Mushroom identifier app for iPhone and Android
The mushroom identifier app that tells you the verdict first
Photograph a wild mushroom and Mycoscout leads with whether it is edible, shows how sure it is, and names the dangerous look-alikes to rule out before you trust any of it.
Free download · 3 free identifications, then Mycoscout Pro
From photo to verdict in four steps
Mycoscout is a field companion, not a mycologist. It shows you what to check, so you can ask an expert the right questions.
- Photograph four angles
Cap, gills, stem with its base, and habitat. Each step tells you why it matters, and a blurry or dark photo is flagged before it is used.
- Read the verdict first
A full-width edibility verdict tops every result: "Deadly — do not eat", or "Edible — verify before eating". You never have to hunt for it.
- See how sure it is
Every match has a confidence level. When it is low, Mycoscout says so and shows the other species it could be.
- Rule out the look-alikes
Each result names the dangerous look-alikes, how to tell them apart, and the features to confirm yourself.
The part that matters, at the top
Most identifiers bury edibility under the description. Mycoscout puts it in a full-width band at the top of every result, in the same colours every time, so a deadly result cannot be skimmed past.
Cap, gills, stem, habitat
Gill colour and a sac at the stem base are what separate deadly Amanitas from edible mushrooms. Mycoscout walks you through each angle and explains what it is looking for.
What it could be confused with
Every result lists the species most often confused with your find, how to tell them apart, and what the risk is if you get it wrong.
A confidence level on every match
An identifier that is always confident cannot be trusted. When Mycoscout is unsure, it says so and shows the other candidates side by side.
No app should decide what you eat
AI identification can be wrong, especially for uncommon species and poor photos, and some deadly mushrooms are only told apart by features a photo can miss: a sac hidden in the soil, the colour of a spore print, a smell. A 2023 study of mushroom apps by an Australian poisons centre concluded that apps are not reliable enough on their own.
So Mycoscout never clears a mushroom for eating. Edible verdicts always say "verify before eating". Use it to learn what to look for, then confirm with a local mycological society or foray group. Free community tools such as iNaturalist are good for learning names, too.
Learn the mushrooms that matter most
The deadliest species and the edibles they are mistaken for, each with the verdict first and our sources.
Death cap (Amanita phalloides): mushroom identification
Death cap mushroom identification: olive-yellow cap, white gills, skirt ring and a white sac at the base. Where it grows in the US and Europe; why cooking does not help.
Choice edibleHow to identify chanterelles (Cantharellus cibarius) and rule out the look-alikes
How to identify chanterelles by their blunt forked ridges, apricot smell and habitat, and how to rule out jack-o'-lanterns, false chanterelles and the deadly webcap.
Choice edibleHow to identify morel mushrooms (Morchella): hollow, pitted, one piece
How to identify morel mushrooms: a honeycomb cap joined to the stem, hollow from top to bottom when cut. Season, habitat, false morels, and why morels must be cooked.
DeadlyDestroying angel (Amanita bisporigera, A. ocreata, A. virosa): mushroom identification
Destroying angel mushroom identification: a pure white amanita with white gills, a skirt ring and a sac at the base. US and European species, and the lawn look-alikes.
EdibleChicken of the woods identification (Laetiporus sulphureus): brackets, pores, host trees
Chicken of the woods identification: orange-yellow overlapping brackets on oak, tiny yellow pores, no gills, no stem. Edible when cooked; some people react. Avoid yew.
PoisonousGreen-spored parasol (Chlorophyllum molybdites): the poisonous lawn mushroom
The green spored parasol (Chlorophyllum molybdites) is the most commonly reported cause of mushroom poisoning in the US. Green gills, green spore print, rings in lawns.
The mix-ups that put foragers in hospital
Side-by-side comparisons, feature by feature. No single feature is enough.
Morel vs false morel: how to tell them apart
Morel vs false morel: a true morel is hollow from cap to base with a pitted cap fused to the stem. A false morel is chambered inside, with a lobed, brain-like cap.
Choice ediblePoisonousChanterelle vs jack-o'-lantern: how to tell them apart
Chanterelle vs jack-o'-lantern: chanterelles have blunt forked ridges and grow from soil. Jack-o'-lanterns have sharp true gills and grow in clusters on wood.
EdibleDeadlyGiant puffball vs young Amanita: how to tell them apart
Giant puffball vs young amanita: cut every puffball top to bottom. Pure white inside means puffball; the outline of a cap and gills means an Amanita egg.
Found something? Start here
How to photograph a mushroom for identification
Cap, gills, stem base and habitat: the four photos that make a mushroom identifiable, plus light, scale and why you must dig up the base.
Dog ate a mushroom in the yard? What to do now
Call your vet or a pet poison line now, even if your dog seems fine. Then: how to bag the mushroom, photograph it, and what the vet will ask.
Are mushroom identification apps accurate? What the studies found
What published tests found when mushroom ID apps were checked, why photos miss deadly features, and how to use an app without trusting it.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an app that tells you if a mushroom is safe to eat?
No app can clear a wild mushroom for eating, Mycoscout included. Mycoscout shows an edibility verdict first, but an edible verdict always reads "verify before eating". Use it to learn what to check and which look-alikes to rule out, then confirm with a local expert before you eat anything.
How does Mycoscout identify a mushroom?
You photograph up to four angles: the cap, the gills, the stem with its base, and the habitat. An on-device check flags blurry or dark photos first. The result gives the edibility verdict, the likely species with a confidence level, the features to confirm yourself, the dangerous look-alikes, and other possible species when it is unsure.
Is Mycoscout free?
The download is free and includes 3 free identifications. After that, Mycoscout Pro unlocks unlimited identifications and your full history. In the US, Pro is $29.99 a year with a 7-day free trial, or $3.99 a week.
How accurate are mushroom identification apps?
Not accurate enough to rely on alone. A 2023 study by an Australian poisons information centre found the apps it tested often misidentified poisonous mushrooms. Mycoscout was not part of that study, and we make no accuracy claim. That is why every result shows a confidence level and the look-alikes to rule out.
Does Mycoscout work on Android?
Yes. Mycoscout is on the App Store for iPhone (iOS 15 or later) and on Google Play for Android.
Does it work offline?
No. Identification needs an internet connection. Your finds are saved on your phone, so you can look back at them without a signal.
What happens to my photos?
Location data is removed from your photos before they leave the phone, and your finds are saved on your device. You do not need an account to start.
Which languages does Mycoscout support?
Results are available in 22 languages, including the species notes, not only the buttons.
Know what to check before you trust a find
Mycoscout shows the verdict first, admits when it is unsure, and names the look-alikes.
On a computer?Scan to get it on your phone.
Free download · 3 free identifications, then Mycoscout Pro