.
SkySafari review

Questions people ask

Is Pl@ntNet or SkySafari better?
Neither clearly leads. Pl@ntNet starts at Free and SkySafari at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Pl@ntNet or SkySafari?
Pl@ntNet has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Pl@ntNet and On request for SkySafari.
Does Pl@ntNet or SkySafari run on more platforms?
Pl@ntNet runs on iOS, Android, Web. SkySafari runs on iOS, Android, macOS.
Can I use Pl@ntNet for free?
Yes. Pl@ntNet has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. SkySafari starts at On request.
What is Pl@ntNet best used for?
Pl@ntNet is most often used for a gardener or hiker who wants free plant identification without a subscription, a student or researcher wanting a citation-friendly, institutionally-run identification tool, someone identifying plants outside english-speaking regions who needs one of its 50-plus languages, a forager wanting a second opinion on a plant before relying solely on one source. Of those, a gardener or hiker who wants free plant identification without a subscription and a student or researcher wanting a citation-friendly, institutionally-run identification tool are not what SkySafari is typically brought in for.
What can Pl@ntNet do that SkySafari cannot?
Pl@ntNet covers Photo identification, Large species coverage, Multi-language support, Community-sourced database. SkySafari covers Tiered editions, Telescope control, Large object catalogue, Event finder.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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.

SkySafari: What is the difference between Basic, Plus and Pro?

Basic is a simple star chart, Plus adds a much larger catalogue and telescope control, and Pro adds an even larger catalogue and advanced planning tools.

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.

SkySafari: Can I upgrade from Basic to Plus later?

Not as a discounted upgrade; each tier is sold as a separate one-time purchase.

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.

SkySafari: Does it work with any telescope?

Only telescopes with compatible motorised mounts and a supported connection method can be controlled from the app.

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