Gotcha vs Animalis
Updated October 1, 2026. By Jurre de Ruiter, who makes Gotcha.
We make Gotcha, so weigh our view of it accordingly. Everything said about Animalis here comes from its own website or store listing as of October 1, 2026, and prices are described rather than quoted because they change.
Side by side
| Gotcha | Animalis | |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | iPhone and Android | iPhone and Android |
| What you collect | 2,225 animal species (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, insects, spiders) | Real animals, collected into a team |
| What you do with a catch | Rarity from common to legendary, stickers cut from your own photos, and a zoo you build where your catches live and draw visitors. Eight leagues, a seasonal Zoo Pass, friends and clubs | A team of six, turn-based battles and gyms at real landmarks |
| Battles | No | Yes |
| Cost | Free to play. Optional Gotcha+ subscription with a free trial. | Paid. Catching needs a subscription or a one-time lifetime unlock |
| Best for | A long-term collection game where every catch builds something | Players who want turn-based battles tied to real places |
What Animalis does better
- Turn-based battles and a team to build, which Gotcha does not have.
- Gyms at real landmarks, for a map-driven game.
- A one-time lifetime purchase option.
What Gotcha does better
- Your catches build something. Every animal moves into a zoo you design, with habitats, paths, landmarks and visitors who pay to see it.
- Stickers cut from your own photos, so your collection is your photography rather than stock art.
- A fixed index of 2,225 animal species with five rarity tiers, so there is always a clear next target and a legendary worth bragging about.
- Free to play on iPhone and Android, with backup to your account so a new phone keeps your collection.
- Available in 44 languages.
About each app
Gotcha
Gotcha turns a photo of a real animal into a collectible. The app cuts the animal out of your shot, names the species, grades it from common to legendary, and files it in an index of 2,225 species. Since version 2.0 the animals you catch move into a zoo you build and run. It is available in 44 languages.
Animalis
Animalis has you build a team of six from animals you photograph and fight turn-based battles, including at gyms placed on real-world landmarks. playanimalis.com
Questions people ask
Is Gotcha better than Animalis?
They are built for different people. Animalis is best for players who want turn-based battles tied to real places. Gotcha is best for a long-term collection game: 2,225 animal species graded from common to legendary, stickers cut from your own photos, and a zoo your catches move into.
Is Gotcha free like Animalis?
Gotcha is free to play on iPhone and Android, with an optional Gotcha+ subscription that removes the daily catch limit. Animalis: paid. Catching needs a subscription or a one-time lifetime unlock.
Can I use Gotcha and Animalis together?
Yes. Nothing stops you photographing the same animal for both. Plenty of people use a field guide or a battle game alongside Gotcha, which is the one where the catch ends up living in a zoo you built.
Looking at more than two apps? The full guide to real-life animal collecting apps compares Gotcha with 9 others.