Comparison

Rockd vs Gather

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

Gather

Discover wild plants and mushrooms growing in your local area with this comprehensive foraging guide. Identify species, avoid toxic lookalikes with detailed comparisons, and track your finds with a digital journal. Get personalized seasonal information and harvesting alerts.

Highlights
  • Local species identification
  • Toxic lookalike comparisons
  • Seasonal harvesting times
  • Foraging journal
  • Location-based recommendations
  • Expert identification tips
Read full description

Finally, a foraging field guide tailored specifically to YOUR area! Find amazing wild species that are growing near you with seasonal timings calibrated to your specific location. Built by foragers for foragers to help forage for wild plants and mushrooms with confidence. Stop worrying about toxic lookalikes! With the app, you can see side-by-side photo comparisons of dangerous species that grow near you, along with easy-to-follow identification tips and so much more. FREE FORAGING JOURNAL * Created entries for all of your foraged finds with ease * Automatically detect date and location info from photos * Record species, seasons, and more seamlessly * Use our advanced filters to find all your best spots every year The following features require a subscription. Start your 14-day trial of this premium, ad-free foraging app to explore them! YOUR PERSONAL FORAGING GUIDE * Only shows species that grow in your region * Covers both wild food and wild herbs * Organized by month-to-month seasons for your location * Smart notifications for peak harvesting time FORAGE WITH CONFIDENCE * See lists of lookalikes for each species * Side-by-side photo comparison of clear distinguishing details * Professional high-quality photos * Expert gathering and processing techniques * Important cautions for nuanced species * Quickly learn the dangerous species in your area LEARN LIKE THE EXPERTS * Detailed identification descriptions * Habitat information and where to look * Save years of learning on your own BUILT FOR ALL LEVELS Made for everyone, from complete beginners all the way to seasoned veterans! Whether you are interested in foraging for plants or mushrooms, wild food or wild herbs, Gather is there to help you on your foraging journey. Download Gather today and discover the amazing wild species growing all around you! https://gatherapp.co/terms

Screenshots

Rockd4 screens
Gather4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Gather at 4.9 against Rockd's 4.4. Gather also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 months). Rockd's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 8) and review sentiment (74% vs 65%). On price, ratings volume, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Gather sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Rockd asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Gather holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 187 and 214 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 74% of Rockd's written reviews are positive against 65% of Gather's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Rockd ships an update every 3 months, Gather every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Rockd versus Gather: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRockdGather
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (187 ratings)4.9 (214 ratings) — better
Positive reviews73.6% of reviews — better65.2% of reviews
Number of ratings187214 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS16.616.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size259 MB118 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison Shared AppsFeral Foraging, LLC

Customer experience

Rockd

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

Gather

All ratings214 ratings
Positive96.3%
Neutral1.9%
Negative1.9%
Written reviews46 reviews
Positive65.2%
Neutral6.5%
Negative28.3%

User reviews

Rockd

From 187 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🗺️ 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

Room to improve

  • 🐛 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

Gather

From 214 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🌟 Excellent educational app
  • 🔍 Detailed plant profiles
  • 🔔 Helpful availability notifications
  • 👍 User-friendly interface
  • 🌱 Connects users with local ecosystem

Room to improve

  • 💰 Subscription-based model
  • 🚫 Difficulty deleting account

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

Gather

Reported bugs

1 issue
  • Account deletion issues

Requested features

2 requests
  • One-time purchase option
  • Dark mode

In-app purchases

None

Rockd

No in-app purchases

8 purchases

Gather

Subscriptions8
  • Monthly subscription14 Days trial$6.991 Month
  • Monthly subscription1 Month trial$7.991 Month
  • Monthly subscription14 Days trial$7.991 Month
Show 5 more
  • Annual subscription14 Days trial$39.991 Year
  • Annual subscription1 Month trial$39.991 Year
  • Annual subscription14 Days trial$49.991 Year
  • Annual subscription1 Month trial$59.991 Year
  • Annual subscription14 Days trial$59.991 Year

Questions

Is Rockd free?
Rockd is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Gather free?
Gather is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Rockd or Gather?
Gather is rated higher. Rockd averages 4.4 out of 5 from 187 ratings, while Gather averages 4.9 from 214 ratings.
Do Rockd or Gather have ads?
Neither Rockd nor Gather shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Rockd or Gather?
Rockd ships an update every 3 months, and Gather every 2 weeks. Most recently, Rockd was updated on November 6, 2026 and Gather on November 12, 2026.

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