Fossil Discovery vs GeoFossil
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Fossil Discovery
This app allows users to upload fossil findings and their associated data for identification by expert volunteers. It aims to foster citizen science by connecting amateur and professional paleontologists to study regional biodiversity.
- Upload fossil data
- GPS-enabled locality tagging
- Expert identification
- Biodiversity study
- Citizen science network
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The application enables the scientific community to use verified data to study (regional) biodiversity. Thus, Fossil Discovery will become a true citizen science and create a network of amateur and professional paleontologists. This application allows users to upload fossils and their data (e.g., locality/GPS-data, measurements, preservation) and get identification by volunteering experts. Improvements will be continuously and in collaboration with the FAU’s Pattern Recognition Lab.
GeoFossil
Explore global fossil discoveries on an interactive map. Access detailed profiles, scientific publications, and powerful search filters to uncover Earth's prehistoric past. Ideal for students and enthusiasts interested in paleontology and geology.
- Global fossil map
- Detailed fossil profiles
- Linked scientific publications
- Powerful search filters
- Explore prehistoric life
- Educational and engaging
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Explore Fossils & Prehistoric Life Worldwide GeoFossil is the ultimate fossil map app for exploring paleontology discoveries across the globe. Using real data from the Paleobiology Database, you can uncover Earth’s prehistoric past from the palm of your hand. Key Features: Global Fossil Map – Discover fossil locations from every continent. Detailed Fossil Profiles – View fossil details, geological age, location, and taxonomy. Scientific Publications – Access linked research papers for each fossil occurrence, opening a search in your browser. Powerful Filters – Search by fossil type, time period, or publication year. Educational & Fun – Perfect for students, paleontology enthusiasts, and geologists. Whether you’re fascinated by dinosaurs, ancient plants, or marine life, GeoFossil makes exploring Earth’s fossil record simple and engaging. Start your prehistoric journey today!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: GeoFossil at 4.0 against Fossil Discovery's 2.0. Fossil Discovery's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
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.
GeoFossil holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 2.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.
Fossil Discovery ships an update every 8 months, GeoFossil every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on August 28, 2026 and July 4, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Fossil Discovery | GeoFossil |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.0 (1 ratings) | 4.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | Every 4 months — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Ad-supported |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 58 MB | 19 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Friedrich-Alexander-Universitaet Erlangen-Nuernberg | Andrew Hall |
Customer experience
Fossil Discovery
GeoFossil
In-app purchases
Fossil Discovery
No in-app purchases
GeoFossil
No in-app purchases
