# StraboTools vs GMDE Lite

The clearest difference is update cadence: GMDE Lite at every 4 weeks against StraboTools's every 2 months. StraboTools's advantage is ratings volume (10 vs 2) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for StraboTools against 5.0 for GMDE Lite. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: StraboTools has 10 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

StraboTools ships an update every 2 months, GMDE Lite every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | StraboTools | GMDE Lite |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/strabotools/id1496239162/reviews) | [5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gmde-lite/id1557325241/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **10** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 4 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 14 MB | 47 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [The University of Kansas](https://appshunter.io/developer/726307325) | [Richard Allmendinger](https://appshunter.io/developer/1194772609) |

## What reviewers say

### StraboTools

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/strabotools/id1496239162)

This app assists geologists in the field by analyzing photographs to provide quantitative data on rock fabric and mineral composition. It offers tools for measuring fabric orientation, determining color index, and detecting edges in rock images.

**Highlights:** Edge Fabric tool for orientation analysis, Color Index tool for mineral composition, Edge detection filter, Analyzes photos in-app or imported, Useful for plutonic and other rock types, Supports thin section study

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### GMDE Lite

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gmde-lite/id1557325241)

This app allows users to record geological data, including points of interest, orientations, and contacts, with detailed annotations and photos. It offers multiple methods for orientation input and data visualization, with seamless integration for data exchange across devices and platforms.

**Highlights:** Record points of interest with photos and descriptions, Annotate photos and create digital sketches, Multiple methods for orientation input, Data import/export from various sources, Visualize orientation data on equal area projection, Use device as a rangefinder for distance calculation

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is StraboTools free?

StraboTools is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is GMDE Lite free?

GMDE Lite is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, StraboTools or GMDE Lite?

StraboTools and GMDE Lite are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 10 and 2 ratings respectively.

### Do StraboTools or GMDE Lite have ads?

Neither StraboTools nor GMDE Lite shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, StraboTools or GMDE Lite?

StraboTools ships an update every 2 months, and GMDE Lite every 4 weeks. Most recently, StraboTools was updated on September 18, 2026 and GMDE Lite on September 22, 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.*