CavernSeer vs Cave 09
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
CavernSeer
This app uses LiDAR scanners to create detailed 3D models of real-world spaces like caves and shelters. It offers various viewing modes, including 3D, top-down, and side-view projections, with export options for generated meshes.
- LiDAR-powered 3D mesh generation
- Multiple viewing modes (3D, plan, elevation)
- Export scan files (.OBJ)
- High-resolution screenshot capture
- Unit conversion (meters/feet)
- Debugging overlays
Read full descriptionHide full description
Designed for cave and shelter surveying, CavernSeer leverages the LiDAR scanner of the 2020 iPad Pro and the iPhone 12 Pro, and RealityKit's scene reconstruction, to generate relatively-accurate 3D meshes of real-world spaces and render them in various convenient ways. ### App Usage ### All iOS/iPadOS 14 devices can run the app and view existing scans shared by others, but devices with a LiDAR scanner (currently iPhone 12 Pros and newer iPad Pros) can capture new scans. ### Viewing ### Scans created by the user or imported from elsewhere will appear in the "Scan List" tab, which lists out the names and the starting photo of the scan. Selecting a scan displays the start and end photos (if available), *export* options for the scan file as well as a plaintext .OBJ render, as well as the following: * Advanced - underlying information about the scan. * 3D Render - a 3D perspective rendering view navigable based on the setting "3D render interaction mode". * Plan Projected Render - a "top-down" orthographic projection complete with scale bar. Defaults to north-up. The height control allows for raising or lowering the camera to show or hide obstructions. * Elevation Projected Render - a "side-view" orthographic projection with scale bar, compass, and various controls. The angle controls change the direction the camera is facing relative to magnetic-north. The depth control is similar to the plan-projected height control, allowing for pushing the camera through obstructions. * Cross Section Render - an elevation projection (see above) with an inset plan-projection indicating the position and size of the camera, and a switch for making the camera "depth-of-field" 1-meter deep to create a cross-section slice. All of the renders support high-resolution screenshots scaled to higher detail than the device itself. ### Scanning ### Devices with a LiDAR scanner can capture new scans in the "Scanner" tab. Pressing the center button starts a scan, after which you can enable Apple's debugging overlays, either showing _Debug_ information or a _Mesh_ preview which displays the currently captured mesh on screen, as well as enabling the device's flashlight. Clicking the center button again will complete and save the scan, which will appear in the scan list. ### Settings ### * Three settings for mesh color change the way that the meshes in the various viewers are displayed. * Switch for changing between meters and decimal-feet in any distance contexts. * Setting for changing the interaction mode in the 3d Render view. The recommended option is "Orbit angle mapping". * Debugging options where appropriate.
Cave 09
Read full descriptionHide full description
Explore the depths of the underground world with Cave09, your essential tool for efficient cave mapping. Designed by cavers for cavers, Cave09 offers data input for mapping, automatic map generation based on input data, and map export, all with full offline functionality. - Full Offline Functionality: Cave09 works perfectly without an internet connection, allowing you to map caves anytime, anywhere. - Efficient Cave Mapping: Easily input cave data, including station/point distances, compass angles, inclinations, and left-right-up-down distances. Let Cave09 handle the rest with automatic map generation. - Export Maps: Save and export your cave maps to image files, making documentation and sharing easy. - User-Friendly Interface: Cave09’s intuitive design ensures a smooth experience for both professional surveyors and hobbyist explorers.
Screenshots
Verdict
CavernSeer and Cave 09 are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
CavernSeer ships an update every 3 months, Cave 09 every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | CavernSeer | Cave 09 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (3 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 3 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 10 MB | 20 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Samuel Grush | Muhammad Yusuf |
In-app purchases
CavernSeer
No in-app purchases
Cave 09
No in-app purchases








