Comparison

ArchAIDE vs ClayLab

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

Head to head
About

ArchAIDE

This tool assists archaeologists in identifying pottery fragments by analyzing images. It leverages an intelligent system trained on a reference database to classify decorations and forms, streamlining the documentation process for fieldwork.

Highlights
  • Automatic potsherd recognition
  • Image analysis for decoration and form
  • Reference database for classification
  • Save and archive identified sherds
  • Share information with the community
  • Paperless scientific references
Read full description

ArchAIDE App is a tool for the automatic recognition of the archaeological potsherds. The ArchAIDE app is the result of ArchAIDE project (www.archaide.eu): a research and innovation project led by a consortium of European Universities and SMEs, which has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 under grant agreement No. 693548. ArchAIDE is an innovative app for tablets and smartphones, designed as an essential tool for archaeologists. ArchAIDE wants to optimise and economise the process of pottery identification, making knowledge accessible wherever archaeologists are working. Using the ArchAIDE tools users will be supported by intelligent agents in the identification of the decoration class or the form type of a pottery sherd starting forme an image eventually taken with the mobile device camera. The automatic classification is based on the classes defined in the Reference Database develop by the ArchAIDE project. Anonymous users are missing the capability of storing the sherds in the device and on the ArchAIDE Server. The registration is FREE and gives the users a set of useful functionalities for the documentation of pottery sherds. Registered users may help the ArchAIDE team to improve the intelligent engines enriching its collections with new archaeological classes of ceramics. ArchAIDE is building a wide archaeological collaborative network to do that and everyone can be a part of it. For more information write to archaideproject@gmail.com. Recognising a potsherd with ArchAIDE App is very simple, users have just to: 1) Take a photo via a mobile device 2) send the photo to the system 3) wait few seconds and receive the answers 4) choose the better one 5) save and archive it in your assemblage 6) share the information with the community. ArchAIDE system is now available for Roman Amphorae, Terra Sigillata Italica, Terra Sigillata Hispanica, Majolica of Montelupo. Recognition tools are now available for Roma Terra Sigillata Italica and Majolica of Montelupo Fiorentino. ArchAIDE helps archaeologist to simplify their job, bringing with them paperless scientific references, sharing information with their team and with the archaeological community around the world, collecting, organising and archiving data of archaeological potsherds. Functionalities Users can access 1) ArchAIDE knowledge-base: a collection of search & retrieval tools that allows accessing the database of reference classes for types, decoration and stamps. ArchAIDE system is now available for Roman Amphorae, Roman Terra Sigillata (Italica, Hispanica, and South Gaulish) and Majolica of Montelupo Fiorentino. 2) Decoration recognition process which consists: - Select the image - Modify the image using the manipulation tools - Isolate the sherd in the image - Evaluate the results - Save the results (if the user is logged in and the results are good) - Manually classify the image by visual comparison 3) Shape recognition process which consists: - Image selection and manipulation - Definition of the scale factor - Extraction of the external profile - Extraction of the internal profile - Evaluation of results - Manual classification (alternative) - Save the info in a sherd (for authenticated users) 4) Stamp classification process which consists of a search engine. Authenticated users (only) - May collect and store data through the app. The information about sherds should be registered under a specific assemblage that belongs to a site. All the registered users own at least one site (i.e. “Default site”) in which it exists at least one predefined assemblage (i.e. “Uncategorised”). Sites and assemblages are the minimum context information required to store a sherd. - May synchronise off-line data when they are online. The synchronisation process is seamlessly carried on in the background each time the device is connected to the internet via WI-FI or 3G/4G/5G. Users can access the Synchronisation process through a dedicated monitor.

About

ClayLab

A digital diary for ceramists to meticulously document their pottery projects. Track every stage, from forming to firing, and record detailed information about glazes, clay bodies, and application techniques. Organize and retrieve your work with advanced search and backup features.

