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The App-Garden Partners with TransACT Communications to Offer K12 Better Options for Modern Transportation, Operations and HR Challenges

By Alyssa Thornley |

TransACT Communications ( transact.com ) has acquired App-Garden ( app-garden.com ), a leader in K-12 transportation and operations administrative software. The App-Garden team has over 27 years of experience in developing easy-to-use administrative software to support school bus routing, field trip management, event scheduling and facilities management, volunteer operations, virtual substitute teacher training, and more. Working together, TransACT and The App-Garden are proud to offer K12 administrators cost effective software and outstanding customer service to help improve operations and service delivery in school district operations.

“Ever since starting Cook Consulting (which became The App-Garden) back in 1992, we have focused on putting our customers first always and providing excellent products paired with outstanding service.  Several years ago, we decided that to maintain our growth without compromising our commitment to providing exceptional service,  we needed to find a larger and seasoned company to merge with who held the same values and commitment to customer service and excellence. It took some time, but the search was well worth the waiting for as we believe TransACT is the perfect match to lead The App-Garden to increased service offerings in Tracking and Routing, truly outstanding security, and support and functionality for State Departments of Education."

- Tammy Cook, Founder and President, The App-Garden

"We are excited to welcome the App-Garden team and to be able to partner in providing customers with in dustry-leading software for Routing, Transportation, Facilities Management and more. Tammy, Stewart and the App-Garden team have been providing outstanding software services to schools for over 27 years, and we found a strong alignment between our respective missions to provide K-12 administrators at the local and state level with cost-effective software that reduces bureaucratic burden on education agencies. In our work together, TransACT and App-Garden customers will see increased capabilities within their products and a continued focus on exceptional consultative support and service.”

- Alex Jarzebowicz, CEO, TransACT Communications, LLC.

The App-Garden “Travel Tracker – Routing”  and “Travel Tracker – Field Trips” solutions provide SaaS based school bus route planning, mapping, field trip planning, and proprietary driver bidding as well as a tablet-based GPS option that provides driver time tracking and student ridership tracking. This comprehensive school transportation solution makes managing and merging routes, tracking student ridership, communicating with parents, and assigning drivers significantly less time-consuming than other providers.   

About The Author

Alyssa Thornley has spent her career working to support schools and communities in providing opportunity to all students. In positions as a teacher, professional development coordinator, and as a volunteer, she has focused on the community’s role in education, and in designing efficient programs that work for diverse needs. Alyssa leads TransACT’s customer engagement and market strategy efforts, and works to ensure innovative programs, guidance, and thought leadership from across the country’s districts are being shared and spread.

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• TravelTracker-Trips Simple field trip management and tracking
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VolunteerTracker is only available to existing customers. If you would like to contact customer support, please click the button below.

How it works.

Coordinators create volunteer opportunities

With our user-friendly, web-based portal, school employees can quickly and easily create and distribute information on volunteer opportunities.

VolunteerTracker matches volunteers to opportunities

Our system automatically identifies volunteers who are likely to be a good fit for the posting and emails them the details.

Volunteers review postings and sign up to help

Opportunities are distributed to volunteers who can review the posting and sign up to offer their services.

Safety Review feature added to the VolunteerTracker to automate safety training and liability waivers for volunteers. 

Features focused on safety in a new school environment.

Safety Review Agreement

VolunteerTracker now includes a customizable safety review agreement. Once a volunteer has completed an online application and has been approved by the district, the volunteer will be prompted to complete the safety review agreement prior to being able to sign up for opportunities. 

Video Training Covering Safety Policies and Procedures

Volunteers will be promted to view a training video covering safety policies and procedures. Districts will have the option to use the provided video or provide a video of their own.

Electronically Sign and Agree

Once the volunteer has reviewed all provided material the volunteer must electronically sign and agree that they have reviewed all information and understand the safety policies and procedures. Volunteers will not be able to proceed beyond this step without an electronic signature. This agreement is saved in the system for easy access and reference.

Create Both Virtual and In-Person Volunteer Opportunties

While many districts are restricting visitors inside the building, there are still many opportunities that volunteers will be a valuable resource for such as remote reading buddies or virtual tutoring. Through VolunteerTracker, volunteers can sign up for opportunities at their children’s school.

Have any questions?

Reach out to one of our customer support team.

Best Gardening Apps – Top 15 (EXPERT Review 2024)

Published by ava brown on december 29, 2023 december 29, 2023.

Welcome to our comprehensive guide on the best gardening apps. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, these apps can significantly enhance your gardening experience.

