How popular isSeek by iNaturalist?
In September 2026, people searched for Seek by iNaturalist by name about 3,600 times worldwide, an 18.2% decrease from the previous year. These searches made up 3.4% of all global plant identification app searches, placing Seek by iNaturalist fourth out of eight apps. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about plant identification apps, Seek by iNaturalist appeared in three of the five answers and was the third most recommended of the eight.
Seek by iNaturalist is the fourth most searched of 8 competitors and the third most recommended in AI answers.
PictureThisShare of searches 46.5%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st- PlantNetShare of searches 38.1%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
- Pl@ntNetShare of searches 5.1%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
- Seek by iNaturalistShare of searches 3.4%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
BlossomShare of searches 2.7%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
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Top plant identification apps in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Seek by iNaturalist was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Seek by iNaturalist is the third most recommended of the eight.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- PictureThis5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- PlantNet3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Seek by iNaturalist3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Pl@ntNet2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Blossom0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Planta0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
PlantSnap0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
LeafSnap0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about plant identification apps
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which plant identification app should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best plant identification apps?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best plant identification app for identify garden plants?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“plant identification apps”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best plant id app”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.
Which plant identification apps compete with Seek by iNaturalist?
Share of searches by month for PictureThis, PlantNet, Pl@ntNet, Seek by iNaturalist, Blossom. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | PictureThis | PlantNet | Pl@ntNet | Seek by iNaturalist | Blossom | Planta | PlantSnap | LeafSnap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 51.2% | 34.3% | 3.1% | 2.5% | 1.6% | 1.1% | 4.6% | 1.6% |
| Nov 2025 | 51.6% | 34.5% | 3.1% | 2% | 2% | 1.3% | 3.8% | 1.7% |
| Dec 2025 | 65.3% | 23.9% | 2.1% | 1.7% | 2.1% | 1.2% | 2.6% | 1.2% |
| Jan 2026 | 59% | 26.4% | 3.5% | 2.3% | 2.9% | 1.5% | 2.9% | 1.5% |
| Feb 2026 | 55.2% | 30.2% | 3.3% | 1.7% | 4% | 1.7% | 2.6% | 1.2% |
| Mar 2026 | 50.8% | 34% | 3.7% | 3% | 3% | 1.6% | 2.5% | 1.3% |
| Apr 2026 | 46.7% | 38.2% | 4.2% | 2.8% | 2.8% | 1.5% | 2.3% | 1.5% |
| May 2026 | 47.6% | 38.9% | 3.5% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 1.5% | 1.9% | 1.9% |
| Jun 2026 | 53.3% | 35.6% | 2.6% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1.4% |
| Jul 2026 | 56.5% | 30.9% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1.5% |
| Aug 2026 | 58.6% | 26.2% | 4.3% | 4.3% | 2.9% | 1.5% | 1.3% | 1% |
| Sep 2026 | 46.5% | 38.1% | 5.1% | 3.4% | 2.7% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1.2% |
| Rank | Brand | Share of searches | Estimated monthly branded searches | vs prior month | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, held 1st | 46.5% | 49.5K | -33.1% | -12.1 points | |
| 2, held 2nd | 38.1% | 40.5K | +22.4% | +11.9 points | |
| 3, held 3rd | 5.1% | 5.4K | 0% | +0.8 points | |
| 4, held 4th | 3.4% | 3.6K | -33.3% | -0.9 points | |
| 5, held 5th | 2.7% | 2.9K | -19.4% | -0.1 points | |
| 6, held 6th | 1.5% | 1.6K | -15.8% | 0 points | |
| 7, held 7th | 1.5% | 1.6K | 0% | +0.2 points | |
| 8, held 8th | 1.2% | 1.3K | 0% | +0.2 points |
46.5%
Held 1st. 49.5K estimated branded searches, -33.1% vs prior month. Share -12.1 points.
2.PlantNet
38.1%
Held 2nd. 40.5K estimated branded searches, +22.4% vs prior month. Share +11.9 points.
3.Pl@ntNet
5.1%
Held 3rd. 5.4K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.8 points.
3.4%
Held 4th. 3.6K estimated branded searches, -33.3% vs prior month. Share -0.9 points.
5.
Blossom2.7%
Held 5th. 2.9K estimated branded searches, -19.4% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.
6.
Planta1.5%
Held 6th. 1.6K estimated branded searches, -15.8% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
1.5%
Held 7th. 1.6K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.
8.
LeafSnap1.2%
Held 8th. 1.3K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.
Compare popularity between Seek by iNaturalist and its closest rivals
Every comparison with Seek by iNaturalist
7 comparisons
How has branded search demand for Seek by iNaturalist changed worldwide over the last 12 months?
4 findings
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Seek by iNaturalist worldwide fell from 4.4K to 3.6K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Seek by iNaturalist’s share of searches among plant identification apps worldwide increased from 2.5% to 3.4%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Seek by iNaturalist’s share of searches among plant identification apps worldwide peaked at 4.3% in August 2026 and was lowest at 1.7% in December 2025.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Seek by iNaturalist rose from 5th to 4th among plant identification apps worldwide.
How did search popularity change for plant identification apps worldwide in September 2026?
6 changes
In September 2026, PlantNet gained share of searches among plant identification apps worldwide, from 26.2% to 38.1%.
In September 2026, Pl@ntNet gained share of searches among plant identification apps worldwide, from 4.3% to 5.1%.
In September 2026, PictureThis lost share of searches among plant identification apps worldwide, from 58.6% to 46.5%.
In September 2026, Seek by iNaturalist lost share of searches among plant identification apps worldwide, from 4.3% to 3.4%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for PlantSnap worldwide fell 80.2% over 12 measured months, from 8.1K to 1.6K in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for LeafSnap worldwide fell 55.2% over 12 measured months, from 2.9K to 1.3K in September 2026.
How are Seek by iNaturalist’s branded searches counted?
1 search term
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Seek by iNaturalist’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for this branded term can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.
- seek by inaturalist
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