If you're here, you've probably just discovered that Blossom raised their annual subscription from $30 to $90—a 200% price increase with little to no advance warning. You're not alone in your frustration, and you're smart to look for alternatives.
Let me be upfront: I'm Sage, creator of Sprig Plant Care, one of the alternatives I'll discuss below. But I'm also a recovering plant killer who's tried (and paid for) most of the plant care apps on the market. This guide reflects honest comparisons, including where Blossom actually excels.
Why Blossom Users Are Looking for Alternatives
Before we dive into options, let's acknowledge what happened. According to reports from plant care communities on Reddit and App Store reviews, Blossom users experienced:
- No advance notice of the 200% price increase
- Confusing billing with some users reporting charges of $200/year
- Loss of trust in a brand that used to position itself as affordable and user-friendly
The price increase itself isn't necessarily the problem—apps need sustainable business models. The issue is how it was communicated (or not communicated) to loyal users who'd already invested time adding their plants, setting up care schedules, and building trust in the platform.
If you're feeling burned, that's valid. And it's why radical transparency about pricing matters.
What to Look for in a Blossom Alternative
When switching plant care apps, consider:
1. Transparent Pricing
Can you see the price before downloading? Or do you have to create an account, add your plants, and get invested before learning what it costs? Apps that hide pricing until you're emotionally committed aren't acting in good faith.
2. Fair Free Tier
A generous free tier (at least 2-3 plants) lets you genuinely test whether the app works for you before committing. Stingy free tiers (1 plant or 7-day trial only) push you into paid subscriptions before you can make an informed decision.
3. Feature Depth
Plant identification is table stakes now—every app does it. Look for:
- Customized watering schedules (not generic reminders)
- Light detection or guidance
- Seasonal care adjustments (your plants need different care in March than December)
- Disease diagnosis
- Care history tracking
4. No Bait-and-Switch
Apps that offer a "free trial" but require payment info upfront and auto-charge without clear reminders are using dark patterns. You deserve better.
5. Platform Availability
Are you iOS-only, Android-only, or do you need cross-platform access (iPad, web dashboard, multiple devices)?
Best Blossom Alternatives (Honest Comparison)
1. Sprig Plant Care — Best for Transparent Pricing and Seasonal Care
Pricing: Free for 3 plants. $3.99/month or $24.99/year for unlimited plants.
Platforms: iOS, macOS, visionOS
Database: 125+ plant species with seasonal care adjustments
What makes Sprig different:
- Radically transparent pricing. You can see the price on our website, in our App Store screenshots, and right here in this blog post. No surprises. No hidden fees. No sudden 200% increases.
- Free tier lets you actually use the app. 3 plants is enough to test whether Sprig works for you. Not a "try it for 3 days then pay" trap.
- Seasonal care adjustments. Your monstera needs different watering in winter vs. summer. Sprig automatically adjusts your schedule based on the season and your location.
- Lightweight and fast. 3.1 MB app size. No bloat.
Where Sprig falls short:
- iOS-only (no Android version yet)
- Smaller plant database than some competitors (though we cover the most common 125+ species)
- No web dashboard (mobile-first)
Best for: iPhone users who value transparency, want automatic seasonal adjustments, and have been burned by "free" apps with surprise charges.
Try Sprig: Download on the App Store
2. Planta — Best for Advanced Features (But Pricing Still Hidden)
Pricing: Unknown until after download (estimated $8-12/month based on user reports)
Platforms: iOS, Android
Database: Large (exact number not disclosed)
What Planta does well:
- Polished UI/UX. Widely considered the best-designed plant care app
- Weather sync. Automatically adjusts reminders based on local weather
- Light detection. Uses your phone camera to measure light levels in different rooms
- Strong plant database. Covers most common and uncommon species
Where Planta disappoints:
- Hides pricing until after download. You have to create an account and add plants before seeing what you'll pay. This is the same pattern that frustrated Blossom users.
- Higher price point. Based on community reports, Planta is one of the most expensive plant care apps.
- Aggressive upselling. Free tier is very limited, and you'll see frequent prompts to upgrade.
Best for: Users who want the most feature-rich app and don't mind higher pricing once they see the value.
3. PictureThis — Best for Plant Identification (But Care is Secondary)
Pricing: Unknown until after download (estimated $10-15/month)
Platforms: iOS, Android
Database: Massive (claims 400,000+ species for identification)
What PictureThis does well:
- Best-in-class plant identification. If you have mystery plants, PictureThis is the most accurate identifier.
- Instant diagnosis. Take a photo of a sick plant and get immediate feedback.
- Huge database. Covers rare and uncommon species that other apps miss.
Where PictureThis falls short:
- Identification-first, care second. The app is built for "What is this plant?" not "How do I keep it alive long-term."
- Hides pricing. Same pattern—no price until after download and account creation.
- Weaker ongoing care features. Reminders and schedules feel like an afterthought compared to competitors.
Best for: Users who need to identify plants they already own or find in the wild, but may need a second app for ongoing care.
4. PlantIn — Best for Beginners (Simple and Approachable)
Pricing: Unknown until after download (estimated $7-10/month)
Platforms: iOS, Android
Database: Good coverage for common houseplants
What PlantIn does well:
- Beginner-friendly onboarding. Clear, simple setup process
- Covers the basics well. Watering, light, fertilizing reminders without overwhelming new plant parents
- Lower price point (estimated, based on positioning)
Where PlantIn could improve:
- Hides pricing. (Sensing a pattern here?)
- Fewer advanced features. If you're a serious plant collector, you may outgrow PlantIn quickly.
