Comparison

TerrainHub vs Rockhounding.org

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

TerrainHub

Discover over 222,000 outdoor geological sites across 14 categories, including minerals, fossils, and water features. Utilize an AI guide for location-based geological insights and explore with 17 map layers and field tools. Offline maps are available for areas with no service.

Highlights
  • 222,000+ US geological sites
  • 14 discovery categories
  • AI Guide for location-based insights
  • 17 detailed map layers
  • Offline map downloads
  • Field tools for exploration
  • Photo and video analysis
Read full description

222,000+ US sites. 14 categories. Gold, hot springs, fossils, caves, waterfalls, and more — for prospectors, rockhounds, fossil and meteorite hunters, hikers, overlanders, landscape photographers, and anyone with an interest in geology. MINERALS & FOSSILS Gold (125k), Precious Metals (14k), Fossils (29k), Rockhounding (663), Meteorites (1.7k). Filter gold sites by prospecting status — active claims, closed claims, historic deposits, fee digs. Filter rockhounding by material type — gemstones, quartz, agates, petrified wood. WATER FEATURES Natural Springs (35k), Hot Springs (2.3k), Waterfalls (11k), Swimming Holes (660). GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS Caves (1.3k), Natural Arches (722), Rock Pillars (419), Slot Canyons (283), Sand Dunes (136). AI GUIDE — ASK ANYTHING ABOUT THE LAND Unlike a regular AI chat, AI Guide checks real government survey data at your exact location — geology, land management, mining claims, soil chemistry, fault lines, and more. Use the pick location on map feature to scout any area and get a full breakdown before you visit. · Text Q&A — Ask about geology, prospecting potential, land rules, or anything about the area. · Photo Identification — Photograph a rock, mineral, or formation. AI Guide cross-references what it sees with the local geology. · Video Analysis — Record a short video and get a breakdown of terrain and formations. Multiple angles reveal what photos can't. · Explore with Kids — Ask AI Guide to explain geological features in simple terms. Turn a family hike into an educational adventure. 17 MAP LAYERS BLM, National Forest, National Parks, State Parks, Wildlife Refuges, Nature Preserves, Wilderness Areas, Streams & Rivers, Lakes & Reservoirs, Active Mining Claims, Closed Mining Claims, PLSS Survey Grid, Rock Types, Soil Geochemistry, Stream Sediment, Fault Lines, Volcanic Features. Private Land Parcels and LiDAR Hillshade coming soon. FIELD TOOLS Waypoints, Field Notes, GPS Camera, Compass, Magnifier, Distance Line, Draw Area, Location Sharing, Import/Export GPX, and more. Offline maps — download regions before you lose service. FREE TO EXPLORE Start exploring for free. Upgrade to PRO for AI Guide, offline map downloads, and geology and mining layers. SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS TerrainHub PRO unlocks AI Guide, offline map downloads, and PRO map layers (Mining Claims, Geology). - TerrainHub PRO Monthly — $9.99/month - TerrainHub PRO Yearly — $89.99/year (save 25%) TerrainHub PRO+ includes everything in PRO plus higher monthly AI Guide limits - TerrainHub PRO+ Monthly — $19.99/month - TerrainHub PRO+ Yearly — $179.99/year (save 25%) All subscriptions include a 7-day free trial. Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at the confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless it is canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage and cancel your subscriptions by going to your account settings on the App Store after purchase. Privacy Policy: https://terrainhub.app/privacy-policy Terms of Use: https://terrainhub.app/terms

About

Rockhounding.org

Discover over 52,000 rock collecting sites across North America with an interactive map. Log your finds, connect with other collectors, and access detailed land information. Offline maps ensure you can explore even without a signal.

Highlights
  • 52,000+ collecting sites
  • Interactive map
  • Offline map functionality
  • Site details and filters
  • Logbook and collection builder
  • Community forum and marketplace
Features
Read full description

Every place people collect rocks, minerals, gems and fossils in the United States and Canada, on one map you can carry into the field. Rockhounding.org is the largest free rockhounding map there is, and this is it as an app. Find a site. Open the map and see what is near you, or search by name, county, state or mineral. Every site has what is found there, how to get in, what to bring, the land it sits on and what other collectors have logged. Filter to verified sites, fossils, paid digs, mineral occurrences or community submissions. Know the ground you are standing on. Members see BLM, Forest Service, state and tribal land under the map, active mining claims with the holder's name, and Canadian protected areas where collecting is prohibited. Long-press anywhere to drop a private pin. Take it offline. Save an area and its sites once, then use the map with no signal. Field sites rarely have coverage. Keep a logbook. Record visits and finds with photos, build your collection and see it on the map. Share a find with the community, or keep it private. Talk to other collectors. Photo gallery, forum, club directory and a calendar of shows, digs and meetings. Buy and sell specimens and gear in the marketplace. The app is free with ads. Supporter ($14.99 per year) removes ads and adds the trip planner. Pro ($59.99 per year) adds satellite, topo and LiDAR layers, land status, mining claims and offline areas. A rockhounding.org membership bought on the website works in the app, and one bought in the app works on the website. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Terms of Service: https://rockhounding.org/terms Privacy Policy: https://rockhounding.org/privacy

Screenshots

TerrainHub4 screens
Rockhounding.org4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: TerrainHub at none against Rockhounding.org's shown. Rockhounding.org's advantage is ratings volume (4 vs 1). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. TerrainHub sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Rockhounding.org sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for TerrainHub against 5.0 for Rockhounding.org. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 4 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

TerrainHub ships an update every 9 days, Rockhounding.org every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
TerrainHub versus Rockhounding.org: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTerrainHubRockhounding.org
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (4 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings14 — better
Update frequencyEvery 9 days — betterEvery 11 days
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.115.1
Further details — not scored
Size93 MB77 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTerrainHub LLCRockhounding Inc

Customer experience

TerrainHub

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Rockhounding.org

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

10 purchases

TerrainHub

Subscriptions2
  • TerrainHub PRO7 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • TerrainHub PRO7 Days trial$89.991 Year
One-time8
  • 10 AI Photo Credits$1.99
  • 50 AI Text Credits$2.99
  • 10 AI Video Credits$2.99
Show 5 more
  • 25 AI Photo Credits$3.99
  • 100 AI Text Credits$4.99
  • 25 AI Video Credits$5.99
  • 50 AI Photo Credits$6.99
  • 50 AI Video Credits$9.99
2 purchases

Rockhounding.org

Subscriptions2
  • Supporter$14.991 Year
  • Pro$59.991 Year

Questions

Is TerrainHub free?
TerrainHub is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Rockhounding.org free?
Rockhounding.org is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, TerrainHub or Rockhounding.org?
TerrainHub and Rockhounding.org are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 4 ratings respectively.
Do TerrainHub or Rockhounding.org have ads?
Rockhounding.org shows ads; TerrainHub does not.
Which is updated more often, TerrainHub or Rockhounding.org?
TerrainHub ships an update every 9 days, and Rockhounding.org every 11 days. Most recently, TerrainHub was updated on October 30, 2026 and Rockhounding.org on October 31, 2026.

Other comparisons