Highlights
  • Comprehensive progress tracking
  • Detailed documentation of glazes and materials
  • Advanced search and filtering
  • Data backup and import/export
  • Layering and application details logging
  • Unlimited photos per piece
Features
Read full description

Never lose track of a pottery piece again. ClayLab is a pottery journal and studio tracker designed by potters for potters. Track pieces, glazes, firings, experiments, and inventory in one place. Whether you work in a home studio or a shared community studio, ClayLab helps you stay organized, find your work, and learn from every experiment. Track every stage of your pottery journey, from wet clay to finished work. Record glazes, underglazes, slips, oxides, stains, clay bodies, forming methods, dimensions, weight, firing results, and more. Keep detailed notes and photos so you always know what worked and what didn't. ▶ Stay Organized Track pieces through every stage Record sold, gifted, traded, available, and archived pieces Organize work with custom locations Quickly find pieces in shared studios Unlimited pieces Unlimited photos ▶ Track Your Process Glazes and underglazes Clay bodies Forming methods Slips, oxides, and stains Stage tracking Status tracking Detailed notes Dimensions and weight tracking ▶ Learn From Every Experiment Compare results across pieces Search and filter by glaze, clay body, form, stage, and more Record glaze layering and application details Track dipping times Calculate shrinkage and monitor changes through firing ▶ Backup & Restore Protect your pottery records with export and import tools. Easily back up your data and move it between devices. Perfect for potters, ceramic artists, students, hobbyists, and studio members who want to keep better records, stay organized, and improve their craft. ▶ What's Included No ads Unlimited pieces Search and filtering Custom glazes Custom underglazes Custom clay bodies Custom stains Custom oxides Custom forms Custom forming methods Custom locations Dimensions tracking Weight tracking Stage tracking Status tracking Unlimited photos General note-taking ▶ ClayLab Pro Backup export Backup import Unlimited glaze layers Coat tracking Application method logging Glaze annotations Dipping time tracking Duplicate pieces (up to 20 copies) Custom stage definitions ▶ How do ClayLab Pro subscriptions work? ClayLab Pro Monthly: billed monthly ClayLab Pro Yearly: billed annually at a discounted rate Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account upon confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage subscriptions and turn off auto-renewal in your App Store account settings. www.claylabapp.com/terms www.claylabapp.com/privacy-policy

Screenshots

ArchAIDE4 screens
ClayLab4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: ClayLab at 92% against ArchAIDE's 0%. ClayLab also leads on rating (4.6 vs 1.3) and ratings volume (366 vs 3). ArchAIDE's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). On price 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. ClayLab sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. ArchAIDE asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ClayLab holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 1.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ClayLab has 366 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of ArchAIDE's written reviews are positive against 92% of ClayLab's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ArchAIDE ships an update every 2 weeks, ClayLab every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
ArchAIDE versus ClayLab: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterArchAIDEClayLab
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.3 (3 ratings)4.6 (366 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews91.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings3366 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS10.0 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size161 MB27 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperInera SrlLorenzo Calvani

Customer experience

ArchAIDE

All ratings3 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

ClayLab

All ratings366 ratings
Positive91.5%
Neutral4.9%
Negative3.6%
Written reviews230 reviews
Positive91.7%
Neutral6.1%
Negative2.2%

Bugs and requests

ArchAIDE

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

ClayLab

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Occasional crashes or performance issues
  • Data loss when changing devices or reinstalling

Requested features

6 requests
  • Add hand-building option alongside thrown pieces
  • Ability to track firing details (cone, atmosphere, etc.)
  • Option to create custom categories (e.g., sold, gifted)
  • Search and filter by glaze, clay, form, etc.
  • Sync data across devices (iCloud, etc.)
Show 1 more
  • Export data to CSV or PDF format

In-app purchases

None

ArchAIDE

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

ClayLab

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Yearly$49.991 Year

Questions

Is ArchAIDE free?
ArchAIDE is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is ClayLab free?
ClayLab is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, ArchAIDE or ClayLab?
ClayLab is rated higher. ArchAIDE averages 1.3 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while ClayLab averages 4.6 from 366 ratings.
Do ArchAIDE or ClayLab have ads?
Neither ArchAIDE nor ClayLab shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ArchAIDE or ClayLab?
ArchAIDE ships an update every 2 weeks, and ClayLab every 2 months. Most recently, ArchAIDE was updated on September 20, 2026 and ClayLab on October 13, 2026.

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