Next to gardening books & gardening podcasts , gardening apps have emerged as indispensable tools for garden enthusiasts. They offer a plethora of features designed to simplify the complexities of gardening, making it more accessible and enjoyable for everyone. From plant identification to garden planning, watering schedules to pest control, these apps cover every aspect of gardening.

In order to identify the best gardening apps, we have asked 50 of our colleagues to download more than 40 different gardening apps to pick out their favourites, based on a scientific and data-based assessment on more than 100 data points.

Join us as we unfold the digital revolution in gardening, and discover how these apps can transform your green space.

Not into modern techniology or apps? No worries! Check out the best gardening books instead. Alternatively, subscribe to a monthly gardening magazine or watch gardening TV shows .

What are Gardening Apps?

6 advatages of gardening apps, 1. instant knowledge access, 2. customized assistance, 3. efficiency and reminders, 4. easy plant identification, 5. community connection, 6. eco-friendly gardening, best gardening apps, 1. from seed to spoon gardening – best gardening app, ecocation® test score:, how it works:, best features:, supported platforms:, what our testers say about from seed to spoon gardening:, 2. planta – best plant care app, what our testers say about planta:, 3. plantsnap – best plant identification app, what our testers say about plantsnap:, 4. grow by rhs – best all-round gardening app, what our testers say about grow by rhs:, 5. homegrown with bonnie plants – vegetable gardening app, what our testers say about homegrown with bonnie plants:, 6. lawn to wildflowers – sustainable gardening app, what our testers say about lawn to wildflowers:, 7. moon & garden – moon planting schedule app, what our testers say about moon & garden:, 8. garden tags – social media app for gardeners, what our testers say about garden tags:, 9. growit – track garden progress, what our testers say about growit:, 10. gardenize – plan & manage garden, what our testers say about gardenize:, 11. inaturalist – all-round plant & gardening app, what our testers say about inaturalist:, 12. iscape – garden design app, what our testers say about iscape:, 13. home design 3d outdoor & garden – garden design app, what our testers say about home design 3d outdoor & garden:, 14. hortisketch – garden layout planner, what our testers say about hortisketch:, 15. my green space – food growing app for gardeners, what our testers say about my green space:.

Gardening apps are mobile applications designed to assist with various aspects of gardening. These digital tools serve as a bridge between technology and nature, offering a range of functionalities that cater to diverse gardening activities. With the power of smartphones, these apps provide valuable information and services right at your fingertips.

They can identify plants, track plant growth, offer gardening advice, provide weather forecasts, and even create personalized garden plans. Gardening apps are tailored to make the life of a gardener easier, more efficient, and more productive, encompassing both the needs of casual backyard gardeners and professional landscapers.

In contrast to traditional resources, like gardening magazines, gardening apps provide immediate access to extensive plant care guides, pest identification, and other valuable information.

These apps offer personalized advice based on your specific garden type, location, and plant choices, ensuring relevant and practical guidance.

Save time and effort with automated reminders for watering, fertilizing, and other essential gardening tasks.

Utilize photo recognition features for quick plant identification and growth tracking, beneficial for both new and experienced gardeners.

Engage with fellow gardeners through app-based social networks, sharing tips, advice, and garden progress.

Promote sustainable practices with tips on composting, water conservation, and organic pest control .

From Seed To Spoon Gardening simplifies the gardening process, guiding users from planting to harvest. It provides tailored advice based on your location and the current season. For instance, it can recommend the best plants for urban gardening or the best vegetables to plant in your area during spring. It’s one of the best free gardening apps, especially useful for beginners looking to get their hands dirty.

Personalized Planting Calendar

Shows optimal planting times based on your location and season.

Garden Planning Tool

Offers layout designs for efficient space utilization.

Interactive Learning Resources

Provides tutorials and guides for various gardening techniques.

iOS, Android

Free with optional in-app purchases. Contains ads, with a premium version offering ad-free experience and extra features.

• User-Friendly Interface: Easy navigation and clear instructions.
• Location-Specific Advice: Tailored gardening tips for your area.
• Extensive Plant Database: Covers a wide range of vegetables and herbs.
• In-App Ads: Contains advertisements in free version.
• Limited Customization: Some features lack personalization options.

Our team found From Seed To Spoon Gardening to be an incredibly helpful tool for both novice and experienced gardeners. The personalized planting calendar was particularly appreciated, as it took the guesswork out of knowing when to plant. The garden planning tool was also a hit for efficiently utilizing garden space. However, some testers noted the presence of ads in the free version could be distracting, and desired more customization options in garden planning.

