Mushroom Hunting in a Modern World: The Best Mushroom Identification Apps

If you pay attention, you’ll find that mushrooms are all around. In fact, I live in New York City, a place that feels very far removed from the natural world, and I’ve even found clusters of mushrooms growing on tree trunks and patches of soil on my street. The world of mushrooms is wider than we think.

If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about the mushrooms you see in your neighborhood or favorite hiking trails, and especially if you want to handle, forage, or wildcraft any of the mushrooms you see, it is essential to understand the importance of accurate mushroom identification. While mushroom hunting can be a fun and exciting activity, it can also be dangerous if you are not familiar with with poisonous mushrooms and their toxicity.

Misidentifying mushrooms can lead to serious health consequences, including poisoning, hallucinations, and even death. In fact, according to the North American Mycological Association, there are over one hundred species of mushrooms that can cause serious illness or death. Therefore, it is critical to have the knowledge and skills necessary to identify mushrooms accurately before consuming them.

Fortunately, there are resources available to help you identify mushrooms accurately. Field guides, online resources, and apps can all be useful tools for identifying mushrooms in the wild. In this guide, we’ll dive into the last on this list: apps. Here’s a compiled list of the best mushroom identification apps out there for iPhone and Android, with some of the main features and drawbacks of each. Whether you are a beginner mycologist or a mushroom expert, you’re sure to find something on this list to help you take your mushroom exploration to the next level.

Shroomify

Shroomify helps you identify mushrooms by selecting physical characteristics. It includes a search function to find specific mushrooms and a community section where users can share their findings and ask questions.

One of the biggest advantages of Shroomify is its user-friendly interface and simple design, making it easy for anyone to use, regardless of their level of knowledge about mushrooms. It also provides in-depth information about the mushrooms you identify, including if they are edible mushrooms.

However, there are some drawbacks to the app. One of the biggest concerns is the potential for misidentification of mushrooms. The app relies solely on visual identification and does not consider factors such as location or growing conditions. Additionally, some users have reported issues with the app crashing or freezing, which can be frustrating when trying to identify a mushroom in the field. Overall, Shroomify is a useful tool for anyone who wants to learn more about mushroom identification through manual characteristic selection.

Rank: 4.7 stars

Price: Free, in-app purchases

Features:

• Identify by selecting mushroom characteristics
• Tracks mushrooms you identify by location
• Community section allows users to share findings

Download the IOS app here.

Download the Android app here.

Mushroom Identificator

Mushroom Identificator helps identify mushrooms through its visual search function, allowing users to snap a photo of a mushroom and receive an identification in seconds. It also utilizes a crowd-sourced algorithm to identify the mushrooms, which allows the app to continually improve its accuracy based on user feedback.

One potential drawback of the app is that it relies solely on visual identification and does not take into account other important factors, such as location or growing conditions. This can potentially lead to misidentification, which could be dangerous, as some mushrooms are toxic and can cause serious harm if consumed.

Despite this limitation, Mushroom Identificator could a valuable tool for beginners interested in mushroom identification but who don’t wish to handle the mushrooms.

Rank: 4.7 stars

Price: Free, in-app purchases

Features:

• Identify by taking photos of mushrooms
• Tracks mushrooms you identify by location
• Uses a crowdsourced algorithm to improve accuracy

Download the IOS app here.

Mushroom LITE

Mushroom LITE helps you identify mushrooms through a guided quiz, which walks you through the identification process by asking you questions about the physical characteristics of the mushrooms until you have narrowed down which type of mushroom it most likely is. It also has offline functionality, allowing users to access information even in areas without internet connectivity.

One potential drawback of the app is that it only includes a limited number of species compared to other mushroom identification apps, which could limit its usefulness for advanced identification. Additionally, the app only offers a few photos per species, which may not always provide enough detail to identify a mushroom accurately.

Overall, Mushroom LITE is a useful tool for novice mushroom enthusiasts or those who want a basic reference guide for mushroom identification. Its offline functionality and filter function make it a convenient and accessible option for users who are out in the field. Still, those with more advanced identification needs may want to consider other, more comprehensive mushroom identification apps.

Rank: 4.5 stars

Price: Free

Features:

• Simple quiz walks you through the identification process
• Accessible offline
• Includes database with relevant information and images of 300 species

Download the IOS app here.

Book of Mushrooms

Book of Mushrooms is like a physical mushroom book guide and helps users identify mushrooms manually through its comprehensive database of photos, descriptions, and scientific information.

