Comparison

Geological Field Notes vs Mapboard GIS

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Geological Field Notes

Create detailed geological field notebooks with rich media, including text, images, audio, and drawings. Organize entries with timestamps, passwords, and export them for backup or sharing.

Highlights
  • Rich media note-taking (text, image, audio, video, drawing, links)
  • Integrated geological tools (compass, level, ruler, calculator)
  • Password protection for individual entries
  • Media expiration options
  • Export notes as zipped HTML
  • Cloud backup via Dropbox
Features
Read full description

GeoFieldNotes is a note taking app that allows the user to create geological field notebooks containing written, audio, and image notes. It is a timeline style notes/journaling app that features: - Rich Media (Text, Image, Audio, Video, Free Hand Drawing, Web-link, Location, Events) - Tools (Compass, Level, Ruler Measurement, Calculator) - Multiple Photos per Entry - Expiration for Individual media (expiry of 7 days) - Passwords for Individual Entry - Sharing via Twitter, Facebook and Mail - No Accounts to sign up for - Export whole note by sending a zipped html file to Mail, and backup note items via Dropbox ===== About the author ===== Liansheng is a senior software developer who worked 4 years at EA mobile and has more than 10 years experiences of developing mobile applications. He has worked on large range of mobile platforms. After joining EA Mobile in 2006, Liansheng contributed to many of EA's major mobile products, he worked in frameworks team with special focus on 3D graphic and sound engine, he built the sound engine for the Rockband. Before joining EA, Liansheng worked at Isee3D, My Virtual Model and AppsGo. In his spare time, Liansheng likes to study Geology, He has a Ph.D in Geochemistry from University of Paris, France. Please send your feedback to: clonecase@gmail.com

About

Mapboard GIS

This iPad app allows users to draw field maps using an Apple Pencil, combining the ease of pen-and-paper with the precision of GIS. It's designed for geologists and others needing interpretive mapping, offering intuitive tools for creating topologically consistent geologic maps.

Highlights
  • Pen-based editing tools
  • Intuitive reshaping and snapping
  • Iterative topology solver
  • Onboard Spatialite GIS engine
  • Native GIS software compatibility
  • User-configurable data types
  • Tether to remote PostGIS
Features
Read full description

Mapboard GIS is an iPad app for drawing maps with an Apple Pencil. Mapboard combines the intuitive workflow of pen-and-paper mapping with the precision, flexibility, and scale-independence of geospatial information systems (GIS). Its forward-looking design helps beginner and expert mappers produce multiscale, topologically consistent geologic maps. MOTIVATION AND DESIGN Mapboard GIS was born out of frustration with both paper– and GIS-based mapping workflows. It is primarily designed for geologists but is potentially useful in many situations demanding interpretive mapping. Mapboard attempts to bring digital mapping closer to the intuitive experience provided by paper. A sophisticated open-source spatial engine drives simple tools for drawing, erasing, and reshaping features. Outputs are natively compatible with common GIS software. Mapboard allows mapping time to be spent refining interpretations instead of fighting with technical tools. KEY FEATURES - Editing tools geared towards pen-based mapping - Powerful and intuitive reshaping, snapping, and erasing - Iterative topology solver to fill map units - Sophisticated onboard Spatialite GIS engine - Project files natively readable by standard GIS software (QGIS, ArcGIS, etc.) - User-configurable data types for line and polygon features - Tether to remote PostGIS for work across large datasets and real-time collaboration - Interoperable with standard formats (mbtiles, Spatialite, PostGIS) and open-source + commercial software OTHER FEATURES - Load MBTiles basemaps - Satellite, streets, and topographic basemaps - Dark mode support - Geologic line types TERMS OF USE: https://mapboard-gis.app/terms-of-service PRIVACY POLICY: https://mapboard-gis.app/privacy CHANGELOG: https://mapboard-gis.app/docs/ios/releases

Screenshots

Geological Field Notes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Mapboard GIS at 100% against Geological Field Notes's 0%. Mapboard GIS also leads on price (Free vs $4.99) and rating (4.5 vs 1.0). Geological Field Notes's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and device support (3 vs 1). On ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Mapboard GIS is free to download; Geological Field Notes costs $4.99 up front. Mapboard GIS sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $29.99 per year. Geological Field Notes asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Mapboard GIS holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 1.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 2 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of Geological Field Notes's written reviews are positive against 100% of Mapboard GIS's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Geological Field Notes ships an update every 3 months, Mapboard GIS every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on August 23, 2026 and September 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Geological Field Notes versus Mapboard GIS: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGeological Field NotesMapboard GIS
Price$4.99Free — better
Rating1.0 (1 ratings)4.5 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings12 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better16.1
Further details — not scored
Size11 MB69 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLiansheng ZhangDaven Quinn

Customer experience

Geological Field Notes

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Mapboard GIS

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Geological Field Notes

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Mapboard GIS

Subscriptions1
  • Full Version$29.991 Year

Questions

Is Geological Field Notes free?
Geological Field Notes costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Mapboard GIS free?
Mapboard GIS is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Geological Field Notes or Mapboard GIS?
Mapboard GIS is rated higher. Geological Field Notes averages 1.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Mapboard GIS averages 4.5 from 2 ratings.
Do Geological Field Notes or Mapboard GIS have ads?
Neither Geological Field Notes nor Mapboard GIS shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Geological Field Notes or Mapboard GIS?
Geological Field Notes ships an update every 3 months, and Mapboard GIS every 2 months. Most recently, Geological Field Notes was updated on August 23, 2026 and Mapboard GIS on September 8, 2026.

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