What it does
Plant Identification ++ is a utility app for plant enthusiasts and gardeners. Its primary function is to identify various types of plants, flowers, and trees using a device's camera or photos from the library. Beyond simple identification, the app offers a secondary feature to diagnose potential diseases in plants, providing a health score and likely causes.
Where it shines
The app shines in its clean, focused interface and the depth of information it provides post-identification. After identifying a plant (00:45), it presents a detailed card with care instructions for water and sunlight, community reviews, and even botanical taxonomy (01:03). Another strong point is the user guidance in the disease diagnosis flow (01:14), which instructs users to take multiple photos for better accuracy, setting the AI feature up for success.
UX highlights
- Thematic Content: The app creatively frames saved plant information as a "Herbarium Sheet" (01:08), turning a simple record into a collectible item and encouraging collection building.
- Confidence Indicators: Identification results are presented with clear confidence levels like "Very likely" and "Also likely" (00:46), which effectively manages user expectations about the AI's accuracy.
- Contextual Prompts: The app smartly waits until after a user has successfully identified a plant to ask for a rating (00:50), targeting a moment of high satisfaction.
- Community Content: An "Explore" section (01:04) features posts from other users, adding a social and discovery layer to the core utility.
Monetization & growth
The app employs an aggressive, paywall-first monetization strategy. Immediately upon opening, a user is presented with a subscription screen (00:04). The paywall highlights a 41% discount on the monthly plan and uses a user testimonial to build social proof. It offers three subscription tiers (weekly, monthly, yearly) without a free trial. For growth, the app uses a well-timed in-app rating prompt (00:50) to encourage positive reviews on the App Store.
Who it’s for
This app is designed for a range of users, from casual gardeners and houseplant owners to more serious botany students and hobbyists. Its simple identification flow makes it accessible for beginners who are curious about a plant they've seen. The detailed care information and disease diagnosis features cater to those actively trying to maintain and grow their plants.
Notes & opportunities
The immediate paywall at 00:04 could be a point of friction for users who want to experience the app's value before committing. Offering a single free identification or a short tutorial prior to the paywall might improve user activation and long-term conversion. Additionally, the initial system prompt for app tracking (00:01) is presented without any context, which could be improved with a simple warm-up screen explaining the benefits.