Comparison

FaultKin Mobile vs ICS

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

Head to head
About

FaultKin Mobile

This app allows geologists to collect, visualize, and analyze fault slip data directly from their mobile device. It offers both automatic data entry using device orientation and manual input options, with features for grouping data and performing basic calculations.

Highlights
  • Automatic data entry via device orientation
  • Manual data entry via stereonet or text fields
  • Group faults with custom tags
  • Perform basic calculations (rotations, unfolding)
  • Plot P and T axes, moment tensor axes
  • View plots from any orientation
  • Stamp entries with time, date, and location
Features
Read full description

FaultKin Mobile is designed to help you collect, visualize, and analyze fault slip data on the go. It is a companion to my FaultKin program for desktop computers, but it can also be used to measure faults on the outcrop. The app has the following features: - Provide automatic data entry as a geologist's compass by reading the iOS device orientation and converting it to strike and dip of planes and/or trend and plunge of lines. - Provide manual data entry via either tapping and dragging on the stereonet or by typing values into text fields. - Groups of faults can be assigned different tags. You will probably want to do this based on location or other criteria. For example, you may want to have a tag labeled "Corral Quemado-Older" and anther "Corral Quemado-Younger". - Carry out basic calculations such as: rotations about any axis, unfolding faults around local bedding, or measure angles between lines and between planes. - Plot P and T axes, (unweighted) moment tensor axes, P-T dihedra, fault plane solutions, and contour P and T axes. - View the plots from any orientation, not just looking straight down into the lower hemisphere - Stamp each entry with time date and, if enabled by the user, location. See the location of a datum in the iOS Maps program - Provide basic input and output of data using standard iOS conventions - Work on both iPhones or iPads, both in portrait mode only. The desktop version of FaultKin will soon be updated so that it can read and write FaultKin Mobile files, which are simple tab separated text files. Use it at your own risk. In particular, recall that your iOS device is very sensitive to magnetic fields and the compass bearings can easily be off by 10-20°! This program should not be used as a sole source of navigation data. The author assumes no responsibility for incorrect results, unanticipated behaviors, loss resulting from results provided by the program, or any other anticipated or unanticipated event related to the program.

About

ICS

Access authoritative geological time scale data and information on Global Boundary Stratotype Sections and Points (GSSPs). Explore charts, detailed GSSP information, and relevant statistics.

Highlights
  • Demonstration of ICS chart
  • Detailed GSSP information
  • GSSP statistics
  • Authoritative data service
Features
Read full description

ICS Timescale is the official APP of the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS). It is designed to provide authoritative data service of ICS. The main functions include: 1) Demonstration of the ICS chart. 2) Detail information about each GSSP. 3) Statistics of the GSSPs.

Screenshots

FaultKin Mobile4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: FaultKin Mobile at 5.0 against ICS's 4.3. ICS's advantage is iOS requirement (9.0 vs 11.0). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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

FaultKin Mobile holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 3 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 17, 2026 and July 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
FaultKin Mobile versus ICS: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFaultKin MobileICS
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better4.3 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews—50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings23 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.09.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size28 MB20 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRichard Allmendinger隽轩 樊

Customer experience

FaultKin Mobile

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

ICS

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral33.3%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

FaultKin Mobile

No in-app purchases

None

ICS

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is FaultKin Mobile free?
FaultKin Mobile is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is ICS free?
ICS is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, FaultKin Mobile or ICS?
FaultKin Mobile is rated higher. FaultKin Mobile averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while ICS averages 4.3 from 3 ratings.
Do FaultKin Mobile or ICS have ads?
Neither FaultKin Mobile nor ICS shows ads.
Which is updated more often, FaultKin Mobile or ICS?
FaultKin Mobile ships an update every 2 months, and ICS every 2 months. Most recently, FaultKin Mobile was updated on September 17, 2026 and ICS on July 16, 2026.

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