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AI sites and apps

13 AI science and nature apps for curious kids

These are some of the most wholesome uses of AI we know: a phone that names the bird singing in the yard, the weed in the sidewalk crack, or the bright dot over the roofline. They get kids outside and asking questions. Several come from universities and research groups and cost nothing. Others are commercial and lean hard on subscriptions. Watch for location data, since many of these apps record where a photo was taken, and some share sightings publicly.

We favored free, research-backed apps with good privacy defaults, and flagged subscription traps. Checked in October 2026; prices move. Checked 2026-10-24. Nobody paid to be here and nothing is an affiliate link.

  1. Seek by iNaturalist

    iNaturalist · Free · Ages All ages

    Live camera identification of plants, animals and fungi, with badges and challenges. No account and no data collection by default, so it is the best pick for young kids.

  2. Merlin Bird ID

    Cornell Lab of Ornithology · Free · Ages All ages

    Sound ID names birds singing nearby, on the phone and without a signal. Photo ID and a quick questions wizard cover the rest. 2026 updates added many more species worldwide.

  3. iNaturalist

    iNaturalist · Free · Ages 13+, or younger with a parent's permission

    Post observations, get help from AI and real naturalists, and add to science. Great for a teen who wants their finds to count. Experts confirm IDs.

    Watch for: Observations are public; location can be blurred in settings.

  4. BirdNET

    Cornell Lab and Chemnitz University of Technology · Free · Ages All ages

    A research app that identifies birds from recorded songs. A good second opinion next to Merlin. It is free, made by researchers, and every recording you share can help scientists track birds.

  5. Pl@ntNet

    Pl@ntNet consortium · Free · Ages All ages

    Photograph a leaf or flower and get likely matches from a research database. Built by French research institutes and powered by citizen science. Best for wild plants.

    Watch for: Shared photos go to a public science database.

  6. eBird

    Cornell Lab of Ornithology · Free · Ages Families

    Log the birds you see and your lists join a global science dataset. Pairs with Merlin for families who want to keep a record. Great for a summer project.

  7. Google Lens

    Google · Free · Ages All ages with a grown-up

    Point the camera at a rock, bug, plant or landmark and search what it might be. Broad, quick and usually good enough to start a conversation.

    Watch for: Images go to Google; results are search guesses, not expert IDs.

  8. Sky Guide

    Fifth Star Labs · Free download; paid upgrades · Ages All ages

    Hold up an iPhone or iPad and see the stars, planets and satellites in that spot, with alerts for sky events. Beautiful and easy for kids.

    Watch for: Apple devices only; subscriptions inside.

  9. SkyView

    Terminal Eleven · About $2.99 (Oct 2026) · Ages All ages

    Augmented-reality stargazing: aim the camera at the sky to label constellations, planets and the space station. It works offline, so it is handy on a camping trip far from cell service.

  10. Star Walk 2

    Vito Technology · Free with ads; paid upgrades · Ages All ages

    Point-and-see sky map with 3D models of planets and constellations. Popular on both iPhone and Android. Kids like the 3D planets, and the time slider shows how the sky moves through the night.

    Watch for: Ads and in-app purchases in the free version.

  11. Stellarium Web

    Stellarium · Free · Ages All ages

    A free planetarium in the browser. No AI, no account, no ads. Good for planning a night of stargazing. Use it to check what will be up tonight.

  12. Teachable Machine

    Google · Free · Ages 8+

    Turn a backyard into a science project: train a model to tell your own leaves or rocks apart, then test where it fails. A real science fair idea.

  13. PictureThis

    Glority · About $29.99/year after trial (Oct 2026) · Ages Teens and adults

    Accurate plant identification with care tips. Listed with a warning: the free trial turns into a paid subscription unless canceled, and parents report billing surprises.

    Watch for: Cancel the trial inside the App Store or Play Store if you do not want it.

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