# SOS Explorer vs DeepTime for Geology

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.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | SOS Explorer | DeepTime for Geology |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (20 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sos-explorer/id1358724422/reviews) | **[5.0 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/deeptime-for-geology/id1500200416/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **20** | 8 |
| Positive reviews | **85.7% of reviews** | 80.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 11 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 249 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [University of Colorado Boulder](https://appshunter.io/developer/972210292) | [Hunt Mountain Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/328710008) |

## What reviewers say

### SOS Explorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sos-explorer/id1358724422)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### DeepTime for Geology

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/deeptime-for-geology/id1500200416)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*