# SoilWeb vs Rockd

The clearest difference is rating: Rockd at 4.4 against SoilWeb's 3.5. Rockd also leads on review sentiment (74% vs 47%) and update cadence (every 3 months vs every 8 months). SoilWeb's advantage is iOS requirement (9.0 vs 16.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

Rockd holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Rockd has 185 ratings behind it against 14, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 47% of SoilWeb's written reviews are positive against 74% of Rockd's.

SoilWeb ships an update every 8 months, Rockd every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SoilWeb | Rockd |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.5 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/soilweb/id354911787/reviews) | **[4.4 (185 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rockd/id1153056624/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 14 | **185** |
| Positive reviews | 47.0% of reviews | **73.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 26 MB | 259 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 16.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [University of California, Davis](https://appshunter.io/developer/356519286) | [University of Wisconsin-Madison Shared Apps](https://appshunter.io/developer/908478605) |

## What reviewers say

### SoilWeb

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/soilweb/id354911787)

Access detailed soil survey information based on your current location. View soil profile sketches, estimated proportions, and geomorphic positions. Get aggregate data like water holding capacity and links to official soil descriptions.

**Highlights:** Soil profile sketches and geomorphic position, Map unit aggregate data (e.g., water holding capacity), Soil survey area scale and publication date, Detailed component soil properties and ratings, Links to Official Series Descriptions (OSDs), Location accuracy and auto-refresh settings

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Extremely helpful app
- 👍 Great for soil science
- 👍 Useful for field work
- 👍 Intuitive data interface
- 👍 Provides soil data instantly

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes frequently
- 🐛 Doesn't open
- 🐛 Incompatible with newer iOS
- 🐛 Font color difficult to read
- 🐛 Map data inaccurate

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on opening
- App doesn't open
- App not compatible with iOS 11/14
- Map gives soil data for wrong area
- Soil series name font color is white, hard to read

**Requested features**

- Allow "view map" feature like desktop version
- Change soil series font color
- Add map view for nearby soil types
- Allow manual input of locations
- Data export options


### Rockd

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rockd/id1153056624)

Discover and document the geology around you. Access global geologic maps, 3D globes, and detailed summaries of your surroundings. Contribute your own observations and track your exploration of Earth's geologic history.

**Highlights:** Interactive global geologic maps, 3D virtual globe exploration, Field observation logging, Offline map caching, Paleogeographic map access, Stratigraphic column viewing, Geologic literature integration

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🗺️ Comprehensive geological maps with detailed information
- 💡 Innovative integration of peer-reviewed references and literature
- 🧭 Built-in Brunton compass and clinometer tools
- 📱 User-friendly interface and intuitive navigation
- 🌍 Global coverage with paleomaps and stratigraphic data

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Black map display issues in offline and online modes
- 📍 GPS tracking and real-time position updates failing
- 🔌 Offline functionality severely limited or broken
- 🔐 Persistent login requirement without password saving
- ⚠️ Error dialogs that won't dismiss

**Reported bugs**

- Black map display in airplane mode and online
- Persistent error dialogs that cannot be dismissed
- GPS not tracking in real-time
- Offline check-ins not syncing properly
- Sign-up page jumps between fields and login page

**Requested features**

- Follow/friend mechanic to track other users' check-ins
- Rock identification tool from photo uploads
- Offline map download with customizable zoom levels
- Stereonet tool for structural geology
- Groundwater/aquifer information section


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SoilWeb free?

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

### Is Rockd free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SoilWeb or Rockd?

Rockd is rated higher. SoilWeb averages 3.5 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while Rockd averages 4.4 from 185 ratings.

### Do SoilWeb or Rockd have ads?

Neither SoilWeb nor Rockd shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SoilWeb or Rockd?

SoilWeb ships an update every 8 months, and Rockd every 3 months. Most recently, SoilWeb was updated on October 4, 2026 and Rockd on October 13, 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.*