Being one of the best plant care apps , Planta is designed to help users keep their plants healthy and thriving. It offers tailored care instructions for each plant, including watering, light needs, and fertilizing schedules. For example, it can send reminders to water your specific type of orchid.

Watering Reminders

Customized alerts for each plant’s watering needs.

Light Meter

Helps determine the best spot for plant placement.

Plant Doctor

Diagnose and treat plant health issues.

Free download with in-app purchases. Offers a premium subscription for advanced features, no ads.

• Customized Care: Tailored advice for each plant.
• Health Tracking: Monitors plant growth and health.
• Educational Content: Provides valuable plant-care knowledge.
• Premium Cost: Advanced features require subscription.
• Notification Overload: Frequent reminders can be overwhelming.
• Limited Plant Database: Some rare plants not included.

Our testers were impressed with Planta’s comprehensive approach to plant care. The customized soil care instructions and watering reminders were particularly helpful for those with a busy schedule or new to plant care. The light meter feature was praised for assisting in finding the perfect spot for each plant. While the plant doctor feature was seen as a valuable resource for troubleshooting, the testers mentioned that the premium subscription was necessary to unlock the app’s full potential. A few also noted that while the app covers a wide variety of plants, it lacks information on some less common species. Overall, Planta is a great asset for anyone looking to keep their plants healthy and flourishing.

Being one of the best plant identification apps , PlantSnap is a powerful tool for quickly identifying plants, flowers, and trees. Users simply snap a photo of the plant, and the app uses advanced AI to identify it. For instance, take a picture of an unknown flower in your garden, and PlantSnap will tell you what it is. So it’s a great app for identifying flowers and the likes.

Instant Identification

Identify plants with a quick photo.

Extensive Database

Access to a vast library of plants.

User-Friendly Interface

Easy to navigate and use.

Free to download, includes in-app purchases. Offers a premium version for additional features, without ads.

• Fast Results: Quick and accurate identification.
• Learning Tool: Great for educational purposes.
• Regular Updates: Database constantly expands.
• Internet Dependency: Requires a stable internet connection.
• Mixed Accuracy: Sometimes struggles with rare species.
• In-App Purchases: Essential features cost extra.

Our testers found PlantSnap to be an incredibly useful tool for both amateur and experienced gardeners and nature enthusiasts. The app’s ability to instantly identify a wide variety of plants was highly praised, particularly for those curious about the flora around them. While the interface is user-friendly, some testers experienced occasional inaccuracies with rare or less common plants. The dependence on an internet connection was seen as a minor inconvenience. Despite these drawbacks, the overall feedback was positive, especially for the app’s educational value in learning about different plant species. The regular updates adding new plants to the database were also appreciated, keeping the app relevant and useful.

Grow by RHS , developed by the Royal Horticultural Society, is a comprehensive app for gardeners of all levels. It offers expert advice, planting tips, and problem-solving solutions. For example, it provides guidance on almost any topic you can imagine, from how you can deal with maggots in your compost to growing a palm tree from seeds . The app guides you through planting a vegetable garden, providing step-by-step instructions.

Expert Gardening Advice

Get tips from RHS experts.

Plant Identifier

Easily identify plants and flowers.

Personalized Reminders

Custom alerts for plant care.

100% free to download; no in-app purchases or ads.

• Trustworthy Information: Reliable, expert-backed advice.
• Wide Plant Range: Covers a vast array of plants.
• User Friendly: Intuitive and easy to navigate.
• Limited Offline Use: Requires internet for full functionality.
• Basic Interface: Lacks advanced customization.
• Focused Content: Primarily UK-centric gardening information.

Our testers were impressed with the depth of knowledge and expert advice provided by Grow by RHS. The app was particularly helpful for beginner gardeners, offering straightforward guidance and easy-to-follow instructions. The plant identifier was a favorite feature, though some noted that the app’s content is more UK-centric, which may limit its applicability in other regions. The simplicity of the interface was appreciated, but some testers desired more advanced features. Overall, it’s an excellent resource for gardeners seeking reliable information and guidance.

Homegrown with Bonnie Plants is tailored for vegetable gardeners, offering guidance from planting to harvest. It provides personalized planting recommendations and care tips. For instance, users can track the growth of their tomatoes, receiving notifications for optimal watering and fertilizing times.

Growth Tracker

Monitor your vegetables’ progress.

Care Reminders

Get timely care tips.

Expert Advice

Access professional gardening insights.

