# StraboField vs RTAB

The clearest difference is review sentiment: RTAB at 100% against StraboField's 50%. RTAB also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.5) and iOS requirement (14.3 vs 17.0). StraboField's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 4 months). On price, ratings volume, 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.

RTAB holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 19 and 39 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of StraboField's written reviews are positive against 100% of RTAB's.

StraboField ships an update every 9 days, RTAB every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | StraboField | RTAB |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (19 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/strabofield/id1555903455/reviews) | **[4.8 (39 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rtab-map-3d-lidar-scanner/id1564774365/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 19 | **39** |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 89 MB | 19 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **14.3** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [The University of Kansas](https://appshunter.io/developer/726307325) | [Mathieu Labbe](https://appshunter.io/developer/1564774367) |

## What reviewers say

### StraboField

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/strabofield/id1555903455)

This mobile application helps geologists record field observations, capture data like photos and sketches, and create geologic maps. It supports various geological subdisciplines and allows for offline use with data syncing capabilities.

**Highlights:** Record field data with photos, sketches, and notes, Collect georeferenced orientation and spatial data, Use custom or built-in basemaps offline, Create multi-scale observations with nested Spots, Organize and back up data locally or to StraboSpot.org, Fully functional offline for remote fieldwork

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### RTAB

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rtab-map-3d-lidar-scanner/id1564774365)

This utility app enables real-time 3D scanning and mapping of environments using LiDAR or RGB-D sensors. It features online loop closure detection and map optimization for immediate feedback, with export options for various 3D formats.

**Highlights:** Online 3D scanning and mapping, Loop closure detection and map correction, Save maps in DB format, Export in PLY, LAS, or OBJ, Multi-session mapping, AR/VR visualization mode

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is StraboField free?

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

### Is RTAB free?

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

### Which has better reviews, StraboField or RTAB?

RTAB is rated higher. StraboField averages 4.5 out of 5 from 19 ratings, while RTAB averages 4.8 from 39 ratings.

### Do StraboField or RTAB have ads?

Neither StraboField nor RTAB shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, StraboField or RTAB?

StraboField ships an update every 9 days, and RTAB every 4 months. Most recently, StraboField was updated on October 6, 2026 and RTAB on October 9, 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.*