# ArcGIS Survey123 vs Soil Type

The clearest difference is ads: ArcGIS Survey123 at none against Soil Type's shown. ArcGIS Survey123 also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 23 months) and ratings volume (219 vs 2). Soil Type's advantage is rating (3.0 vs 2.8). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Soil Type holds the better App Store score, 3.0 against 2.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ArcGIS Survey123 has 219 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 12% of ArcGIS Survey123's written reviews are positive against 0% of Soil Type's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

ArcGIS Survey123 ships an update every 2 months, Soil Type every 23 months. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ArcGIS Survey123 | Soil Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.8 (219 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcgis-survey123/id993015031/reviews) | **[3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/soil-type/id1307465503/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **219** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | **12.1% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 23 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 221 MB | 32 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | **12.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ESRI](https://appshunter.io/developer/379687933) | [Traversient Incorporated](https://appshunter.io/developer/1478485461) |

## What reviewers say

### ArcGIS Survey123

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcgis-survey123/id993015031)

Capture precise, location-aware data in the field using smart forms, even offline. Seamlessly sync collected information with your ArcGIS platform for real-time analysis and decision-making. Ideal for public feedback, inspections, and documenting field conditions.

**Highlights:** Smart forms for data collection, Offline data capture and syncing, Location-aware data with GPS, Support for various question types, Photo and audio attachments, Data validation and skip logic, Integration with ArcGIS platform

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Offline map viewing capability
- 🌍 Easy translation support
- 📝 Solid core functionality for data collection
- 🎨 Customizable forms when designed well
- 📱 Works well on iPad with proper configuration

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔋 Severe battery drain from continuous location tracking
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and app freezes
- ⏱️ Significant lag and slow performance
- 🔐 Authentication and login issues
- 📸 Photo attachment failures and glitches

**Reported bugs**

- Continuous location services polling even when app is closed
- iPhone 17 photo capture causes complete app crash
- Keyboard hangs during form data entry
- App crashes on login attempts
- Submit checkbox occluded by keyboard

**Requested features**

- Edit sent survey data capability
- Multiple photo selection from library
- Magic keyboard trackpad support for iPad
- Previous answers dropdown for repeated data entry
- Desktop/web-based survey completion


### Soil Type

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/soil-type/id1307465503)

Identify and catalog farm soil types using a simple, guided "Ribbon Test." Store sample details, map locations, and photos directly within the app for easy farm management.

**Highlights:** Soil type identification via Ribbon Test, Step-by-step textual instructions, Store cataloged soil samples, Record map location of samples, Attach photos to soil samples

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ArcGIS Survey123 free?

ArcGIS Survey123 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Soil Type free?

Soil Type is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, ArcGIS Survey123 or Soil Type?

Soil Type is rated higher. ArcGIS Survey123 averages 2.8 out of 5 from 219 ratings, while Soil Type averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do ArcGIS Survey123 or Soil Type have ads?

Soil Type shows ads; ArcGIS Survey123 does not.

### Which is updated more often, ArcGIS Survey123 or Soil Type?

ArcGIS Survey123 ships an update every 2 months, and Soil Type every 23 months. Most recently, ArcGIS Survey123 was updated on October 28, 2026 and Soil Type on October 22, 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.*