iNaturalist vs Merlin Bird ID:Which is searched more?
In August 2026, iNaturalist had more branded searches than Merlin Bird ID among bird identification apps worldwide. iNaturalist was estimated to have 246K branded searches compared to Merlin Bird ID’s 54.2K, and held a 40.8% Share of Search versus Merlin Bird ID’s 9%. These are worldwide searches for English-language branded terms.
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Which is more popular in search, iNaturalist or Merlin Bird ID?
Compare the apps used to identify birds. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time.
Share of Search by month for iNaturalist, Merlin Bird ID. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of search table
| Month | iNaturalist | Merlin Bird ID |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 36.2% | 6.5% |
| Nov 2025 | 37.7% | 5.6% |
| Dec 2025 | 33.6% | 6% |
| Jan 2026 | 30.1% | 6.6% |
| Feb 2026 | 32.3% | 8.7% |
| Mar 2026 | 37% | 10% |
| Apr 2026 | 34.9% | 14% |
| May 2026 | 30.1% | 18.1% |
| Jun 2026 | 36% | 17.7% |
| Jul 2026 | 35.2% | 14.2% |
| Aug 2026 | 40.8% | 9% |
| Sep 2026 | — | — |
How has the iNaturalist and Merlin Bird ID comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- iNaturalist was ahead of Merlin Bird ID in every measured month of the 11 months ending August 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, iNaturalist’s estimated Share of Search among bird identification apps worldwide moved from 36.2% to 40.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 201K to 246K.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Merlin Bird ID’s estimated Share of Search among bird identification apps worldwide moved from 6.5% to 9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 36.2K to 54.2K.
How did search popularity change for bird identification apps worldwide in August 2026?
2 changes
In August 2026, iNaturalist gained estimated Share of Search among bird identification apps worldwide, from 35.2% to 40.8%.
In August 2026, Merlin Bird ID lost estimated Share of Search among bird identification apps worldwide, from 14.2% to 9%.
How each brand is measured
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using iNaturalist’s and Merlin Bird ID’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
iNaturalist
1 branded search term
- inaturalist
Merlin Bird ID
2 branded search terms
- merlin bird id
- merlinbirdid
Put your own brand in this comparison
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