# Rockd vs FathomVerse

The clearest difference is rating: FathomVerse at 4.6 against Rockd's 4.4. FathomVerse also leads on review sentiment (86% vs 74%). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

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

FathomVerse holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 185 and 88 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 74% of Rockd's written reviews are positive against 86% of FathomVerse's.

Rockd ships an update every 3 months, FathomVerse every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Rockd | FathomVerse |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (185 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rockd/id1153056624/reviews) | **[4.6 (88 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fathomverse/id6469854247/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **185** | 88 |
| Positive reviews | 73.6% of reviews | **85.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 259 MB | 284 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [University of Wisconsin-Madison Shared Apps](https://appshunter.io/developer/908478605) | [Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute](https://appshunter.io/developer/997448509) |

## 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


### FathomVerse

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fathomverse/id6469854247)

Explore the ocean world through an immersive game that trains AI for scientific research. Discover and identify over 50 groups of ocean animals using real imagery collected by researchers. Contribute to science while playing minigames, completing quests, and earning badges.

**Highlights:** Play minigames with real ocean imagery, Identify over 50 groups of ocean animals, Save and share favorite images, Participate in quests and earn badges, Unlock awards for gameplay contributions, Customize soundscape with Ocean Radio

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🌊 Relaxing and peaceful experience
- 🔍 Opportunity to contribute to ocean research
- 🌟 Stunning visuals and immersive environment
- 🧠 Educational content on marine life
- 🤝 Responsive and helpful development team

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and inconsistent user interface
- 🤔 Unclear instructions and onboarding process
- ⏱️ Slow and tedious core gameplay loop
- 🔍 Lack of ability to re-examine animal images
- 🧭 Inconsistent controls between different sections


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Rockd free?

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

### Is FathomVerse free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Rockd or FathomVerse?

FathomVerse is rated higher. Rockd averages 4.4 out of 5 from 185 ratings, while FathomVerse averages 4.6 from 88 ratings.

### Do Rockd or FathomVerse have ads?

Neither Rockd nor FathomVerse shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Rockd or FathomVerse?

Rockd ships an update every 3 months, and FathomVerse every 6 weeks. Most recently, Rockd was updated on October 13, 2026 and FathomVerse on October 17, 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.*