Verde Finder : identify plants

What it does

Verde Finder is an AI-powered plant care companion. The app allows users to identify plant species, diagnose potential diseases using their phone's camera, and receive detailed care information. It also serves as a digital garden manager, enabling users to save plants to a personal collection and set reminders for watering and fertilizing.

Where it shines

Verde Finder shines in its multi-faceted approach to plant care. The app neatly combines a powerful identification engine with a conversational AI assistant. For example, a user can quickly snap a photo to diagnose an issue at 02:51, receiving structured results. Alternatively, they can engage the 'Plant AI Expert' (01:03) for more nuanced questions, uploading a photo and typing a query to get a detailed, text-based breakdown of the plant's needs. This dual-path system makes the app both a quick utility and a deeper educational tool.

UX highlights

AI Chat Integration: The app includes a 'Plant AI Expert' (00:58) that allows users to ask free-form questions and upload images for analysis, offering a flexible alternative to the structured camera scanner.
Comprehensive Plant Profiles: After identifying a plant like Ficus Elastica (04:32), the app presents a rich profile with tabs for care, basic info, and planting, covering everything from toxicity to soil pH.
Actionable Diagnosis: When diagnosing a disease, the results screen (03:00) provides not just a name and probability but also example photos, treatment options, and prevention tips.
My Plants Collection: Users can build a personal collection of their plants (06:35). This feature transforms the app from a simple utility into a personalized management tool.
Reminder System: Within a plant's profile, users can set custom reminders for watering and fertilizing (06:41), helping them maintain a consistent care schedule.
Clean Information Architecture: Despite the amount of information, screens are well-organized with expandable sections and clear navigation, making it easy to find specific details.

Monetization & growth

The app's monetization strategy is front and center. After a brief feature carousel, the user is presented with a soft paywall at 00:24. The paywall cleverly uses a 'free trial switcher.' Initially, it displays an annual subscription. Toggling the free trial option at 00:33 switches the offer to a 3-day trial that converts into a significantly more expensive weekly plan. The user subscribes through the standard App Store process. Later, the app uses a rating prompt (03:11) after a successful diagnosis to encourage positive App Store reviews.

Who it’s for

This app is designed for a broad range of plant owners, from beginners who need help identifying what they just bought to experienced hobbyists looking to diagnose specific issues. Its simple interface makes it accessible for novices, while the detailed information and management features cater to more dedicated gardeners. The AI chat feature is particularly useful for those who have specific, complex questions that go beyond a simple identification.

Notes & opportunities

The 'bait-and-switch' free trial toggle on the paywall (00:33) is a potential point of friction. While it may boost initial trial sign-ups, it could lead to user frustration and negative reviews when they are charged the high weekly rate. Making the pricing more transparent from the start could build more long-term trust. Additionally, the plant diary feature (06:38) is empty by default; proactively prompting the user to add their first entry after saving a plant could improve engagement with this feature.