Find answers to the most frequently asked questions about Mycocarta, your mushroom foraging logbook.
The app
What is Mycocarta?
Mycocarta is a digital foraging logbook for documenting your mushroom forays. Save your spots with GPS, identify species among more than 3,000 references, add photos and find everything on an interactive map.
How does geolocation work?
The app uses your device's GPS to record the exact position of each spot. Accuracy depends on your device, usually between 3 and 10 metres.
Does the app work without an internet connection?
Yes. Your data is stored locally on your device using IndexedDB. You can view your forays and spots even deep in the forest with no signal. Syncing happens automatically when the connection comes back.
Which devices can I use Mycocarta on?
Mycocarta is a progressive web app (PWA) that works on any device with a modern browser: smartphone, tablet or computer. No installation from an app store is needed.
Does the species data come from a reliable source?
Our database lists more than 3,000 mushroom species. The data comes from mycoDB, a French-language reference in mycology.
Privacy and security
Can other users see my spots?
No. Mycocarta is private by default: no social network, no public map. Only you can see your data, unless you choose to share a foray with a link. Spot locations are then deliberately blurred (to within about 1 km).
What personal data do you collect?
Only your email address (for authentication) and the data you choose to enter: forays, GPS spots, species, photos. We use no tracking cookies and no advertising tools. Site traffic is measured anonymously with Plausible, a cookie-free tool hosted on our own servers.
Can I export my data?
Yes, Mycologist subscribers can export their forays as PDF, CSV and GPX. Your data belongs to you.
How do I delete my account?
From the My account page, you can delete your account and all associated data. Deletion is permanent and immediate.
Subscription and pricing
Is Mycocarta free?
Yes, the Forager account is completely free and allows 3 forays, 3 spots per foray and 1 photo per spot. Enough to discover the app.
What does the Mycologist subscription include?
The Mycologist subscription (€24.99/year or €2.99/month) includes: unlimited forays, spots and photos, PDF/CSV/GPX export of your data, full offline mode and advanced statistics.
Can I cancel my subscription at any time?
Yes. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current period. You keep Mycologist access until the end of your paid period, then your account returns to Forager.
Do you offer a free trial?
Yes. You can try the Mycologist subscription for free for 7 days, with no credit card, from the Subscription page of your account. The Forager account then remains free, with no time limit.
Foraging and fieldwork
Can Mycocarta help me identify a mushroom?
Mycocarta makes identification easier with autocomplete across 3,000+ species. However, the app is NOT an edibility guide. Never eat a mushroom without a formal identification by a pharmacist or a qualified mycologist.
What is the best time of year for foraging?
The main season runs from September to November, but some species grow in spring (morels in March–April) or in summer (chanterelles from June). See our season calendar (in French) for more details.
How many mushrooms am I allowed to pick?
In French state forests managed by the ONF, the limit is generally 5 kg per person per day. Rules vary between départements and properties. See our regulations guide (in French) for details.
Does the app replace a mushroom field guide?
No. Mycocarta is a digital field notebook, not an identification or edibility guide. We strongly recommend learning with a mycological society and always having your finds checked.
How do I make good use of GPS in the forest?
Turn on GPS before entering the forest. Under dense tree cover, accuracy may drop. Wait for the signal to settle before saving a spot. The app shows the estimated accuracy to help you.