- Less differentiated. It's "fine" but not exceptional at anything specific.
Best for: First-time plant owners who want a simple, approachable app without advanced features they won't use.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Sprig | Planta | PictureThis | PlantIn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transparent Pricing | ✅ Yes ($3.99/mo or $24.99/yr) | ❌ Hidden | ❌ Hidden | ❌ Hidden |
| Free Tier Plants | 3 | 2-3 | None (trial only) | 2 |
| Seasonal Care Adjustments | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Plant Identification | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Best-in-class | ✅ Yes |
| Light Detection | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Weather Sync | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Disease Diagnosis | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Android Available | ❌ iOS only | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| App Size | 3.1 MB | Unknown (larger) | Unknown (larger) | Unknown |
| Estimated Price | $3.99-$4.99/mo | $8-12/mo | $10-15/mo | $7-10/mo |
What About Sticking with Blossom?
Look, if Blossom's new pricing works for your budget and you're heavily invested in the platform (years of care history, photos, notes), switching might not be worth it. The price increase is frustrating, but Blossom is still a solid app.
That said, consider:
- Will they raise prices again? If they went from $30 to $90 without warning once, what's stopping them from going to $120 next year?
- Trust matters. A brand that surprises users with 200% increases may make other decisions that don't prioritize your interests.
- Sunk cost fallacy. The time you've already invested in Blossom shouldn't trap you in a relationship that no longer works. Most plant care apps let you import photos and manually re-add plants in 10-15 minutes.
Only you can decide if the higher price is worth it. But if you're exploring alternatives, you're already questioning the value—and that's worth listening to.
Why Pricing Transparency Matters (A Rant from a Fellow Plant Parent)
Here's the thing: plant care apps shouldn't feel like used car lots.
When you download an app, you're making a commitment. You're adding your plants, uploading photos, setting up care schedules, logging watering dates. You're building a relationship with the tool.
If an app hides its pricing until you've made that emotional investment, that's a dark pattern. It's intentionally designed to make you feel trapped into paying because you've already put in the work.
At Sprig, we believe you deserve to know what you're paying for before you download. That's why our pricing is on our homepage, in our App Store screenshots, and yes, even in blog posts comparing us to competitors.
We're not perfect. We're a small team (okay, it's mostly just me and a lot of coffee). But we promise:
- No surprise price increases. If we ever raise prices, existing subscribers stay at their current rate.
- No hidden fees. What you see is what you pay. No sneaky add-ons.
- No bait-and-switch free trials. Our free tier is genuinely free, genuinely useful, and genuinely unlimited in time.
Call us old-fashioned. Call us naive. But we think honesty should be table stakes, not a competitive advantage.
How to Switch from Blossom to Another App (Practical Steps)
If you've decided to make the move, here's how to do it without losing your plant care history:
Step 1: Screenshot Your Blossom Plant List
Before canceling, take screenshots of:
- Your plant list (species names)
- Custom care schedules you've set
- Any notes or observations you've logged
Step 2: Export Photos (If Possible)
If Blossom allows photo export, save your plant photos to your camera roll. If not, screenshot your photo journal.
Step 3: Cancel Your Blossom Subscription
- iOS: Settings > [Your Name] > Subscriptions > Blossom > Cancel Subscription
- Android: Google Play > Subscriptions > Blossom > Cancel
Make sure to cancel at least 24 hours before your next billing date to avoid being charged.
Step 4: Download Your New App
Whether it's Sprig, Planta, or another alternative, download it before your Blossom access ends so you don't have a gap in reminders.
Step 5: Re-Add Your Plants
This is the tedious part, but most apps make it quick:
- Use the plant identification feature to scan each plant
- Manually enter custom care schedules if needed
- Re-upload photos if you want to continue tracking growth
Pro tip: You don't have to do this all at once. Start with your 3-5 neediest plants (the ones that die if you forget to water for a week), then add the rest gradually.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use multiple plant care apps at once?
Absolutely. Some users keep PictureThis for identification and a separate app (like Sprig or Planta) for ongoing care. There's no rule saying you have to pick just one.
Will switching apps mess up my care routine?
There may be a short adjustment period as you learn the new app's interface, but most apps let you customize care schedules. Your plants won't notice the difference as long as you're still watering them on time.
What if I've been using Blossom for years?
Your plant knowledge doesn't live in the app—it lives in your head. You can rebuild a care schedule in 10-15 minutes. The sunk cost of time already invested shouldn't trap you in a tool that no longer works for you.
Is Sprig really only $3.99/month?
Yes. $3.99/month or $24.99/year (which works out to $2.08/month). No hidden fees. No surprise increases. You can see the pricing right on our App Store page before you download.
Why should I trust Sprig won't raise prices too?
Fair question. Here's our commitment: If we ever raise prices, existing subscribers will be grandfathered in at their current rate. You'll never see a surprise 200% increase. And if we do adjust pricing for new users, we'll announce it publicly with at least 30 days' notice. Transparency goes both ways.
The Bottom Line
Blossom's price increase isn't just about the money—it's about trust. When a company makes major changes without communicating with users, it sends a message about how they value that relationship.
Whether you stick with Blossom or switch to an alternative, you deserve:
- Clear, upfront pricing
- No surprise charges
- Respect for your time and investment
- A tool that genuinely helps your plants thrive
If Sprig sounds like a fit, try it free for 3 plants. No credit card required. No bait-and-switch. Just honest plant care.
And if Sprig isn't right for you? That's okay too. I genuinely hope you find an app that works. Your plants deserve it.
— Sage, Sprig Plant Care