# e vs Rock Identifier

The clearest difference is rating: Rock Identifier at 4.7 against e's 3.0. Rock Identifier also leads on ratings volume (82K vs 2) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). e's advantage is monetization model (free vs freemium). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. e sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $22.99 per 3 months and Rock Identifier sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Rock Identifier holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Rock Identifier has 82K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 67% of e's written reviews are positive against 64% of Rock Identifier's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

e ships an update every 2 months, Rock Identifier every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | e | Rock Identifier |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/e-rocks/id1479976121/reviews) | **[4.7 (82K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rock-identifier-stone-id/id1546796934/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **82K** |
| Positive reviews | **66.7% of reviews** | 64.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | — | **#29** |
| Size | 52 MB | 201 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Mark Wrigley](https://appshunter.io/developer/1479976120) | [Next Vision Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1532006906) |

## What reviewers say

### e

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/e-rocks/id1479976121)

Access a comprehensive database of over 6200 mineral species with detailed facts, including names, formulas, occurrences, and properties. This offline-capable app provides quick lookups and links to a larger online mineral catalog.

**Highlights:** 6200+ mineral species database, Detailed species information, Offline access, Links to e-Rocks.com catalog, Quick and easy to use

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| e-Rocks Collectors 3 Months | $22.99 | per 3 months |
| e-Rocks Collectors 6 Months | $39.00 | per 6 months |
| e-Rocks Collectors Annual | $79.00 | per year |


### Rock Identifier

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rock-identifier-stone-id/id1546796934)

**Currently charting:** #29 Top Grossing · Education, #76 Top Free · Education (US App Store)

Instantly identify rocks, minerals, and gemstones by taking a photo. Access a comprehensive encyclopedia with detailed information on each stone, learn to distinguish real from fake gems, and explore their properties. The app also includes a metal detector and expert consultation.

**Highlights:** Photo-based rock identification, Stone and crystal encyclopedia, Real vs. fake gemstone guide, Healing properties and zodiac stones, In-app metal detector, Expert consultation service, Personal rock collection management

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Rock Identifier Premium | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Rock Identifier Premium | $7.99 | per month |
| Rock Identifier Premium | $29.99 | per year |
| Rock Identifier Premium | $39.99 | per year |
| Rock Identifier Premium | $39.99 | per year |
| Rock Identifier Premium | $39.99 | per year |
| Rock Identifier Premium | $69.99 | per year |
| Rock Unlock New Skin | $1.99 | one-time |
| Rock Identifier Premium | $69.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🤩 Accurate rock identification
- 🤓 Extensive information on rocks
- 🧠 Helpful for learning about rocks
- 🪨 Great for rock collectors
- 🤖 Powerful AI-based identification

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🔢 Limited free scans per day
- 🔍 Inconsistent accuracy, sometimes wrong
- 🔀 Gives different results for same rock
- 🙅‍♀️ Poor customer support

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes or freezes
- Subscription issues and unexpected charges
- Inaccurate rock identification
- Inability to delete or edit rock entries

**Requested features**

- Ability to manually input rock names
- Option to create and manage rock collections
- More comprehensive rock/mineral database
- Improved search and filtering capabilities
- Offline mode for rock identification


## Frequently asked questions

### Is e free?

e is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Rock Identifier free?

Rock Identifier is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, e or Rock Identifier?

Rock Identifier is rated higher. e averages 3.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Rock Identifier averages 4.7 from 82K ratings.

### Do e or Rock Identifier have ads?

Neither e nor Rock Identifier shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, e or Rock Identifier?

e ships an update every 2 months, and Rock Identifier every 3 weeks. Most recently, e was updated on October 19, 2026 and Rock Identifier on October 25, 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.*