# listerCompass vs Rock Identifier

The clearest difference is price: Rock Identifier at Free against listerCompass's $5.99. Rock Identifier also leads on rating (4.7 vs 1.0) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 5 months). listerCompass's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Rock Identifier is free to download; listerCompass costs $5.99 up front. Rock Identifier sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. listerCompass asks for nothing beyond the download.

Rock Identifier holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Rock Identifier has 83K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of listerCompass's written reviews are positive against 64% of Rock Identifier's.

listerCompass ships an update every 5 months, Rock Identifier every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | listerCompass | Rock Identifier |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $5.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [1.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/listercompass/id532918731/reviews) | **[4.7 (83K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rock-identifier-stone-id/id1546796934/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **83K** |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | **64.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Freemium** |
| Best chart rank | — | **#32** |
| Size | 7 MB | 201 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Gordon Lister](https://appshunter.io/developer/1725074221) | [Next Vision Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1532006906) |

## What reviewers say

### listerCompass

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/listercompass/id532918731)

This app is a stereographic compass designed for structural geologists. It allows users to measure and record foliations and lineations in the field, log descriptions, and export data in various formats, including KML for Google Earth.

**Highlights:** Measure foliations and lineations, Record traverse information on a map, Log on-the-fly data descriptions, Export data in KML and other formats, Supports UTM and latitude-longitude, Multiple data format options

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Rock Identifier

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

**Currently charting:** #32 Top Grossing · Education, #109 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 (7)**

| 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 | 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


## Frequently asked questions

### Is listerCompass free?

listerCompass costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Rock Identifier free?

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

### Which has better reviews, listerCompass or Rock Identifier?

Rock Identifier is rated higher. listerCompass averages 1.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Rock Identifier averages 4.7 from 83K ratings.

### Do listerCompass or Rock Identifier have ads?

Neither listerCompass nor Rock Identifier shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, listerCompass or Rock Identifier?

listerCompass ships an update every 5 months, and Rock Identifier every 3 weeks. Most recently, listerCompass was updated on November 1, 2026 and Rock Identifier on November 8, 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.*