Comparison

SOS Explorer vs DeepTime for Geology

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

Head to head
About

SOS Explorer

Explore interactive animated datasets of Earth and space phenomena, from planetary rings to climate change models. This app brings complex environmental processes to life in an intuitive and captivating way, making learning accessible anywhere.

Highlights
  • Streaming high-resolution datasets
  • Educational videos
  • User-guided tours
  • Analysis tools
  • 100+ datasets
  • Global and flat map views
Features
Read full description

SOS Explorer (SOSx) Mobile is a free, flat screen mobile app version of the popular NOAA Science On a Sphere (SOS). This revolutionary software takes SOS datasets, usually only seen on a 6-foot sphere in large museum spaces, and makes them accessible, portable, and interactive anywhere. SOSx Mobile can immerse the user in animated images such as Saturn’s rings, atmospheric storms, climate change, and ocean temperatures to help explain sometimes complex environmental processes in a way that is intuitive, captivating, interactive, and entertaining. A desktop version, called SOS Explorer, is also available. Thank you for using SOS Explorer (SOSx) Mobile. We are committed to continually improving our software and providing you with an engaging and educational experience. We hope you enjoy the new features and enhancements in version 1.2! Please continue to share your feedback with us as we work on improvements. We appreciate your patience and support. Features include: • Streaming, high-resolution datasets • Educational videos • User-guided tours • Analysis tools • 100+ datasets • Global and flat map views Sample datasets: • Recent Hurricane Seasons • Bird Migration • Earthquake Activity • Snow and Ice • Ocean Currents • Historical Tsunamis • Facebook Friendships • Air Traffic • Planets of the Solar System • Climate Change Models • 360 Underwater Imagery • Narrated Movies • ...and so much more!

About

DeepTime for Geology

Explore an interactive geological time scale with detailed information on each unit, including GSSP definitions and color codes. Search for terms and view GSSPs on a global map. Ideal for geologists, students, and Earth history enthusiasts.

Highlights
  • Interactive geological time scale
  • Detailed GSSP definitions
  • CMYK and RGB color codes
  • Searchable by name or age
  • Global GSSP map integration
  • Tips for using time terms
Features
Read full description

DeepTime puts geological time at your fingertips. DeepTime is a full interactive version of the latest geological time scale: tap on any time unit to see more detail about it, including how its GSSP (golden spike) is defined. It even has the CMYK and RGB color codes for every time unit, great for when you need to have the right color for a map or chart. Even more, it is completely searchable by name or age. Come across an unfamiliar time term in an older paper? Search for it, and you'll see how it relates to the modern time scale.  What's more is that all the GSSPs (the golden spikes) are shown on a gorgeous geological map of the world (courtesy of macrostrat.org), which shows their context in stunning detail. Tips for using time terms are also included with simple examples. Whether you are a geologist, a student, a science writer, or just a fan of Earth history, DeepTime will become your go-to resource for understanding geological time.

Screenshots

SOS Explorer4 screens
DeepTime for Geology3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: DeepTime for Geology at 5.0 against SOS Explorer's 4.7. DeepTime for Geology also leads on update cadence (every 3 months vs every 11 months). SOS Explorer's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 26.0). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume 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

DeepTime for Geology holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 20 and 8 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 86% of SOS Explorer's written reviews are positive against 80% of DeepTime for Geology's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SOS Explorer ships an update every 11 months, DeepTime for Geology every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
SOS Explorer versus DeepTime for Geology: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSOS ExplorerDeepTime for Geology
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (20 ratings)5.0 (8 ratings) — better
Positive reviews85.7% of reviews — better80.0% of reviews
Number of ratings20 — better8
Update frequencyEvery 11 monthsEvery 3 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size249 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperUniversity of Colorado BoulderHunt Mountain Software

Customer experience

SOS Explorer

All ratings20 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive85.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative14.3%

DeepTime for Geology

All ratings7 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive80.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

SOS Explorer

No in-app purchases

None

DeepTime for Geology

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SOS Explorer free?
SOS Explorer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is DeepTime for Geology free?
DeepTime for Geology is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SOS Explorer or DeepTime for Geology?
DeepTime for Geology is rated higher. SOS Explorer averages 4.7 out of 5 from 20 ratings, while DeepTime for Geology averages 5.0 from 8 ratings.
Do SOS Explorer or DeepTime for Geology have ads?
Neither SOS Explorer nor DeepTime for Geology shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SOS Explorer or DeepTime for Geology?
SOS Explorer ships an update every 11 months, and DeepTime for Geology every 3 months. Most recently, SOS Explorer was updated on November 6, 2026 and DeepTime for Geology on November 3, 2026.

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