Comparison

MacroInvertebrates vs Rockd

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

Head to head
About

MacroInvertebrates

This educational tool provides a mobile interface to a comprehensive database of Vermont macroinvertebrates. It aids researchers in the field by offering quick identification of aquatic organisms found in local streams.

Highlights
  • Mobile interface for macroinvertebrate database
  • Quick identification of aquatic organisms
  • Updates from online resource
  • User-friendly field interface
  • Educational tool for researchers
Features
Read full description

A mobile interface for the Vermont Macroinvertebrate Database - http://wikieducator.org/Rivers/home. The mobile app updates itself with the website on request and has an easy-to-use interface to help researchers in the field quickly identify the macroinvertebrates they might find in a Vermont stream. This was a student project for CS295/CS395 - App Development & Wireless Devices taught by University of Vermont Associate Professor Christian Skalka. The student team consisted of: Elissa Benedetto, Jeremy Gould, My Mai, Lara Nargozian, and Colum Smith. The database was originally created by the VT EPSCoR Center for Workforce Development and Diversity (VT EPSCoR CWDD) to help with the identification of numerous macroinvertebrates in Vermont waterways. The CWDD continues to add to the WikiEducator site, developed by Declan McCabe, Biology Professor at Saint Michael’s College, which has individual pages for streams throughout Vermont to help identify the approximately 10 most common macroinvertebrates found in each stream, representing more than 95% of the organisms one would find in that stream. This resource has been assembled based upon samples taken by Vermont EPSCoR interns and high school participants between 2008 and 2013. Contributors are far too numerous to mention but we wish to acknowledge Brian Cunningham for establishing the initial structure of the tailored web resources in 2009 and Erin Hayes-Pontius for developing the bulk of the content and photographs between 2009 and 2011. Projects, such as this mobile app, help complement the innovation and workforce development efforts of VT EPSCoR and enhance communications outreach. This app is maintained by Steve Exler, Vermont EPSCoR’s Technologist. Support provided by Vermont EPSCoR with funds from the National Science Foundation Grant EPS-1101317. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

About

Rockd

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
Read full description

Explore, learn about, and document your geologic surroundings! Whether you are a professional geoscientist or curious about the rocks around you and the stories they tell, Rockd allows you to explore and learn about the geologic record, contribute your own observations, and log your journey through the geologic record. Features: - Instant access to geologic and geographic summaries of your current location via a Dashboard - Interactive global access to more than 290 geologic maps, with more being added weekly - Explore the landscape with a dynamic, 3D virtual globe - Save maps for use in the field with a built-in map caching system - See your past location and explore paleogeographic maps from C.R. Scotese and GPlates - View Macrostrat stratigraphic columns where available (beta) - Explore published literature containing mentions of mapped geologic units (when available) via xDD (formerly, GeoDeepDive) - Elevation data for most points on Earth from digital elevation models (DEMs) - Add your own field observations even offline; tag features from Macrostrat and the Paleobiology Database - Record strike/dip or trend/plunge for geologic features, using your phone's compass - Track your progress through the geologic record privately, or share it with others - See the public activity of other users and share your own and other public checkins using unique URLs Rockd is produced by the Macrostrat lab in the Department of Geoscience at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Support provided by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Dept. of Geoscience. Experiencing issues? Send an email to contact@rockd.org and we will do our best to help you resolve it.

Screenshots

MacroInvertebrates4 screens
Rockd4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Rockd at 4.4 against MacroInvertebrates's 4.0. Rockd also leads on ratings volume (185 vs 1) and update cadence (every 3 months vs every 8 months). MacroInvertebrates's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 74%) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Rockd holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Rockd has 185 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 100% of MacroInvertebrates's written reviews are positive against 74% of Rockd's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MacroInvertebrates ships an update every 8 months, Rockd every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
MacroInvertebrates versus Rockd: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMacroInvertebratesRockd
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (1 ratings)4.4 (185 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better73.6% of reviews
Number of ratings1185 — better
Update frequencyEvery 8 monthsEvery 3 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size24 MB259 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperUniversity of VermontUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison Shared Apps

Customer experience

MacroInvertebrates

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

Rockd

All ratings185 ratings
Positive82.2%
Neutral7.6%
Negative10.3%
Written reviews91 reviews
Positive73.6%
Neutral13.2%
Negative13.2%

Bugs and requests

MacroInvertebrates

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Rockd

Reported bugs

17 issues
  • 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
Show 12 more
  • Fossils button not working
  • Map returns to user location after viewing check-ins
  • App crashes and becomes unresponsive
  • Data loss after app reinstall or logout
  • Maps fail to load after recent updates
  • Location search functionality broken
  • Android version windows not visible
  • Straight lines appear when zooming
  • Formations stop at state lines
  • Check-in screen stuck with no exit option
  • App won't load after initial use
  • Geological overlay won't upload to base map

Requested features

16 requests
  • 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
Show 11 more
  • Map legend/key for geological features
  • Spanish language support
  • Ability to move dashboard to different locations
  • Latitude/longitude search functionality
  • Multiple photo attachments per location
  • Strike and dip data visualization
  • Fault line labeling on maps
  • Better Android version compatibility
  • Tutorial or short course for advanced features
  • Black contact lines between formations toggle
  • Personal photo upload focus with mineral variations

In-app purchases

None

MacroInvertebrates

No in-app purchases

None

Rockd

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is MacroInvertebrates free?
MacroInvertebrates 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, MacroInvertebrates or Rockd?
Rockd is rated higher. MacroInvertebrates averages 4.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Rockd averages 4.4 from 185 ratings.
Do MacroInvertebrates or Rockd have ads?
Neither MacroInvertebrates nor Rockd shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MacroInvertebrates or Rockd?
MacroInvertebrates ships an update every 8 months, and Rockd every 3 months. Most recently, MacroInvertebrates was updated on October 5, 2026 and Rockd on October 13, 2026.

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