Free to download, no in-app purchases or ads.

• Tailored Tips: Specific advice for vegetables.
• Easy Tracking: Simplifies garden management.
• Educational Content: Great for learning.
• Vegetable Focus: Limited to vegetable gardening.
• Basic Interface: Lacks advanced tools.
• Regional Limits: Best suited for Northern climates.

Our testers found Homegrown With Bonnie Plants to be an invaluable tool for vegetable gardening enthusiasts. The app’s specific focus on vegetable care was highly appreciated, especially for those new to this type of gardening. The growth tracker and care reminders were seen as particularly beneficial for keeping track of garden progress and ensuring plants receive the right care at the right time. However, some testers noted the app’s focus on vegetables might be limiting for those interested in a broader range of gardening. Despite its basic interface, the app was praised for its educational content and user-friendly design

Lawn To Wildflowers focuses on transforming conventional lawns into sustainable, wildlife-friendly spaces. It offers guidance on selecting and growing native plants to support local ecosystems. For example, users can learn how to convert a section of their lawn into a wildflower haven for bees and butterflies.

Native Plant Selector

Recommends local wildflowers.

Wildlife Attraction Tips

How to attract beneficial insects and birds.

Progress Tracker

Monitor your garden’s ecological impact.

Completely free, no in-app purchases or ads.

• Eco-Friendly Focus: Promotes biodiversity.
• Practical Guidance: Step-by-step instructions.
• Conservation Efforts: Supports environmental sustainability.
• Limited Scope: Mainly for wildflowers.
• Simple Design: Lacks visual appeal.
• Region-Specific: Best for certain areas.

Our testers were enthusiastic about Lawn To Wildflowers’ mission to promote sustainable gardening practices. The native plant selector was a standout feature, making it easier to choose plants that are beneficial for local wildlife. The app’s practical advice for attracting birds and insects was also highly praised. However, some testers noted that its focus on wildflowers and regional specificity might not appeal to everyone. Despite its simple design, the app was appreciated for its straightforward approach and contribution to conservation efforts.

Moon & Garden harnesses the ancient practice of lunar gardening, aligning planting and harvesting activities with lunar phases. The app provides a calendar that shows the best days for sowing, transplanting, and harvesting based on the moon’s cycle. For example, it might suggest planting leafy vegetables during a waxing moon.

Lunar Calendar

Gardening activities tailored to moon phases.

Planting Reminders

Notifications for optimal planting times.

Gardening Tips

Seasonal advice and lunar lore.

Free with optional in-app purchases. Offers ad-free experience and extra features in premium version.

• Unique Approach: Incorporates lunar cycles.
• Timely Notifications: Helps plan gardening tasks.
• Educational Content: Offers insight into lunar gardening.
• Niche Method: Not for all gardeners.
• Requires Patience: Lunar gardening takes time.
• Ads in Free Version: Slightly intrusive.

Our testers found Moon & Garden to be a fascinating and unique tool, particularly for those interested in traditional gardening methods. The lunar calendar was praised for adding an interesting dimension to gardening planning. However, some noted that lunar gardening might not suit everyone, especially those looking for immediate results. The educational content was appreciated for providing a deeper understanding of how lunar phases can impact gardening activities. Although the free version contains ads, the overall experience was seen as enriching and different from typical gardening apps.

Garden Tags combines social media with gardening, allowing users to share their gardening experiences, get advice, and find inspiration. Users can post photos of their plants, seek identification help, or share gardening successes. For instance, you can upload a photo of your blooming rose bush and receive tips and compliments from fellow gardeners.

Community Interaction

Connect with fellow gardeners.

Plant Identification

Get help identifying plants.

Gardening Challenges

Participate in fun, educational activities.

Free, with in-app purchases for premium features. Includes ads.

• Social Networking: Builds gardening community.
• Learning Opportunities: Gain and share knowledge.
• User Engagement: Interactive and fun.
• Internet Required: Depends on online connectivity.
• In-App Purchases: For full experience.
• Variable Advice Quality: Depends on community knowledge.

Our testers enjoyed the unique blend of social media and gardening offered by Garden Tags. The community aspect was a highlight, providing a platform to connect with like-minded gardeners and share experiences. While the plant identification feature and gardening challenges added an engaging and educational element, some testers mentioned the quality of advice can vary as it relies on community input. The presence of in-app purchases for premium features was noted, but overall, the app was seen as a valuable resource for both novice and expert gardeners looking for a social gardening experience.

