# Backseat Geologist vs GrappleMaps

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: GrappleMaps at 15.1 against Backseat Geologist's 17.6. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Backseat Geologist sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and GrappleMaps sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Backseat Geologist ships an update fortnightly, GrappleMaps every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Backseat Geologist | GrappleMaps |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (83 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backseat-geologist/id6746209605/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **83** | — |
| Positive reviews | 92.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 8 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 49 MB | 84 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Blake Morgan](https://appshunter.io/developer/1815745960) | [Daniel Wyleczuk-Stern](https://appshunter.io/developer/1846224727) |

## What reviewers say

### Backseat Geologist

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backseat-geologist/id6746209605)

This app provides audio explanations of the geology visible from your car. Explore geological features, create custom routes, and learn about earth history on the go. Offline access and adjustable audience settings enhance the learning experience.

**Highlights:** Audio descriptions of geology, Interactive geologic map, Custom route creation, Offline map and data access, Adjustable audience settings, Points of Interest (volcanoes, earthquakes), Background audio playback

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Max Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Premium Annual | $17.99 | per year |
| Max Annual | $39.99 | per year |
| Colorado I-70 Route Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Seward Highway | $4.99 | one-time |
| Moab Utah Route Pack | $9.99 | one-time |


### GrappleMaps

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/grapplemaps/id6753999689)

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small Tip | $1.99 | one-time |
| Medium Tip | $4.99 | one-time |
| Large Tip | $9.99 | one-time |
| Extra Large Tip | $19.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Backseat Geologist free?

Backseat Geologist is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is GrappleMaps free?

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

### Do Backseat Geologist or GrappleMaps have ads?

Neither Backseat Geologist nor GrappleMaps shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Backseat Geologist or GrappleMaps?

Backseat Geologist ships an update fortnightly, and GrappleMaps every 8 days. Most recently, Backseat Geologist was updated on October 28, 2026 and GrappleMaps on October 19, 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.*