Rockd vs Nomad Geologist
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Rockd
Discover and document the geology around you. Access global geologic maps, 3D globes, and detailed summaries of your surroundings. Contribute your own observations and track your exploration of Earth's geologic history.
- Interactive global geologic maps
- 3D virtual globe exploration
- Field observation logging
- Offline map caching
- Paleogeographic map access
- Stratigraphic column viewing
- Geologic literature integration
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Explore, learn about, and document your geologic surroundings! Whether you are a professional geoscientist or curious about the rocks around you and the stories they tell, Rockd allows you to explore and learn about the geologic record, contribute your own observations, and log your journey through the geologic record. Features: - Instant access to geologic and geographic summaries of your current location via a Dashboard - Interactive global access to more than 290 geologic maps, with more being added weekly - Explore the landscape with a dynamic, 3D virtual globe - Save maps for use in the field with a built-in map caching system - See your past location and explore paleogeographic maps from C.R. Scotese and GPlates - View Macrostrat stratigraphic columns where available (beta) - Explore published literature containing mentions of mapped geologic units (when available) via xDD (formerly, GeoDeepDive) - Elevation data for most points on Earth from digital elevation models (DEMs) - Add your own field observations even offline; tag features from Macrostrat and the Paleobiology Database - Record strike/dip or trend/plunge for geologic features, using your phone's compass - Track your progress through the geologic record privately, or share it with others - See the public activity of other users and share your own and other public checkins using unique URLs Rockd is produced by the Macrostrat lab in the Department of Geoscience at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Support provided by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Dept. of Geoscience. Experiencing issues? Send an email to contact@rockd.org and we will do our best to help you resolve it.
Nomad Geologist
Explore geology with this comprehensive dictionary app. It offers a vast collection of terms, concepts, and phenomena with visuals and expert references. An AI assistant provides instant answers, and advanced AI vision features are available via subscription for analyzing geological samples.
- Geology term dictionary
- Visual aids and expert references
- AI-powered assistant
- AI vision for sample analysis
- Connect with specialists
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Discover the wonders of geology with Nomad Geologist. This comprehensive Arabic and English dictionary is your go-to resource for all things geology. Explore a vast collection of terms, concepts, and phenomena, accompanied by visuals and expert references. Chat with our AI-powered assistant for instant answers, and unlock advanced AI vision features for a deeper understanding of geological samples and data (available with a paid subscription). Connect with specialists and access accurate information effortlessly. Download Nomad Geologist today and embark on a fascinating journey into the world of geology. Terms of use: https://nomadgeologist.com/terms
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Nomad Geologist at 5.0 against Rockd's 4.4. Nomad Geologist also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 3 months) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.6). Rockd's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ratings volume (187 vs 6). On price, ads and device support 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
Both are free to download. Nomad Geologist sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Rockd asks for nothing beyond the download.
Nomad Geologist holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Rockd has 187 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Rockd ships an update every 3 months, Nomad Geologist fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Rockd | Nomad Geologist |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.4 (187 ratings) | 5.0 (6 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 73.6% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 187 — better | 6 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 259 MB | 59 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | University of Wisconsin-Madison Shared Apps | Mohammed Tajer |
Customer experience
Rockd
Nomad Geologist
Bugs and requests
Rockd
Reported bugs
17 issues- Black map display in airplane mode and online
- Persistent error dialogs that cannot be dismissed
- GPS not tracking in real-time
- Offline check-ins not syncing properly
- Sign-up page jumps between fields and login page
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- Fossils button not working
- Map returns to user location after viewing check-ins
- App crashes and becomes unresponsive
- Data loss after app reinstall or logout
- Maps fail to load after recent updates
- Location search functionality broken
- Android version windows not visible
- Straight lines appear when zooming
- Formations stop at state lines
- Check-in screen stuck with no exit option
- App won't load after initial use
- Geological overlay won't upload to base map
Requested features
16 requests- Follow/friend mechanic to track other users' check-ins
- Rock identification tool from photo uploads
- Offline map download with customizable zoom levels
- Stereonet tool for structural geology
- Groundwater/aquifer information section
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- Map legend/key for geological features
- Spanish language support
- Ability to move dashboard to different locations
- Latitude/longitude search functionality
- Multiple photo attachments per location
- Strike and dip data visualization
- Fault line labeling on maps
- Better Android version compatibility
- Tutorial or short course for advanced features
- Black contact lines between formations toggle
- Personal photo upload focus with mineral variations
Nomad Geologist
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Rockd
No in-app purchases
Nomad Geologist
- AI Features Access (1 month)$7.991 Month
- AI Features Access (2 month)$14.992 Months
