Greg is one of the best all-round plant apps out there — it identifies plants, builds watering schedules tuned to your light and pots, and has a big, friendly community to troubleshoot with. If you keep a houseful of different plants, it's genuinely great. But if your shelf is mostly succulents and cacti, you may want something narrower.
This is an honest comparison of Greg and Succulent, the photo journal we make for succulent lovers. We'll be fair about Greg's strengths, and clear about who Succulent is really for. (If you're weighing Planta too, we have a separate Succulent vs Planta piece.)
The core difference: a care assistant vs a photo diary
- Greg is organized around tasks and identification. Its job is to tell you what to do and when — water this, repot that, here's what your mystery plant is.
- Succulent is organized around memory and observation. Its job is to help you notice and remember how each succulent actually changes — a visual growth timeline, gentle reminders, and beautiful collages.
Succulents are slow, sculptural, and weird in the best way. Half the joy is watching a leaf pup or a cactus put on a new segment over months. A scheduling app treats that as a chore list; a photo journal treats it as the whole point.
Succulent vs Greg at a glance
| Greg | Succulent | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | All houseplants | Succulents & cacti |
| Organized around | Care tasks & plant ID | Visual growth memory |
| Plant identification | Yes | Not the focus |
| Watering schedule | Personalized algorithm | Gentle reminders, not a strict calendar |
| Growth timeline | — | Photo timeline per plant |
| Community | Large social layer | Quiet, personal, no feed |
| Privacy | Account & community | Local-first, data on device |
Where Greg still wins
Credit where it's due. If you have a diverse jungle of tropicals, ferns, and finicky plants, Greg's identification, tailored watering, and community help are exactly what keeps everything alive. For a mixed collection where you genuinely need care guidance, Greg is a better fit and we'd happily point you there.
Where Succulent fits better
Choose a focused journal like Succulent if:
- Your collection is mostly succulents and cacti and you want an app that speaks that language.
- You'd rather watch your plants grow than work through a task list.
- You want a beautiful visual record — and light-touch reminders instead of a rigid watering calendar (succulents prefer soak-and-dry anyway).
- You want to spot problems like etiolation early by comparing photos over time.
- You prefer a private, calm app with no social feed.
"Greg kept my monstera alive. Succulent is where I actually enjoy my plants — scrolling back through a year of my echeverias filling out is the best part."
The bottom line
Greg is the care assistant for a whole home of plants. Succulent is the photo diary for the succulents and cacti you're a little obsessed with. If you need identification and schedules across many species, use Greg. If you want to slow down and watch a small, beautiful collection grow, Succulent is the gentler fit.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Succulent and Greg?
Greg is an all-plant care assistant — it identifies plants, builds personalized watering schedules, and has a large community and plant database. Succulent is narrower and more visual: a photo journal and growth diary built specifically for people who love succulents and cacti, focused on documenting how each plant changes over time rather than scheduling chores.
Is there a plant app just for succulents?
Yes. Succulent is built specifically for succulent and cactus lovers. Each plant gets a profile with a visual growth timeline, gentle care reminders, and one-tap collages, so your collection becomes a slow-moving photo story instead of a generic care checklist.
Is Succulent free?
Yes. Succulent is free to download with an optional Premium upgrade for unlimited plants and advanced features. It is privacy-first, so your plant photos and notes stay on your device.
A photo journal for your succulents
Give every succulent and cactus its own growth timeline. Gentle reminders, beautiful collages, all private.
Download Succulent on the App Store →Want the watering truth? Read How Often to Water Succulents. Questions? Email us.