ArcGIS Runtime SDK Samples vs GMDE Lite
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ArcGIS Runtime SDK Samples
Explore interactive samples demonstrating powerful mapping and spatial analysis capabilities. View source code for each sample to learn how to integrate these features into your own applications. Covers maps, layers, feature editing, routing, analysis, and augmented reality.
- Interactive mapping samples
- View source code
- Map and scene visualization
- Feature editing and geodatabases
- Routing and directions
- Spatial analysis
- Augmented reality integration
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Explore the ArcGIS Runtime SDK for iOS with dozens of interactive samples. Experience the SDK's powerful capabilities and learn how to incorporate them into your own apps. View the code behind each sample from within the app and see how easy it is to use the SDK. + Maps - Open, create, interact with and save maps + Layers - Display vector and raster data in maps and scenes + Features - Work with Feature layers and geodatabases + Edit Data - Add, delete, and edit features and attachments + Display Information - Show graphics, popups, callouts, and sketches + Search - Find addresses, places, and points of interest + Geometry - Create geometries and perform geometric operations + Route & Directions - Calculate routes between locations and around barriers + Analysis - Perform spatial analysis via geoprocessing tasks and services + Cloud & Portal - Search for webmaps and list portal group users + Scenes - Visualize 3D environments and symbols + Utility network - Work with utility networks, performing traces and exploring network elements + Augmented reality - View data overlaid on the real world through your device's camera The source code for the app is available on GitHub: https://github.com/Esri/arcgis-runtime-samples-ios
GMDE Lite
This app allows users to record geological data, including points of interest, orientations, and contacts, with detailed annotations and photos. It offers multiple methods for orientation input and data visualization, with seamless integration for data exchange across devices and platforms.
- Record points of interest with photos and descriptions
- Annotate photos and create digital sketches
- Multiple methods for orientation input
- Data import/export from various sources
- Visualize orientation data on equal area projection
- Use device as a rangefinder for distance calculation
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GMDE Lite has been designed from the ground up with small phone-sized screens in mind although it also works very well on iPads and spectacularly on iPads with an Apple Pencil. We borrow the best from both GMDE Mobile and Stereonet Mobile and present that functionality in a clean, simple, map-centric interface. Data can be exchanged between GMDE Lite and Desktop, and imported from Stereonet Mobile, GIS programs, as well as uploaded or downloaded to/from StraboSpot. Some things GMDE Lite can do: • Set a point of interest (POI) at your current location or anywhere on the map which is immediately tagged with location time and date and to which you can attach a photo and an extended description. You can email a POI, complete with photo, to a field partner, Advisor, etc. • Annotate photos or make digital sketches attached to points of interest. • Enter an orientation by any of six methods: (1) using the device orientation, (2) tapping 3 points on the map and having the device calculate the orientation, (3) sighting along the contact plane either in the strike or dip direction, (4) best fit plane to selected vertices on a path, or (5) type typing in the orientation at the location that you specify. You can project a contact temporarily as a check on the validity of the orientation; the projected contact can be converted to a regular contact. • Read in and display POIs, orientations, and contacts on the map data from Stereonet Mobile or GMDE Desktop. Use copy and paste between devices registered to the same Apple ID using Apple HandOff technology. • Enter contacts by tapping and dragging a path, by recording a GPS track, or by projecting a planar orientation across the landscape. Edit contacts by lassoing and deleting vertices or tapping and dragging individual vertices (works way better on an iPad with Apple Pencil than it does with your finger on a relatively tiny iPhone screen). • Use the device camera/orientation as a rangefinder and plot a point of interest at the sighted location. Rapidly use the rangefinder to determine azimuth, inclination, slope, horizontal, and vertical distance to the sighted location. • Display orientation data on an equal area, lower hemisphere projection which can be filtered by data type. Mean vectors, cylindrical best fits, poles to planes, and rose diagrams can be displayed. • If you have a data connection, GMDE Lite can display your data on Apple Maps within the program as well as get point elevations from an online server. • Use a variety of icons and colors to represent different types of data. • Access all of your data on your device from, and upload to and download from, the Files app on the device. Upload to and download from StraboSpot. Copy and paste between GMDE Lite and Stereonet Mobile. Skills you need to take full advantage of GMDE Lite: GMDE Lite can be used "right out of the box" with a cellular data connection using an online satellite or road base map or downloadable map tiles, and online elevation server, in 2D to measure and collect strikes and dips, plot contacts, do 3-pt problems, etc. To experience the full power of GMDE Lite, and for complete offline operation (essential in remote field areas), you will need to know how to do the following: • Produce base maps from whatever source you want in MBTiles format. Because you are producing your own base maps you can use whatever you want (existing geologic maps, USGS Topo Maps, LiDAR hill shade images, etc.). Maps can be produced with my free desktop program MBTileMakerViewer. • Download and format digital elevation models (DEMs) in GridFloat or BIL format. Having a DEM on the device is what allows GMDE Lite to perform its magic such as calculating an orientation from three points. DEMs can be produced with my free program DEM Masher (requires GDAL). • Know enough about your digital devices to understand how to move files onto or off the device from/to your desktop computer.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: GMDE Lite at 5.0 against ArcGIS Runtime SDK Samples's 4.7. GMDE Lite also leads on update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 2 months). ArcGIS Runtime SDK Samples's advantage is ratings volume (10 vs 2). 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
GMDE Lite holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ArcGIS Runtime SDK Samples has 10 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.
ArcGIS Runtime SDK Samples ships an update every 2 months, GMDE Lite every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on August 31, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ArcGIS Runtime SDK Samples | GMDE Lite |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (10 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Number of ratings | 10 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 4 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 137 MB | 47 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | ESRI | Richard Allmendinger |
Customer experience
ArcGIS Runtime SDK Samples
GMDE Lite
In-app purchases
ArcGIS Runtime SDK Samples
No in-app purchases
GMDE Lite
No in-app purchases
Questions
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Is GMDE Lite free?
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