Comparison

SurveyNotes vs Gerber Viewer

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

Head to head
About

SurveyNotes

This professional tool assists surveyors, engineers, and contractors with precise grade and elevation calculations in the field. It functions as a digital field book, recording instrument setups, benchmark elevations, and foresight shots with timestamps. Export your data as professional PDFs for easy sharing.

Highlights
  • Differential leveling calculations
  • Instrument setup in seconds
  • Session-based field book recording
  • Professional PDF export
  • Offline functionality
  • Custom measurement keyboard
  • Dark mode interface
Features
Read full description

SurveyNotes is a professional differential leveling tool built for surveyors, engineers, and contractors who need a reliable field book in their pocket. Set up your instrument in seconds. Enter your benchmark elevation and backsight rod reading and SurveyNotes instantly calculates your Height of Instrument. From there, enter any desired elevation and get the exact rod reading you need to hit grade. FIELD BOOK RECORDING Every shot you record is saved to a session-based field book — organized by instrument setup, exactly the way a real level book works. Each session stores your benchmark, backsight, HI, and every foresight shot with notes and timestamps. PROFESSIONAL PDF EXPORT Export any session as a clean, print-ready PDF formatted like a traditional differential leveling field book. Share it by email or AirDrop directly from the app. BUILT FOR THE FIELD • Works completely offline — no account, no internet required • Dark mode interface easy on the eyes in all lighting conditions • Custom measurement keyboard supporting decimal feet, feet-inches, and fractions to the nearest 1/16" • Sessions are saved automatically and available across app launches SURVEYING TERMINOLOGY SurveyNotes uses standard differential leveling terminology — Benchmark (BM), Backsight (BS), Height of Instrument (HI), and Foresight (FS) — so it fits naturally into any professional workflow. All data is stored locally on your device and never transmitted anywhere.

About

Gerber Viewer

Features
Read full description

The Ultimate Mobile PCB & Gerber File Inspector. Whether you are a hardware engineer, an electronics hobbyist, or a manufacturer, Gerber Viewer provides a desktop-grade experience for opening, inspecting, and verifying your printed circuit board designs directly on your iPhone or iPad. No need to wait until you are at your computer. Open both native CAD PCB layouts and manufacturing Gerber files instantly from your email, cloud storage, or local files. Key Features: Instant ZIP Archive Support: Simply open a .zip bundle of your design! The app automatically decompresses the archive and intelligently matches all layers for you. Advanced Layer Management: Toggle specific layers on and off effortlessly. Isolate copper traces, solder masks, silkscreen layers, and board outlines. Precise Measurement Tools: Check clearances, pad distances, and trace widths on the go with high-precision measurement tools. Smooth Render Engine: Built for speed. Experience fluid zooming, panning, and rendering of complex, high-density multi-layer boards without lag. Secure & Offline: Your designs are safe. All file rendering happens locally on your device, keeping your intellectual property completely secure and accessible offline. Comprehensive File Support: Our robust engine is designed to recognize and render all standard EDA exports automatically: Gerber Files (PCB Layer Artwork): General Gerber: .gbr, .ger Copper Layers: .gtl, .gbl, .cmp, .sol Silkscreen Layers: .gto, .gbo, .plc, .pls Soldermask Layers: .gts, .gbs, .stc, .sts, .st, .sb Board Outline / Keep-out: .gko, .gm1, .gm2, .gml, .profile, .outline, .cut, .out Layer Aliases: .top, .bottom, .bot, .ts, .bs Excellon Drill Files (CNC Holes): Supports: .drl, .txt, .xln, .tap, .drd, .drill, .pth, .npth Gerber ZIP Archives: Direct import of .zip files containing any of the Gerber and Drill files listed above with automatic layer matching! Premium Subscriptions & Plans: Unlock the full power of Gerber Viewer with our flexible premium plans designed to fit your production and engineering workflow. Choose the plan that best suits your needs: Weekly Subscription: $2.99 / week — Perfect for quick project checks and short-term manufacturing reviews. Monthly Subscription: $4.99 / month — Ideal for active hardware developers and engineering students. Yearly Subscription: $19.99 / year — Best value for professionals, offering full year-round access at a massive discount. Note: Payments will be charged to your iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage or turn off auto-renew in your Apple ID Account Settings at any time after purchase. Legal & Privacy: Terms of Service: https://sites.google.com/view/gerber-terms/home Privacy Policy: https://sites.google.com/view/gerber-policies/home

Screenshots

SurveyNotes4 screens
Gerber Viewer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SurveyNotes at none against Gerber Viewer's 3. Gerber Viewer's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 26.2). On price, ads and device support 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. Gerber Viewer sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. SurveyNotes asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
SurveyNotes versus Gerber Viewer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSurveyNotesGerber Viewer
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (3 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings3 — better—
Update frequencyWeekly—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS26.212.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB49 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNicholas VanderKlipCODIGITAL SOLUTIONS

In-app purchases

None

SurveyNotes

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Gerber Viewer

Subscriptions3
  • Pro Access$2.997 Days
  • Pro Access$4.991 Month
  • Pro Access$19.991 Year

Questions

Is SurveyNotes free?
SurveyNotes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Gerber Viewer free?
Gerber Viewer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do SurveyNotes or Gerber Viewer have ads?
Neither SurveyNotes nor Gerber Viewer shows ads.

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