Maps for rockhounds. Plan trips, vote in community polls, find your way back to the car, and level up with field tools—plus identify rocks and match with Rock Buddy.
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See maps, Rock ID, field tools, trip planner, and more—or watch the full app tour.
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Built for rock hunters, lapidary enthusiasts, and anyone who loves rock, minerals, and the thrill of the find.
Submit spots to be added—if members vote them in, they become verified locations everyone can see. Only premium members see unverified (pending) spots and can vote. Long-press the map to add a location with a curated list of rocks found there. Review, comment, upload photos, and check in. Free: verified spots within 200 miles. Premium: whole world plus unverified spots.
We use a database of 50+ popular, sought-after rocks per state, each with 6 unique identifying characteristics. You get a result you can choose from—no AI robot suggesting rocks that can’t even be found where you live. Answer a few questions and pick your match.
Mark where you parked at the trailhead, then use return navigation with a compass-style guide and map trail back to your vehicle. Built for long hunts when you wander off the main path.
Track steps on your hunt from the Field Tools tab. Compass, clinometer, flashlight, and more—gear rockhounds actually use in the field, in one app.
Build multi-stop rock-hunting trips from map pins and to-check locations. Set dates, sort your itinerary, share packing lists with your crew, and invite rock buddies by username or link.
See activity on spots you created or favorited in My Spots. Vote in featured community polls to help shape what we build next—and browse past poll winners when a vote closes.
Message other rockhounds in-app. Use Rock Buddy (premium) to find people who want to go rock hunting and match up to hunt together—even if you’re just visiting an area and don’t live there. Swipe, chat, and plan your next hunt.
Earn XP and unlock badges and achievements as you use the app. Your title reflects your level. The more you explore, review, check in, and contribute, the more you level up.
The only app that pays you for sharing your rock hunting. Every premium member is automatically in the affiliate program. When friends join through your link and go premium, you earn 10% of their subscription. Your link is built into shares—completely automated. Get paid for doing what you love.
State chat rooms, bucket lists, and more community tools are on the roadmap—designed by a rockhound, for the rock fam.
See what you get with each. Upgrade anytime to unlock more and earn from your link.
Maps, rock ID, messaging, and Rock Buddy—or watch the full app tour.
Maps & spots
Rock Detective flow
Rock identifier
Find your Rock Fam
The Vault
Messaging
Levels & badges
Rock Buddy finder
Premium members earn 10% when friends join through their link and go premium. Share your finds and your experience—your affiliate link is built in and completely automated. Get paid for doing what you love.
Rock Nerd is built by a computer science major, lifelong builder, and rock hunter who decided to create the app the rock fam actually wants.
Free members get curated, verified spots near home plus the Rock identifier, comments, reviews, and sharing. Premium unlocks 2,300+ locations worldwide, Rock Buddy finder, messaging, voting on new spots, unlimited trip stops on trips you host, and your automated affiliate link. Pricing starts at $3.99/month, $39.99/year, or $99.99 lifetime—lock in early as we add features and prices rise.
Quick answers before you grab your bucket and head out.
Rock Nerd v1 is live on the App Store and Google Play. Use the download buttons at the bottom of this page. Join the newsletter above for updates, new features, and contests.
The Vault is your personal place to store pictures of your rocks and show them off to other rockhounds—without having to keep every physical rock. Log your finds, build your collection, and share what you’ve hunted even when the specimen stays in the field.
We put out updates frequently and build Rock Nerd with the community. In the Community tab, vote in featured polls to help decide what we build next—and see past winners when a vote closes. On the map, anyone can submit new spots; premium members vote them up or down—5 thumbs up verifies a spot for everyone, 5 thumbs down removes it.
Yes—free gives you verified spots near you, Rock identifier, reviews, comments, sharing, trip planner (free limits apply), community polls & My Spots feed, and find my car & field tools. Premium: 2,300+ locations worldwide, see unverified spots, vote on new spots, Rock Buddy finder, unlimited trip stops & members on trips you host, and 10% earnings when friends join through your link. From $3.99/mo.
Long-press the map and fill out the form (including a curated list of rocks found there). You can also review locations, comment, upload photos, and check in when you visit.
Anyone can submit a spot to be added. Premium members can see unverified (pending) spots and vote on them. 5 thumbs up turns a spot into a verified location everyone can see; 5 thumbs down removes it from the app. Free members only see verified locations within 200 miles; premium sees verified locations worldwide plus unverified spots and can vote.
Yes. You can edit or remove a spot you submitted until it becomes verified. Once it gets 5 thumbs up and becomes verified, it turns into a public spot—but you still get credit for adding it.
No limit on how many spots you can submit. If you submit 5 spots that each get 5 thumbs down, you may be restricted from adding new spots.
50+ popular rocks per state, each with 6 identifying characteristics. You answer a few questions and choose from the results—no AI suggesting rocks that can’t be found where you live.
Everybody can message; only premium users can start new conversations. Rock Buddy (premium) lets you search by distance or by state—so if you’re going to another state you can choose that state and match with people there. When someone gets a match request they’re notified and can accept or decline.
Every premium member is in the affiliate program. When someone joins through your link and goes premium, you earn 10% of their subscription. Your link is built into shares—completely automated. Payouts are via PayPal, 30–60 days after the date of purchase so we can account for any refund requests.
You keep all your spots, reviews, and finds and keep using free features. You’ll no longer see unverified spots, use Rock Buddy, or earn from the affiliate program.
Everybody can message, but only premium users can start new conversations. Free members can reply to messages started by others.
Right now it’s bragging rights—your XP level determines your badge name. We may add bonus features for certain levels later and are always open to user suggestions.
We’re working to make Rock Nerd mostly usable offline with downloadable packs. You’ll also be able to do check-ins in the field and have them process when you’re back online.
Tap the little flag icon or use the “Report” / “Report change” button at the bottom of a spot, fill out the form, and a moderator will take care of it.
Any spot you label as private is visible only to you (the creator). Your profile is visible to all users.
Apple In-App Purchase and Google Play in-app purchase are our payment methods for premium.
Download Rock Nerd on iOS or Android. The only app that pays you for rock hunting—premium from $3.99/mo or $39.99/year.