Growit! is designed to help gardeners track and share their gardening journey. It allows users to document the growth of their plants with photos and notes, creating a visual diary. For example, you can regularly upload pictures of your growing tomato plants to see their progress over time.

Growth Diary

Document plant development with photos.

Community Sharing

Connect with other gardeners.

Get help identifying unknown plants.

Free to download, includes ads. In-app purchases for additional features.

• Visual Tracking: See your garden’s growth.
• Social Interaction: Engage with a gardening community.
• Plant ID Help: Assistance with unknown plants.
• Ad Interruptions: Contains advertisements.
• Limited Offline Access: Requires internet for full functionality.

Our testers found Growit! to be an enjoyable and informative tool for tracking garden progress. The ability to create a visual diary was particularly appreciated, as it helped in observing and understanding plant growth over time. While the social aspect of connecting with other gardeners was seen as a great way to exchange tips and experiences, the presence of ads in the free version was noted as a minor inconvenience. Overall, the app was considered a valuable resource for gardeners looking to document and share their gardening journey.

Gardenize is an all-in-one app for organizing and managing your garden. It allows users to record information about their plants, track gardening activities, and plan garden layouts. For instance, you can log each plant’s watering schedule, fertilizer needs, and growth stages.

Detailed Plant Logging

Record info for each plant.

Garden Layout Planner

Design and visualize garden spaces.

Activity Tracker

Keep track of gardening tasks.

Free to use with optional in-app purchases for premium features. Premium version offers advanced planning tools and no ads.

• Comprehensive Records: Detailed plant care logs.
• Visual Planning: Helps design garden layouts.
• Task Management: Organizes gardening activities.
• Complex Interface: Can be overwhelming.
• Premium Restrictions: Best features behind paywall.
• Data-Intensive: Requires significant input.

Our testers appreciated Gardenize for its comprehensive approach to garden management. The detailed logging of plant information and the garden layout planner were particularly useful for meticulous planning and organization. While the app’s wide range of features was praised, some testers found the interface a bit complex and time-consuming to navigate, especially for beginners. The need for a premium subscription to access the best features was also noted. Overall, Gardenize was seen as a powerful tool for serious gardeners who enjoy detailed tracking and planning.

iNaturalist is a nature exploration and observation app that connects gardeners and nature enthusiasts with a global community of biologists. By uploading photos of plants or wildlife, users can get identifications and contribute to biodiversity science. For example, snapping a photo of an unknown bird in your garden could lead to its identification by the community or experts. The creators of iNaturalist also came up with a complementary app, callled Seek , which is a bit more simple and user-friendly.

Species Identification

Quickly identify plants and animals.

Community Science

Contribute to biodiversity data.

Educational Resources

Learn about wildlife and ecosystems.

• Wide Biodiversity: Identifies a vast range of species.
• Community Contributions: Engage with scientists and enthusiasts.
• Educational Value: Great for learning about nature.
• Varied Accuracy: Dependent on community identifications.
• Data Reliant: Requires internet for full functionality.
• User Interface: Complex for new users.

Our testers were impressed with iNaturalist’s vast database and the ability to contribute to scientific research. The species identification feature was highly valued for learning about local biodiversity. However, some found that the accuracy of identifications varied, depending on who in the community responded. The educational aspect of the app was praised, particularly for those interested in nature and conservation. Despite a somewhat complex interface for beginners, iNaturalist was seen as an excellent tool for connecting with nature and a wider community of nature enthusiasts.

iScape is a garden design app that enables users to visualize and plan their garden space digitally. It allows you to create virtual layouts of your garden by adding plants, trees, and garden features. For example, you can experiment with different plant arrangements in your front yard before making any physical changes.

Virtual Garden Design

Create and plan garden layouts.

Extensive Plant Library

Choose from a wide range of plants.

Real-Time Editing

Instantly modify and view changes.

Free to download with in-app purchases. Offers a subscription model for advanced features and access to a larger plant library.

• Design Flexibility: Experiment with various layouts.
• Large Plant Selection: Diverse range of plants and features.
• User-Friendly Interface: Easy to navigate and use.
• iOS Only: Limited to Apple devices.
• Subscription Model: Full features require payment.
• Data Intensive: Requires a good amount of data input.

Our testers found iScape to be an incredibly useful tool for garden planning and design. The app’s ability to visualize garden layouts before implementing them was highly appreciated, especially for those planning significant garden renovations. The extensive plant library and real-time editing features allowed for great flexibility in design. However, the limitation to iOS devices and the need for a subscription to unlock full features were noted as drawbacks. Overall, iScape was seen as a valuable asset for anyone looking to creatively plan and design their garden space.

