Comparison

Birefringence vs StraboField

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

Head to head
About

Birefringence

This interactive tool helps identify minerals by calculating birefringence based on observed color and section thickness. It features a comprehensive database and offers two display modes for clarity.

Highlights
  • Interactive Michel-Lévy color chart
  • Database of 562 minerals
  • Automatic birefringence calculation
  • Adjustable chart range (200-2500 nm)
  • Simple display mode
  • Includes optical and physical mineral characteristics
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

An interactive Michel-Lévy interference color chart that features a database of 562 minerals. Click on your observed color and section thickness, and the birefringence of your section will be automatically calculated, and candidate minerals will be suggested. The range of the chart can be be set to between 200 nm and 2500 nm. The chart can be offset by + or - λ, + or - λ/4. The chart can be used as a traditional nomogram, or displayed in a "simple" mode without the clutter of radial lines (which are no longer necessary on an interactive chart). Based on the methods of Sørensen (2013), the colors in the chart are a much truer representation of the colors seen at the microscope eye pieces than existing printed nomograms. The app includes optical and physical characteristics of candidate minerals including birefringence (minimum, maximum and mean), relief, optical character, pleochroism, color and cleavage. The app includes the Raith-Sørensen color chart, which is also interactive. The Raith-Sørensen chart is a direct representation of interference color as a function of birefringence and sample thickness (Sørensen 2013). A useful utility for polarized light microscopy, polariscopy, optical mineralogy, stress optics, or anyone with an interest in birefringent materials.

About

StraboField

This mobile application helps geologists record field observations, capture data like photos and sketches, and create geologic maps. It supports various geological subdisciplines and allows for offline use with data syncing capabilities.

Highlights
  • Record field data with photos, sketches, and notes
  • Collect georeferenced orientation and spatial data
  • Use custom or built-in basemaps offline
  • Create multi-scale observations with nested Spots
  • Organize and back up data locally or to StraboSpot.org
  • Fully functional offline for remote fieldwork
Features
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StraboField is a powerful, all-in-one mobile app designed to streamline your geological fieldwork. Record observations, capture photos and sketches, collect orientation data, create geologic maps and stratigraphic sections — all from a single, map-centered platform. Easily collect spatially referenced data using point, line, or polygon-based Spots. Work across multiple scales using nested Spots and high-resolution image basemaps. Designed by geologists, for geologists, StraboField supports workflows across subdisciplines including structural geology, sedimentology, petrology, volcanology, and geomorphology. ** Key Features: ** * Capture field data with photos, sketches, and notes * Collect georeferenced orientation and spatial data * Use custom or built-in basemaps offline * Create multi-scale observations with nested Spots * Organize and back up data locally or to StraboSpot.org * StraboField is fully functional offline, making it ideal for remote fieldwork. Once online, your data can be synced to the StraboSpot digital data system at StraboSpot.org — an open- source platform supported by the National Science Foundation.

Screenshots

Birefringence4 screens
StraboField4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: StraboField at Free against Birefringence's $2.99. StraboField also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 6 weeks). Birefringence's advantage is review sentiment (89% vs 50%) and rating (4.8 vs 4.5). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases 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

StraboField is free to download; Birefringence costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Birefringence holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9 and 19 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 89% of Birefringence's written reviews are positive against 50% of StraboField's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Birefringence ships an update every 6 weeks, StraboField every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Birefringence versus StraboField: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBirefringenceStraboField
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating4.8 (9 ratings) — better4.5 (19 ratings)
Positive reviews88.9% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings919 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
Best chart rank#199 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size14 MB89 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAndrew BarlowThe University of Kansas

Customer experience

Birefringence

All ratings9 ratings
Positive88.9%
Neutral11.1%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive88.9%
Neutral11.1%
Negative0.0%

StraboField

All ratings19 ratings
Positive89.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative10.5%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

None

Birefringence

No in-app purchases

None

StraboField

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Birefringence free?
Birefringence costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is StraboField free?
StraboField is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Birefringence or StraboField?
Birefringence is rated higher. Birefringence averages 4.8 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while StraboField averages 4.5 from 19 ratings.
Do Birefringence or StraboField have ads?
Neither Birefringence nor StraboField shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Birefringence or StraboField?
Birefringence ships an update every 6 weeks, and StraboField every 9 days. Most recently, Birefringence was updated on October 20, 2026 and StraboField on October 6, 2026.

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