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COMPARISON

Merlin vs BirdNET vs BirdHere

Merlin and BirdNET are free and come from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and its partners. For most people in North America and Europe, Merlin is the place to start. BirdHere is an independent iPhone app for people who want a private field journal, 13 languages, or regional packs beyond Merlin’s Sound ID regions.

Updated

Facts as published by each maker, checked 30 September 2026
Merlin Bird IDBirdNET and BirdNET LiveBirdHere
Made byCornell Lab of OrnithologyK. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics (Cornell Lab) and Chemnitz University of TechnologyEutopix Labs, an independent developer
PriceFreeFreeFree to download; World Pass is an optional in-app purchase
PlatformsiOS, AndroidiOS, AndroidiPhone
Birds identified by sound2,000+ species: most birds of the US, Canada and Europe, plus common birds of India and Central and South AmericaBirdNET app: over 6,000 species across all continentsOne regional pack free; World Pass adds all 40 packs and a worldwide model that intersects with 10,248 species
Works offlineYesBirdNET Live: yes, on the device. BirdNET app: not statedYes, with an installed pack
Your recordingsSaved only on your phone unless you share them with eBirdSharing an observation with the research project is optionalStay on your phone; nothing is uploaded
Identify from a photoYesNo, sound onlyNo, sound only
Shows how sure it isA list of possible matchesConfidence scoresAudio score, recording quality and local context; says when it cannot tell

Which one should you use?

  • Start with Merlin if you are in the US, Canada or Europe. It is free, works offline, identifies birds from photos as well as sound, and is backed by the largest bird database there is.
  • Use BirdNET if you want confidence scores or want your recordings to support research, and BirdNET Live if you run long surveys.
  • Consider BirdHere if you want a private journal where your own confirm or reject decision is the record, if you bird somewhere outside Merlin’s Sound ID regions, or if you want bird names in one of 13 languages.
  • Nothing stops you from using more than one. Two independent suggestions that agree are better evidence than one.

Honest limits

BirdHere reports what it cannot tell you rather than filling the gap with a confident guess.

  • We have not run a head-to-head accuracy test and make no accuracy claim about any of the three apps.
  • BirdHere’s free tier covers one region; the full ranked list of alternatives and the other regions need World Pass. Merlin and BirdNET do not charge.
  • BirdHere does not identify birds from photos and has no Android version.
  • Competitor facts change. Check the sources below for the current state.

Questions

Is Merlin or BirdNET better?

They answer slightly different needs. Merlin lists 2,000+ species for sound and adds photo identification and range information. BirdNET lists over 6,000 species and shows a confidence score for each suggestion. Both are free.

Does Merlin work offline?

Yes. Cornell’s help centre states that Merlin Bird ID works offline.

Does Merlin upload my recordings?

No. Cornell states that Sound ID recordings are saved only on your phone and are never transmitted automatically. You can choose to share them with eBird.

Why would I pay for BirdHere when the others are free?

You may not need to. BirdHere’s free tier is enough for everyday walks in one region. World Pass is for travel, long listening sessions, imports and an unlimited journal.

Sources

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