Similar to iScape, Home Design 3D Outdoor & Garden is an app for designing and visualizing outdoor spaces in 3D. It allows users to create detailed garden and landscape designs using a drag-and-drop interface. For example, you can design your backyard with specific garden beds, trees, and outdoor furniture, seeing the result in a realistic 3D model.

3D Visualization

View designs in three dimensions.

Wide Object Library

Includes plants, furniture, and more.

Customizable Designs

Modify every aspect of your garden.

Free download with in-app purchases. Offers a premium version for access to the full library of design objects and features.

• Realistic 3D Models: Bring designs to life.
• Extensive Customization: Tailor every detail.
• Easy-to-Use Interface: Intuitive design process.
• Learning Curve: Initially complex for beginners.

Our testers were impressed with the realistic 3D visualization capabilities of Home Design 3D Outdoor & Garden, finding it exceptionally useful for planning and imagining garden layouts. The extensive library of objects allowed for detailed customization of outdoor spaces. However, some noted that getting the hang of the app’s features could be daunting for beginners, and the need for in-app purchases to access full functionalities was seen as a downside. The app performed best on newer devices, providing a smoother design experience.

Hortisketch is a specialized app designed for creating and planning garden layouts. It allows users to sketch out garden designs, incorporating various plants and garden elements. For instance, users can map out a new vegetable garden, placing beds, paths, and specific vegetables in a scaled layout.

Detailed Sketching Tools

Create precise garden layouts.

Plant Database

Includes a variety of plants.

Scale Adjustments

Accurately size garden elements.

Offers a free version with basic features, in-app purchases for advanced tools and functionalities.

• Precision Planning: For detailed layouts.
• Wide Plant Selection: Extensive variety of plants.
• User-Friendly: Easy for beginners and experts.
• Basic Free Version: Limited features without payment.
• Requires Practice: Initially challenging to master.
• Device Compatibility: Better on tablets than phones.

Our testers found Hortisketch to be a valuable tool for gardeners who enjoy detailed planning and design. The precision sketching tools and the ability to adjust scale were particularly appreciated for creating accurate garden layouts. The extensive plant database provided a wide range of options for planning diverse gardens. However, the free version was seen as somewhat basic, with the more advanced features locked behind in-app purchases. Some testers noted a bit of a learning curve and recommended using the app on tablets for a better experience.

My Green Space is dedicated to helping users grow their own food, regardless of space constraints. It offers personalized plans based on available space, sunlight, and desired crops. For example, users can input their balcony dimensions to receive suggestions for suitable vegetables and herbs.

Customized Garden Plans

Tailored to your space and conditions.

Plant Care Reminders

Timely notifications for watering and care.

Harvest Tracker

Monitor and record your harvests.

Free to download, with in-app purchases for additional features and tools.

• Personalized Recommendations: Ideal for small spaces.
• Timely Alerts: Helps in consistent plant care.
• Harvest Satisfaction: Tracks success and yields.
• In-App Purchases: For full feature access.
• Data Entry Required: Needs initial setup information.
• Focused Scope: Mainly on food plants.

Our testers appreciated My Green Space for its focus on urban and small-space gardening . The app’s ability to provide customized garden plans based on individual space and conditions was a standout feature. Reminders for plant care were helpful in maintaining a consistent gardening routine. However, the requirement for in-app purchases to access certain features and the initial data entry process were noted as minor drawbacks. Overall, the app was praised for its user-friendly approach to helping city dwellers grow their own food successfully.

Related content:

• Top 5 Free Tree Identification Apps
• Animal Identifier – The Best Apps To Identify Animals
• Best FREE Apps to Identify Bugs & Insects
• Free Rock Identification Apps – Top 5

Ava is a dynamic and passionate eco-journalist, recognized as one of the youngest contributors at EcoCation.org. With a deep-seated love for the environment, she specializes in gardening and eco-living topics, bringing fresh and innovative perspectives to sustainable living. Ava’s work is driven by her commitment to inspire others to embrace green practices and create a healthier planet. Her articles blend practical advice with a youthful enthusiasm, making eco-friendly living accessible and engaging for all. As an aspiring voice in environmental journalism, Ava is dedicated to fostering a more sustainable future through her writing.

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I tested the Oura Ring for months — here’s how it compares to other fitness trackers

I love my fitness trackers , but not everyone enjoys a bulky watch on their wrist. As a tech reporter, I often come to work with a different watch on my wrist, and my co-workers almost always deem them “ugly” or “too big.” I get it: most trackers are not subtle.

