Comparison

ArchAIDE vs Rock

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

Rock

This application allows users to scan and identify rocks and minerals directly from their mobile device. It provides a convenient way to learn about geological samples encountered in everyday life.

Highlights
  • Scan rocks and minerals
  • Identify geological samples
  • Mobile identification tool
  • Learn about rock types
Features
Read full description

A mobile app to scan and identify rocks and minerals. https://www.rockscanner.com/terms

Screenshots

ArchAIDE4 screens
Rock4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Rock at 86% against ArchAIDE's 0%. Rock also leads on rating (4.5 vs 1.3) and ratings volume (61 vs 3). ArchAIDE's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 12.0). On price, update cadence, ads 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

Both are free to download. Rock sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. ArchAIDE asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Rock holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 1.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Rock has 61 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 86% of Rock's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ArchAIDE ships an update every 2 weeks, Rock every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
ArchAIDE versus Rock: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterArchAIDERock
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.3 (3 ratings)4.5 (61 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews85.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings361 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS10.0 — better12.0
Further details — not scored
Size161 MB87 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperInera SrlDovran Muhammetrustemov

Customer experience

ArchAIDE

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

Rock

All ratings61 ratings
Positive86.9%
Neutral1.6%
Negative11.5%
Written reviews49 reviews
Positive85.7%
Neutral2.0%
Negative12.2%

Bugs and requests

ArchAIDE

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Rock

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • App doesn't work after update
  • Failed to connect
  • Identified as not a rock or mineral
  • Cannot identify common rocks
  • Inaccurate identification of some rocks

In-app purchases

None

ArchAIDE

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Rock

Subscriptions3
  • Access Rock-Scan pro weekly$3.997 Days
  • Access Rock-Scan pro monthly$9.991 Month
  • Access Rock-Scan pro yearly$59.991 Year

Questions

Is ArchAIDE free?
ArchAIDE is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Rock free?
Rock is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, ArchAIDE or Rock?
Rock is rated higher. ArchAIDE averages 1.3 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Rock averages 4.5 from 61 ratings.
Do ArchAIDE or Rock have ads?
Neither ArchAIDE nor Rock shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ArchAIDE or Rock?
ArchAIDE ships an update every 2 weeks, and Rock every 3 weeks. Most recently, ArchAIDE was updated on September 20, 2026 and Rock on October 16, 2026.

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