Gotcha vs Seek by iNaturalist
Updated October 1, 2026. By Jurre de Ruiter, who makes Gotcha.
We make Gotcha, so weigh our view of it accordingly. Everything said about Seek by iNaturalist 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 | Seek by iNaturalist | |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | iPhone and Android | iPhone and Android |
| What you collect | 2,225 animal species (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, insects, spiders) | Plants, animals and fungi |
| 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 | Badges and monthly challenges. No collection to complete |
| Battles | No | No |
| Cost | Free to play. Optional Gotcha+ subscription with a free trial. | Free, no ads |
| Best for | A long-term collection game where every catch builds something | Learning to identify everything in nature, for free |
What Seek by iNaturalist does better
- Completely free, with no ads and no subscription.
- Identifies plants and fungi, not just animals.
- Backed by iNaturalist, one of the largest nature science communities in the world.
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.
Seek by iNaturalist
Seek, from the team behind iNaturalist, identifies plants, animals and fungi live through your camera and rewards you with badges and monthly challenges. It is free, has no ads, and is a nature learning tool first and a game second. inaturalist.org
Questions people ask
Is Gotcha better than Seek by iNaturalist?
They are built for different people. Seek by iNaturalist is best for learning to identify everything in nature, for free. 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 Seek by iNaturalist?
Gotcha is free to play on iPhone and Android, with an optional Gotcha+ subscription that removes the daily catch limit. Seek by iNaturalist: free, no ads.
Can I use Gotcha and Seek by iNaturalist 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.