FAQ

Questions, answered.

How accurate is it?

It aims to be honest rather than overconfident. Each result comes with a confidence level and the reasoning behind it. When a photo can't settle a species, it tells you what remains uncertain and what to recapture — instead of guessing.

What can it identify?

Living things across the tree of life — plants, insects and other invertebrates, birds, mammals, fungi and more. A clear photo of the organism (rather than a whole landscape) gives the best result.

Why does it take a few minutes?

For an honest verdict, each clue is weighed against a large body of real-world observation data and close look-alikes are ruled out. That careful cross-checking usually takes 2–5 minutes. You'll see the elapsed time as it works.

What happens to my photos?

Your photo is used to perform the identification and is stored with your account so you can revisit past results. We don't sell your photos or use them for advertising. See the Privacy Policy for details.

Do I need to add a location?

No — it's optional. But telling it where you found the organism helps confirm whether a match makes sense, since many look-alikes don't overlap in range.

Can I rely on it for whether something is safe to eat or touch?

No. SpecieSense is for nature education and curiosity. Never rely on it to decide whether a plant, mushroom or animal is edible, medicinal, poisonous or otherwise safe. See the Terms & Disclaimer.

Is it free?

Your first identification each month is free. Paid plans add more identifications per month — see Pricing.