Comparison

Rockd vs BadgerSAFE

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

Head to head
About

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.

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
Read full description

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.

About

BadgerSAFE

This official safety application provides University of Wisconsin-Madison students and staff with critical safety alerts and instant access to campus security resources. It offers features like emergency contacts, real-time location sharing with friends, and direct tip reporting to campus security.

Highlights
  • Emergency Contacts
  • Friend Walk location sharing
  • Tip Reporting to security
  • Safety Toolbox
  • Campus Maps
  • Offline Emergency Procedures
  • Support Resources access
  • Safety Notifications
Features
Read full description

BadgerSAFE is the official safety app of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. It is the only app that integrates with the University of Wisconsin-Madison's safety and security systems. The app will send you important safety alerts and provide instant access to campus safety resources. BadgerSAFE features include: - Emergency Contacts: Contact the correct services for the University of Wisconsin-Madison area in case of an emergency or a non-emergency concern - Friend Walk: Send your location to a friend through email or SMS on your device. Once the friend accepts the Friend Walk request, the user picks their destination and their friend tracks their location in real time; they can keep an eye on them to make sure they make it safely to their destination. - Tip Reporting: Multiple ways to report a safety concern directly to University of Wisconsin-Madison security. - Safety Toolbox: Enhance your safety with the set of tools provided in one convenient app. - Campus Maps: Navigate around the University of Wisconsin-Madison area. - Emergency Procedures: Campus emergency documentation that can prepare you for disasters or emergencies. This can be accessed even when users aren’t connected to Wi-Fi or cellular data. - Support Resources: Access support resources in one convenient app to enjoy a successful experience at University of Wisconsin-Madison. - Safety Notifications: Receive instant notifications and instructions from University of Wisconsin-Madison safety when on-campus emergencies occur. Download today to ensure you’re prepared in the event of an emergency.

Screenshots

Rockd4 screens
BadgerSAFE4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Rockd at 4.4 against BadgerSAFE's 3.6. Rockd also leads on update cadence (every 3 months vs every 14 months) and ratings volume (185 vs 14). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Rockd holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Rockd has 185 ratings behind it against 14, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Rockd ships an update every 3 months, BadgerSAFE every 14 months. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Rockd versus BadgerSAFE: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRockdBadgerSAFE
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (185 ratings) — better3.6 (14 ratings)
Positive reviews73.6% of reviews—
Number of ratings185 — better14
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 14 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.615.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size259 MB34 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison Shared AppsUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison

Customer experience

Rockd

All ratings185 ratings
Positive82.2%
Neutral7.6%
Negative10.3%
Written reviews91 reviews
Positive73.6%
Neutral13.2%
Negative13.2%

BadgerSAFE

All ratings14 ratings
Positive64.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative35.7%

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
Show 12 more
  • 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
Show 11 more
  • 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

BadgerSAFE

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Rockd

No in-app purchases

None

BadgerSAFE

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Rockd free?
Rockd is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is BadgerSAFE free?
BadgerSAFE is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Rockd or BadgerSAFE?
Rockd is rated higher. Rockd averages 4.4 out of 5 from 185 ratings, while BadgerSAFE averages 3.6 from 14 ratings.
Do Rockd or BadgerSAFE have ads?
Neither Rockd nor BadgerSAFE shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Rockd or BadgerSAFE?
Rockd ships an update every 3 months, and BadgerSAFE every 14 months. Most recently, Rockd was updated on October 13, 2026 and BadgerSAFE on October 12, 2026.

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