# Rock Identifier vs Connected North

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Connected North at none against Rock Identifier's 17. Connected North also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 3 weeks). Rock Identifier's advantage is chart position (#32 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Rock Identifier sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Connected North asks for nothing beyond the download.

Rock Identifier ships an update every 3 weeks, Connected North every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Rock Identifier | Connected North |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (82K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rock-identifier-stone-id/id1546796934/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **82K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 64.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Best chart rank | **#32** | — |
| Size | 201 MB | 46 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Next Vision Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1532006906) | [TakingITGlobal](https://appshunter.io/developer/531238798) |

## What reviewers say

### Rock Identifier

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

**Currently charting:** #32 Top Grossing · Education, #82 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


### Connected North

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/connected-north-pathways/id6819071744)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Rock Identifier free?

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

### Is Connected North free?

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

### Do Rock Identifier or Connected North have ads?

Neither Rock Identifier nor Connected North shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Rock Identifier or Connected North?

Rock Identifier ships an update every 3 weeks, and Connected North every 2 days. Most recently, Rock Identifier was updated on November 1, 2026 and Connected North on October 29, 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.*