# Rockd vs GST[AR]

The clearest difference is rating: GST[AR] at 5.0 against Rockd's 4.4. Rockd's advantage is ratings volume (187 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

GST[AR] 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 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Rockd ships an update every 3 months, GST[AR] every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Rockd | GST[AR] |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (187 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rockd/id1153056624/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gstar/id1519232314/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **187** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 73.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 months** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 259 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **16.4** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [University of Wisconsin-Madison Shared Apps](https://appshunter.io/developer/908478605) | [GiGa infosystems GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1519232496) |

## What reviewers say

### Rockd

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rockd/id1153056624)

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.

**Highlights:** Interactive global geologic maps, 3D virtual globe exploration, Field observation logging, Offline map caching, Paleogeographic map access, Stratigraphic column viewing, Geologic literature integration

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🗺️ Comprehensive geological maps with detailed information
- 💡 Innovative integration of peer-reviewed references and literature
- 🧭 Built-in Brunton compass and clinometer tools
- 📱 User-friendly interface and intuitive navigation
- 🌍 Global coverage with paleomaps and stratigraphic data

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Black map display issues in offline and online modes
- 📍 GPS tracking and real-time position updates failing
- 🔌 Offline functionality severely limited or broken
- 🔐 Persistent login requirement without password saving
- ⚠️ Error dialogs that won't dismiss

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- 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


### GST[AR]

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gstar/id1519232314)

Explore and visualize geological models in augmented reality. Browse a selection of models, place them on any surface, and interact with them by rotating, scaling, and highlighting features. Share your AR sessions with others for collaborative exploration.

**Highlights:** Browse geological models, View models in AR, Rotate and scale models, Highlight model features, Share AR sessions, Customize AR settings, Add custom model sources

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Rockd free?

Rockd is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is GST[AR] free?

GST[AR] is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Rockd or GST[AR]?

GST[AR] is rated higher. Rockd averages 4.4 out of 5 from 187 ratings, while GST[AR] averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Rockd or GST[AR] have ads?

Neither Rockd nor GST[AR] shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Rockd or GST[AR]?

Rockd ships an update every 3 months, and GST[AR] every 4 months. Most recently, Rockd was updated on October 21, 2026 and GST[AR] on September 26, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*