Which plant care app should you use?
To identify a plant from a photo, PictureThis is the most used. To know when to water each plant, Planta, Plant Parent and LINFA adjust their reminders to the plant and the place; WaterMe only reminds you on the days you pick. Below, what each app says on its US App Store and Google Play listing as of 19 October 2026.
Updated 19 October 2026. How we write these pages
The six apps side by side
LINFA is our app. For the others we report only what their listings say.
| LINFA | Planta | PictureThis | Plant Parent | PlantIn | WaterMe | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone and Android | iPhone only, Android coming soon | Both | Both | Both | Both | iPhone only, not updated since December 2021 |
| Watering reminders | Worked out for each plant from its sun, pot and season; with LINFA+ also from your area’s weather | Adjusted to your home, the local weather and the plant | Reminders and a watering log; the listing doesn’t say they adjust | Adjusted to season, growth stage and local climate | A schedule you set, with storm and frost alerts | You set them; one notification a day |
| In English | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| What stays free | Up to 5 plants in one place, with reminders and the calendar | The listing doesn’t say | The listing doesn’t say | Premium removes the limit on reminders and disease checks | The listing doesn’t say; ads on Android | Everything; you can leave a tip |
| Subscription, US App Store | $3.99 a month, $24.99 a year | $7.99–9.99 a month, $17.99–47.99 a year | Pro from $3.99 to $39.99 | $3.99 to $29.99; lifetime $59.99 | From $6.99 a week to $39.99 a year; lifetime from $19.99 | None |
| Identifies the plant from a photo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Problems from a photo | A first opinion on a leaf: 1 a month free, 15 with LINFA+ | Dr. Planta reads the symptoms and suggests a treatment | Yes, from a photo | Yes, from a photo | Yes, according to its Google Play listing | No |
| Light | The hours of direct sun each plant gets | Light meter | Light meter | Light meter | Light meter | No |
Prices and features as the US App Store and Google Play listings show them on 19 October 2026: they can change. No listing says how long its free trial lasts.
Who each app is for
LINFA
To know when each plant needs water, wherever it lives.
It takes each plant’s sun, pot and season into account, indoors, on a balcony or in a garden. Free for up to 5 plants in one place. iPhone only for now.
Planta
For a full care calendar.
Reminders for water, feeding, repotting, pruning and misting that adjust to your home and the weather, Dr. Planta for problems, and a light meter. It’s an Editors’ Choice on the App Store.
PictureThis
To identify plants and flowers from a photo.
The most rated of the six on the US App Store, with over a million ratings. It spots diseases from a photo and has a light meter; its reminders are simple.
Plant Parent
For a care guide plant by plant.
Made by the same company as PictureThis. Reminders, a light meter and disease checks from a photo; Premium removes their limits.
PlantIn
To identify plants and mushrooms, with a botanist on chat.
Storm and frost alerts for plants outside. It shows ads on Android.
WaterMe
For a simple reminder, free.
You pick the days and get one notification a day. iPhone only, and not updated since December 2021.
Questions about plant care apps
What’s the best free plant care app?
It depends on what you need for free. WaterMe is entirely free, but it only reminds you on the days you pick. LINFA is free for up to 5 plants in one place, with reminders worked out for each plant. The others are free to download, but their listings don’t say what stays free.
Is there an app that reminds you to water your plants?
Yes, all six send reminders. What changes is who picks the day: in WaterMe you do; Planta, Plant Parent and LINFA adjust it to the plant and the place.
Can apps spot plant diseases from a photo?
PictureThis, Plant Parent and Planta’s Dr. Planta say they do, and PlantIn according to its Google Play listing. LINFA gives a first opinion on a leaf and tells you what to look at: it’s a first opinion, not a diagnosis.
How did we write this comparison?
LINFA is our app. For the others we report only what their US App Store and Google Play listings say, read on 19 October 2026. Prices and features can change.