One of the main benefits of Book of Mushrooms is it has a larger database than most other apps and includes over 1,500 mushroom species. The app also offers a search function, allowing users to find mushrooms by name or by characteristics such as color, cap shape, and more.

Another advantage of the app is its user-friendly design, with easy navigation and clear, high-quality photos of each species. The app also includes information about each mushroom’s edibility, habitat, and potential toxicity.

One potential drawback of the app is that it may not be as up-to-date as other mushroom identification apps, as it was last updated in 2017. Additionally, it requires more manual effort to identify the mushrooms, which may be better suited for more experienced mushroom hunters or those looking to expand their knowledge of mushrooms as a whole.

Overall, Book of Mushrooms shines through with its extensive database and easy-to-use interface. While it may not be the most cutting-edge mushroom identification app available, it remains a valuable resource for anyone interested in learning about and identifying mushrooms.

Rank: 4.1 stars

Price: Free

Features:

• Huge database of mushrooms with images and information
• High-quality information
• Identification requires more manual effort than other apps

Download the Andriod app here.

Picture Mushroom - Mushrooms ID

One of the primary benefits of Picture Mushroom is its visual search function, allowing users to take a photo of a mushroom and receive an identification in seconds.

Once you upload an image of the mushroom you want to identify, the app will provide you with a list of possible mushroom species and photos of them at different angles, allowing you to select the species with the closest visual match. You can also keep track of where you identify different species of mushrooms through the app’s “footprint” feature.

One potential drawback of the app is that this search function may not always provide accurate identifications, as some mushrooms can be difficult to identify based on photos alone. It also may not be as comprehensive as other mushroom identification apps, with a database of around 150 mushroom species.

Overall, Picture Mushroom is a helpful tool for those who want a basic reference guide for mushroom identification. Its visual search function and filter options make it a convenient and accessible choice for users. However, those with more advanced identification needs may want to consider other, more thorough mushroom identification apps.

Rank: 4.4 stars

Price: Limited free version, In-app purchases

Features:

• Quickly identify possible options with images
• Requires you to select from a list of options
• Footprint mode tracks where you identify certain mushrooms

Download the IOS app here.

Download the Android app here.

Forest Mushroom App Identificator

Forest Mushroom Identification aids in identifying through both its physical characteristics and visual image searching. This means you can choose to narrow down potential species matches through their specific features or take a photo of a mushroom and receive an identification in seconds.

A unique feature of Forest Mushroom Identification is its focus on mushrooms found in forest environments, making it a valuable tool for nature enthusiasts and foragers.

One potential drawback of the app is that it only includes a limited number of species compared to other mushroom identification apps, which could limit its usefulness for advanced identification.

Overall, Forest Mushroom Identification is a great app for those interested in identifying mushrooms found in forest environments, with its focus on this specific ecosystem. Its visual search function and user-friendly design make it a convenient and accessible option for users out in the field. However, those with more advanced identification needs may want to consider other mushroom identification apps or cross-reference with a mushroom field guide.

Rank: 4.6 stars

Price: Free

Features:

• Identify through both images and manually by characteristics
• Large encyclopedia of species with photos and information
• Great for building a deeper understanding of mushrooms

Download the IOS app here.

Use careful observation and caution no matter what app you choose

When deciding which app might be best for you, consider what your goals are with your mushroom hunting.

If you want to identify mushrooms to simply learn some fun facts about mushrooms in your area and don’t plan on handling them, Picture Mushroom will allow you to quickly identify and learn a few facts about them.

If you want to grow your knowledge of mycology and track your mushroom discoveries, Shroomify and Mushroom Identificator might be best for you.

Book of Mushrooms will provide the most traditional mushroom guide experience if you’re planning to learn more about foraging wild mushrooms. Our gift guide for mushroom hunters also has some great tools and ideas to give to a friend on their foraging journey.

Regardless of which app you choose, it’s important to remember that mushroom identification is not a perfect science (many edible mushroom look-alikes are actually quite poisonous). Mushroom foraging always requires careful observation and caution. Misidentification of a toxic mushroom can have serious health consequences, so it’s crucial to always err on the side of caution and consult multiple sources for confirmation.

Ultimately, the mushroom identification apps reviewed in this guide offer valuable tools for anyone interested in mushroom identification and exploration. From bolete to amanita varieties, the free mushroom world is just a spore away. By using these apps in combination with traditional field guides and expert knowledge, we can safely and responsibly enjoy the wonder and diversity of the fungal kingdom.