AnyArt as an alternative to Smartify and Google Lens
If you are looking for an app to identify artworks and monuments, the main options are AnyArt, Smartify, Google Lens and the traditional museum audio guide. AnyArt combines camera recognition of both artworks and monuments with explanations of history and iconography, a 4,000+ artwork catalogue and a daily art lesson.
How to choose the right app
- 1
Where will you use it?
Inside museums only, or also on the street in front of monuments and churches?
- 2
What do you want to learn?
Just the name of the work, or its history, artist and symbolism?
- 3
Do you want to keep learning?
Daily lessons and a personal collection help you go beyond a single visit.
What makes AnyArt different
Artworks and monuments
One app for paintings in a museum and for landmarks in the city.
Explanation, not just a match
History, artist and iconography explained, not just a search result.
Daily Art
A new masterpiece every day to keep learning between trips.
Multilingual
English, Spanish and Galician.
Comparison: AnyArt vs Smartify vs Google Lens
| Feature | AnyArt | Smartify | Google Lens | Audio guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Identify artworks with the camera | Yes | Yes | Generic visual search | No |
| Identify monuments and buildings | Yes | Limited | Generic visual search | No |
| History and iconography explained | Yes | Depends on the museum | Links to web results | Selected works only |
| Daily art lesson and streaks | Yes | No | No | No |
| Works outside museums | Yes | Limited | Yes | No |
| Price | Free + optional Premium | Free + paid tours | Free | Paid per visit |
Comparison based on publicly available information. Last reviewed: October 2026. Features of third-party products may change.
Questions about alternatives
What is the best alternative to Smartify?
AnyArt is a free alternative to Smartify that identifies both artworks and monuments with the camera, explains their history and iconography, and adds a daily art lesson and a catalogue of more than 4,000 artworks.
Is AnyArt better than Google Lens for art?
Google Lens is a general visual search tool that returns web results. AnyArt is specialised in art and heritage: it explains the artist, history and symbolism of each work in a structured way.
Is AnyArt free?
Yes, AnyArt has a free tier. A Premium subscription unlocks unlimited scans and the full catalogue.
Start exploring with AnyArt
Free download for iPhone, iPad and Android. Point your camera at any artwork or monument and get its story in seconds.