1. iNaturalist
This app comes with the virtuous intent of improving the health and happiness of the world. Headspace shows you the right direction of meditation. The themes and voices it offers are a crowd puller. It also offers feel-good workouts, easy-to-learn mindfulness courses and 500+ meditations. The app is free to download. Full access comes for $12.99 per month with a free 7-day trial. And the annual subscription is $69.99 with a free 14-day trial.
2. eBird
eBird has an amazing online database which offers information about thousands of birds. This free app works even without a net connection. eBird also tells you how much time you have been birding. Created by Cornell Lab of Ornithology, this app also allows you to submit images of the birds that you have spotted. With that, you can also record the bird sounds and provides tips for identifying species. This app has been fed over 70 million observations, and as per that analysis, the app offers you an educated guess. This free app is available on Apple and Play Store as well. In essence, it allows you to find birds, keep track of your bird lists, sounds and photos and provides you with a platform to contribute to science and conservation.
3. Leps by Fieldguide
Available for free, Leps by Fieldguide is a crowd-sourced guide that helps you identify leps (butterflies and moths) that come your way whilst your stroll in nature. This app uses image recognition AI. And the outcome is later verified by experts. One of the reviews on the App Store read, “I love the features of this app, It took a few minutes to navigate but once I figured it out it was very easy to work. I think that there should be a way to message other users and create conversations about moths, it would be nice to talk about my passion with other people who share it! Other than the lack of community it’s a pretty good app, it could be a bit more polished but overall I would give it a 4/5. It’s the only app like it out there so it will do :))”
4. Oh, Ranger! ParkFinder
Maybe you are done with all the hiking trails nearby, or there are chances that you are unaware of the trials in your area. Oh, Ranger! ParkFinder helps you find the parks nearest to you with all the fun-filled activities. This app is so fun and popular that Bob Tedeschi from The New York Times said, “Even if it weren’t free, Oh, Ranger! ParkFinder would be well worth downloading.” This app is available for free. Oh, Ranger! ParkFinder mobile App provides information about hiking, bird watching, boating, hunting, fishing, and off-highway driving.
5. Meteor Counter
This app is developed by 3dsun.org. As per studies, approximately 30 meteor showers happen every year that are visible to the human eye. Imagine if we have an idea of when this phenomenon takes place and Meteor Counter does just that. As a part of Education, Meteor Counter provides a news feed and an updated calendrer of the upcoming meteor shower.
6. GoSkyWatch Planetarium
The sky and space are full of magic, and we always yearn to know more about celestial objects. This app helps you to identify and locate stars, planets, comets, galaxies and more. All you need to do is simply point your mobile at the sky and move around. One of the reviews read, D.Schroeder, a University professor: “Powerful and easy to use, with excellent animation and the widest zoom range.” It has touch-free identification, once pointed at the sky there is no need to zoom in as the image pops up directly, it has Gyroscope compass auto calibration and Unique target identification.
7. Digital compass
Digital compass is your friend in need to know whether you are heading in the right direction. This app is not only simple, but it also shows both magnetic and true north. With high precision, the app allows you to find the right direction, bearing, azimuth or degree. This app is built using a gyroscope, magnetometer, accelerator, and gravity. Digital Compass app is free to download, it has in-app purchases too.
8. Mushroom Identify
Not all mushrooms are good, some are poisonous too. The Mushroom Identify app lets you upload the mushroom pic and within seconds you will have all the details of the mushroom. One of the reviews spoke highly of the app, “I’ve been collecting wild mushrooms for 30 years but I haven’t tried an automated identification app before. I tested it on a series of fresh mushrooms that I was certain of. Despite being in the beta stage the photo identifier worked every time. This especially amazed me because there was no reference ruler or size scale in the photos. Nice app!” This app is payable if you want to get into the niche.
9. PeakVisor AR
PeakVisor uses AR and is free to download. It allows you to simply enjoy your trip rather than your time in research. It is your outdoor adventure partner. PeakVisor AR identifies mountains, lets you enjoy scenic hikes with satellite 3D maps, and it teleports you to any location to explore in 3D. In short, as their website says, PeakVisor AR enables you to be a superhero of outdoor navigation with state-of-the-art 3D maps and mountain identification in the palm of your hand!
10. Walkmeter Walking & Hiking GPS
Walkmeter Walking & Hiking GPS is advanced and is designed specifically for hikers, rexercise walkers, runners, and cyclists. It is clean and easy to use. This app also tracks your heart rate, bike speed, etc. It is free to download and has in-app elite upgrades for $9.99. It is available in English, French, German, Italian, and Japanese.
11. Outdooractive
Outdooractive is an app for smartphones and smartwatches. It is made especially for mountaineers, bikers, explorers, families and pretty much all lovers of the outdoors. This app provides over one million premium routes and content from outdoor experts. Here you can plan your route and other activities as well. Most importantly, it allows you to discover the world through their travel guide. The basic app is free, but you can upgrade it for €2.50 per month or Pro+ for €5 per month.
12. AllTrails
AllTrails is an app that is built for everyone to go wild. This app lets you explore casual strolls or trek to the summit with confidence. This app offers 350 + curated trials, and 40 million fellow explorers who have logged in 965 + million km. AllTrails lets you explore the outdoors with AllTrails! Discover hiking, biking, backpacking, and running trails around the world.