The Oura Ring is an exception: it’s a health tracker disguised as a metal ring. I wore it for over four months (after the brand sent me a sample to try out), and think it’s a great alternative for anyone who hates chunky watches. But it’s not a do-it-all wearable — it won’t replace your smartwatch . Read on to learn what you should know before buying one.

SKIP AHEAD How I tried the Oura Ring | My experience with the Oura Ring | Who is the Oura Ring best for?

What is the Oura Ring?

• Sleek, minimal design
• Accurate sleep tracking
• Up to 7 day battery life
• Requires a subscription
• Not enough workout data

The Oura Ring ($299) comes in two designs: Heritage, which has flat accents, and Horizon, which is a standard, uniform circle (and costs $50 more). Both are made of titanium on the outside and plastic on the inner finish. You can choose from six different finishes (two are exclusive to the Horizon design).

The ring tracks a plethora of health metrics like heart rate, blood oxygen, skin temperature and daily steps. It can also automatically detect and log workouts like running, cycling, strength and training. The app keeps a history of all your data, so you can see changes and trends over days, weeks and months.

The ring technically does not require a subscription, though without one, you get a very limited amount of data: just daily scores for sleep, activity and readiness, according to the brand . A subscription, which costs $5.99 a month or $69.99 a year, gives you access to much more data, including detailed sleep analysis, blood oxygen sensing, stress insights, resilience scores, dynamic activity goals and weekly, monthly, quarterly and yearly reports. (Oura provided me a 12-month subscription to use during my testing.)

Display: N/A | Weight: 4-6 grams | Battery life: Up to 7 days | Built-in GPS: N/A | Sleep tracking: Yes (including naps) | Heart-rate monitor: Yes, with EKG | Water resistance: Yes, up to 100 meters (up to 12 hours) | Works best with: Oura app (iPhone or Android)

select I wore the newest Fitbit for 3 weeks straight and I loved that it didn’t give me too much info.

How i tried the oura ring.

Before I could test the Oura Ring, I had to find my ring size. Customers receive a free sizing kit as part of any ring purchase before your tracker ships — I used the sizing kit to find the most comfortable fit for my right-hand ring finger, then updated my order. Oura recommends wearing the ring on your index finger with the sensor bumps against the underside of your finger for optimal performance. Middle and ring fingers work, too, according to the brand.

I tested Oura Ring for about four months. For the first three months, I wore it all the time, including while running, biking and at the gym (except when weight lifting). For the fourth month, I wore it solely at night for sleep tracking.

When sleep testing it, I wore the Oura Ring and one other sleep tracking device like the Apple Watch Series 9 ($399), Apple Watch SE ($249) and Withings Scanwatch Light ($249) to compare the results.

My experience with the Oura Ring

The Oura Ring is part of a small but growing category of ring-shaped health trackers, a few competitors being the Ultrahuman Ring Air ($349), RingConn Smart Ring ($279) and Evie Ring ($269).

After wearing it for four months, it’s not for me (I don’t find rings very comfortable), but it could be a good fit for your needs. It’s a very accurate health and sleep tracker, delivering detailed stats, trends data and a mostly hands-off experience in a much smaller size than something like an Apple Watch Series 9 or Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 ($299).

Below, I outline my experience in more detail and what to know before buying one.

What I like

Sleep tracking

The Oura Ring was more accurate for sleep tracking compared to other wearables I used at the same time. For example, when I wake up in the middle of the night, the Oura Ring would correctly track a brief awake period. If I woke up at 5:45 a.m. but stayed in bed scrolling on my phone until 6:30 a.m., the Oura Ring would aso correctly denote this as ‘awake time’. Other wearables I’ve tried don’t always get this right.

One standout feature I found useful (after a few months of wear) was its sleep trends function. With Sleep Trends, I can see changes in data points like my bedtime, time in bed and wake-up time, things I have more control over than stats like deep sleep and restfulness. I try to be in bed by 10:15 p.m. and hope to be asleep by 10:30 p.m. Using sleep trends, I saw that I fell asleep (on average) at 10:34 p.m. in March, but that changed to 11:14 p.m.in May (yikes).

Health tracking

The Oura Ring’s accurate tracking extends to general health stats like daily steps, resting heart rate and body temperature. I got sick with a cold while testing the ring, and was impressed with how it responded.

