Geological Field Notes vs Mapboard GIS
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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
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.
- 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
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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
Verdict
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
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.
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.
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.
| Parameter | Geological Field Notes | Mapboard GIS |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 1.0 (1 ratings) | 4.5 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 2 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 16.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 11 MB | 69 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Liansheng Zhang | Daven Quinn |
Customer experience
Geological Field Notes
Mapboard GIS
In-app purchases
Geological Field Notes
No in-app purchases
Mapboard GIS
- Full Version$29.991 Year
Questions
Is Geological Field Notes free?
Is Mapboard GIS free?
Which has better reviews, Geological Field Notes or Mapboard GIS?
Do Geological Field Notes or Mapboard GIS have ads?
Which is updated more often, Geological Field Notes or Mapboard GIS?
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