Cat Scanner vs Miau — Which Cat Breed App Is Right for You?
Cat Scanner is the most downloaded cat breed app on the App Store. Miau is free, requires no account and works for mixed-breed cats. Here's how they compare.
What Cat Scanner does well
Cat Scanner has a large user base, a broad breed database and a community feature that lets you share results. Its recognition is solid for purebred cats and it has been around long enough to be well-tested.
What Miau does well
Miau is free with no subscription, requires no account and is designed from the ground up for mixed-breed cats — showing the breeds a moggy most resembles rather than forcing a single answer. It also includes quick facts on temperament, size and coat for every result.
Key differences
- Price: Cat Scanner requires a subscription for full access; Miau is free.
- Account: Cat Scanner requires sign-up; Miau needs no account.
- Mixed breeds: Miau shows multiple closest-match breeds with confidence scores; Cat Scanner tends toward a single answer.
- Platform: both are available on iPhone.
Who should use which
If you want a community and don't mind a subscription, Cat Scanner is a mature choice. If you want a fast, free answer for any cat — moggy or purebred — with no sign-up friction, Miau is the better fit.
Try Miau free today
Download Miau, point your camera at any cat and get the breed in seconds — no subscription, no account required.
Common questions
- How does Miau identify a breed?
- It reads the cat's features — face shape, ear set, coat type and colour pattern — and matches them against dozens of breeds, returning the closest match with a confidence score.
- How accurate is it?
- Very accurate for distinctive purebreds like Maine Coons or Siamese. For domestic shorthairs and moggies, it shows the closest matches and a confidence score rather than forcing a single answer.
- Does it work for mixed-breed cats?
- Yes. For a moggy it shows the breeds your cat most resembles, so you still get a useful answer.
- Can I identify a cat from a saved photo?
- Yes. Scan live with your camera or upload any photo from your gallery.
- Is Miau free?
- Yes. Miau is free to download and use, with no account required.
Curious about a cat right now? Open the app page: Free cat breed identifier.