I sleep poorly when I first start to feel sick. On one particular morning, the Oura app asked me how I was feeling (it automatically detected my increased body temperature). I answered a few prompts and was prompted to enter rest mode . Rest mode paused my daily fitness and health goals (including notifications).

As someone who has gotten many reminders from other fitness trackers to stand up, go for a walk, or hit my fitness goals while sick , I appreciate Oura’s automatic rest mode and focus on recovery.

Automatic workout detection

The Oura Ring automatically detects when you start a workout. It doesn’t ring or buzz at you in the moment, but when you open the app later, it will ask you to double check and confirm all the workouts it detected. It’s a great approach for minimalists who don’t want to start and stop a walk to record a workout, but it still accounts for basic stats like exercise duration, heart rate and calorie burn.

It’s not the most accurate or useful fitness tracker, however. More on that below.

Drawbacks to keep in mind

No half sizing

I am not a ring person, and the Oura Ring didn’t change that. The only thing I put on my fingers is my wedding band, and that’s less than half the height and thickness of the Oura Ring.

It doesn’t help that the Oura Ring is only available in full sizes. This is not unique to Oura: no smart rings currently on the market are available in half sizes. 

My right ring finger is a size 7.5. Using Oura’s ring sizing kit, I found size 8 the most comfortable. But that meant that the ring spun around on my finger; I had to manually realign the sensors often. Since it has a slightly roomy fit on my finger, water would get stuck under the ring everytime I washed my hands — I had to take off the ring if I wanted to actually feel dry.

No live fitness stats

I’m an avid runner and a cyclist . I like to track my heart rate, pace and mileage in real time as I exercise. The Oura Ring doesn’t have a screen, so it can’t show me the same on-wrist data as something like an Apple Watch or Garmin. The Oura app doesn’t have live tracking either.

Inconsistent GPS data

I do almost all of my runs outside, and like to look at my pace, mileage and route afterwards, especially if I am running in a new place. On multiple occasions, I noticed inconsistent map data on the Oura app after my runs. For example: The Oura app would show that I only ran halfway around a nearby park instead of all the way around.

I asked representatives from Oura about the inconsistent map data, and they recommended I turn the location tracking in my settings to “always on” to assure accuracy when recording workouts. After reading some support articles online via their site, I also began “starting” and “stopping” my runs manually via the app — instead of relying on automatic detection — through the “record workout HR” function.

To be clear: Oura’s running metrics were accurate before I changed these settings — things like duration, distance, pace and heart rate were similar to my Apple Watch SE’s data, which I wore to compare against. It was its map display and settings that were giving me some issues. Despite manually recording my workouts via the app, as well as implementing Oura’s recommendation for always keeping my location services on, I didn’t see an improvement in the app data.

I don’t find this surprising given that the Oura Ring relies on your phone’s GPS while many of the best fitness trackers have their own GPS built in. Something like the Garmin Forerunner 165 ($249) might be a better choice if you value consistent map and route data for outdoor fitness.

Subscription price

The Oura Ring all but requires a subscription to be worthwhile. Without a subscription, you can only see daily scores for sleep, activity and readiness, according to the brand . With it, you get full data history, detailed sleep analysis, advanced temperature monitoring, blood oxygen sensing and resilience data (complete list of membership benefits here ). It costs $5.99 a month or $69.99 a year — this is on top of $299 for the ring. That’s pretty steep, especially considering smartwatches like the Apple Watch Series 9 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 track similar data and don’t require a subscription.

Who is the Oura Ring best for?

The Oura Ring is best for anyone who doesn’t want to wear something bulky on their wrist, but still wants to track some health and fitness habits. It delivers very accurate sleep and health data, and doesn’t require much input from the wearer. It has enough battery life to last about a week, and charges relatively painlessly with the included slim dock.

It’s not a good fit for anyone who relies on live exercise stats like runners or cyclists. It’s also a bit pricey, especially considering the subscription — though it does pass as jewelry, and $300 for a ring that’s also a health tracker doesn’t sound as bad. And if you’re like me and just don’t find rings comfortable, this one won’t change your mind.

Why trust NBC Select?

I’m a reporter at NBC Select who covers technology and fitness including guides to fitness trackers, running shoes and workout earbuds . I tried the Oura Ring over four months after the brand sent me a model to try out. I tracked my everyday stats, sleep and exercise using the ring, and compared it to other wearables at similar price points.

Catch up on NBC Select’s in-depth coverage of personal finance , tech and tools , wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook , Instagram , Twitter and TikTok to stay up to date.

Harry Rabinowitz is a reporter for Select on NBC News.