Comparison

Soil Explorer vs Strat Mobile

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

Head to head
About

Soil Explorer

Discover detailed soil property and landscape maps for U.S. states and global soil distributions. Understand how map features relate to real-world observations. This educational tool uses data from USDA and USGS to illustrate complex soil-landscape relationships.

Highlights
  • Detailed soil property maps
  • Landscape visualizations
  • Global soil distribution maps
  • Field observation correlation
  • USDA NRCS data integration
  • USGS data integration
Features
Read full description

Explore detailed maps of soil properties and landscapes for various U.S. states, as well as small-scale maps of soil distributions for the world. Examine the details for a specific area, but also see the overview for a large area. Learn how features shown on the maps correspond to what you observe in the field. Soil Explorer utilizes detailed soil survey data from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and data and maps from the U. S. Geological Survey and other sources to produce informative, highly engaging maps. These maps are designed to show the complex interrelationships between soil properties and the landscapes in which soils occur.

About

Strat Mobile

This application allows geologists to measure and record stratigraphic sections directly on their mobile devices. It offers multiple measurement methods, including using the device's camera or a traditional Jacob Staff, and automatically logs location and time data. Users can define lithology types, view statistics, and see section locations on a map.

Highlights
  • Real-time stratigraphic section plotting
  • Measure sections using device camera or Jacob Staff
  • Automatic recording of location, time, and date
  • Define unlimited lithology types with custom colors
  • Basic statistics on lithology thicknesses and percentages
  • View section locations on satellite or road maps
Features
Read full description

Strat Mobile is a program for iOS devices that enables you to measure and record stratigraphic sections right on your iPhone or iPad. Some of the basic tasks that one can perform with the app include: • Real time plotting of the stratigraphic section as it is being measured. • Measure sections using your know eye height as the “Jacob Staff” by sighting down dip through the device camera. The thickness of the measured interval, of course, depends directly on the dip (as well as your eye height). • Measure sections using a traditional Jacob Staff. The device can determine the strike and dip of the bedding for you with the tap of a button • Measure sections using a tape measure. You enter the tape azimuth, slope, start and end point, as well as the strike and dip of bedding, and the device will calculate the correct thickness automatically. • Automatically record, latitude, longitude, time and date for every interval measured • You can define an unlimited number of lithology types (with corresponding colors and widths) to draw your section and tag your observations • Provide basic statistics on the section measured, including the thicknesses and percentages of each lithology • See the locations of entire sections, measured intervals, and samples on a satellite image or road map. • Provide basic input and output of data using standard iOS conventions Will work on iPhones or iPads. The program will work on iPads lacking a cellular data connection but those devices have fewer sensors and thus cannot be used in automatic data collection mode.

Screenshots

Soil Explorer4 screens
Strat Mobile4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Soil Explorer at 4.1 against Strat Mobile's 1.0. Soil Explorer also leads on ratings volume (9 vs 1). Strat Mobile's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 11 months) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 14.7). 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

Soil Explorer holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Soil Explorer has 9 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Soil Explorer ships an update every 11 months, Strat Mobile monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Soil Explorer versus Strat Mobile: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSoil ExplorerStrat Mobile
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.1 (9 ratings) — better1.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings9 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 11 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS14.710.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size172 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPurdue UniversityRichard Allmendinger

Customer experience

Soil Explorer

All ratings9 ratings
Positive77.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative22.2%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative50.0%

Strat Mobile

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

None

Soil Explorer

No in-app purchases

None

Strat Mobile

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Soil Explorer free?
Soil Explorer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Strat Mobile free?
Strat Mobile is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Soil Explorer or Strat Mobile?
Soil Explorer is rated higher. Soil Explorer averages 4.1 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while Strat Mobile averages 1.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Soil Explorer or Strat Mobile have ads?
Neither Soil Explorer nor Strat Mobile shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Soil Explorer or Strat Mobile?
Soil Explorer ships an update every 11 months, and Strat Mobile monthly. Most recently, Soil Explorer was updated on September 27, 2026 and Strat Mobile on September 21, 2026.

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