--- title: "Is there an app to identify rocks?" url: https://isthereathing.com/an-app-to-identify-rocks/ answer: "partly" summary: "Partly. Rock Identifier, Ruby Glint and Stone Snap name rocks and minerals from a photo, but Rock Identifier says results are a first pass that can fail on weathered or lookalike stones; Mindat is a free reference to check against." category: "Identify things" published: 2026-10-10 updated: 2026-10-10 author: "Jack Stovell" publisher: "Adapt Progress Evolve Limited" language: en-GB --- # Is there an app to identify rocks? **Answer: partly.** Partly. Rock Identifier, Ruby Glint and Stone Snap name rocks and minerals from a photo, but Rock Identifier says results are a first pass that can fail on weathered or lookalike stones; Mindat is a free reference to check against. (Source: [Rock Identifier (rockidentifier.io)](https://rockidentifier.io/)) Partly. There are apps and browser tools that will name a rock from a photo, but Rock Identifier itself says the answer is a first pass that can go wrong on weathered stones and lookalikes. Rock Identifier, Ruby Glint and Stone Snap do the photo identification. Mindat is a free reference you can check a result against. ## The shortlist ### Rock Identifier (AI Rock ID) A browser tool and matching iPhone and Android app (AI Rock ID) that name a rock, mineral, crystal, gemstone or fossil from a photo, with Mohs hardness clues and a rough value range. - Link: https://rockidentifier.io/ - Free tier: yes. One scan per day is free on the site; the app is free to download, includes extra daily scans, and has optional unlimited identification (Rock Identifier site). - Paid from: $4.99 per week or $29.99 per year (App Store in-app purchases, US listing) (checked 2026-10-09; the App Store listing shows Rock Identification Weekly at $4.99 and Yearly at $29.99 as in-app purchases; the vendor's own site does not state a price, and prices may differ by country) - Best at: A quick free first opinion in the browser, with no install, on a common rock from a clear photo. - The catch: The site says one scan per day is free. Its own page says accuracy drops on weathered, polished, dyed or matrix-embedded samples and on lookalikes, and that it is not for certified gemstone appraisal or professional lab identification. - Platforms: web, ios, android - Source: [Rock Identifier (rockidentifier.io)](https://rockidentifier.io/) ### Ruby Glint rock identifier An app and free online tool that identify rocks, minerals, crystals and gemstones from a photo and return name, rock type, hardness and other geological details. - Link: https://www.rubyglint.com/rock-identifier - Free tier: yes. Free identification with basic features; premium adds unlimited identifications, detailed geological reports and collection management (Ruby Glint FAQ). - Paid from: not checked (not verified: no premium price on the vendor pages we read) - Best at: Free browser identification plus an app with a saved collection and a rockhounding locations map. - The catch: The 90%+ accuracy figure is the vendor's own claim for common rocks and minerals. Premium pricing is not shown on the pages we read. - Platforms: web, ios, android - Source: [Ruby Glint rock identifier](https://www.rubyglint.com/rock-identifier) ### Stone Snap An Android app that identifies a crystal, rock or mineral from a photo and returns chemical formula, Mohs hardness and classification, with a saved collection and learning tools. - Link: https://stonesnapapp.com/ - Free tier: yes. Free to download with 5 free rock identifications; after that Stone Snap Pro is $4.99 per month with a 3-day free trial (Stone Snap FAQ). - Paid from: $4.99 per month (Stone Snap Pro) (checked 2026-10-09; includes a 3-day free trial; Pro unlocks unlimited identifications) - Best at: Android users who want geology details, a collection with GPS coordinates and a magnetic detector in one app. - The catch: Android only. Identification needs an internet connection because photos are processed on Google's servers. Prices are in US dollars. - Platforms: android - Source: [Stone Snap](https://stonesnapapp.com/) ### Mindat A free, volunteer-run mineral and locality database with property searches, photos, an identification request forum and a learning centre. - Link: https://www.mindat.org/ - Free tier: yes. The site says its supporters help keep Mindat free and available to everyone; a free account is offered. - Paid from: Free (checked 2026-10-09; supported by donations and sponsorship per the site) - Best at: Checking a guess from an app against mineral data, or asking people to identify a specimen. - The catch: It is a reference site, not a photo-recognition app: you search by properties or post an identification request. - Platforms: web - Source: [Mindat](https://www.mindat.org/) ## How they compare ### If you want it free with no download Rock Identifier suits this need. You upload or take a photo in the browser and get a name, Mohs hardness clues and a rough value range, with nothing to install. It is best for a quick free first opinion on a common rock from a clear photo. It also covers minerals, crystals, gemstones and fossils, and there is a matching iPhone and Android app (AI Rock ID). The limit is the allowance. The site says one scan per day is free. The app is free to download and includes extra daily scans, with optional unlimited identification. The vendor's own site does not state what unlimited identification costs. The US App Store listing shows in-app purchases of $4.99 weekly and $29.99 yearly, and prices may differ by country. If you have a pocketful of stones to identify, expect to spread them over several days or use the app. ### If you want a free tool and an app from one vendor Ruby Glint suits you if you want to start in the browser and move to a phone later. The online tool is free and needs no download. The app adds saved history, market value estimates and a map of 260,000+ rockhounding locations, which helps if you go out looking for stones. It returns the name, rock type, hardness and other geological details. What you give up is clarity on cost. Premium adds unlimited identifications, detailed geological reports and collection management, but we did not find a premium price on the pages we read, so it is not verified. The vendor also claims 90%+ accuracy for common rocks and minerals and 6,000+ rock types. Both figures are the vendor's own and we did not test them. ### If you are on Android and want a clear price Stone Snap is an Android app that gives 5 free identifications. After that, Stone Snap Pro is $4.99 per month with a 3-day free trial, and Pro unlocks unlimited identifications. Each result includes the chemical formula, Mohs hardness and classification. The app also has a saved collection with GPS coordinates, learning tools and a magnetic detector. It is Android only, and it needs an internet connection to identify, because photos are processed on Google's servers. Saved collections stay on the device. Prices are in US dollars. ### If you want to check a result against a reference Mindat is a free, volunteer-run database of 6,240+ mineral species, with data on properties, chemistry and structure, plus photos and a learning centre. It does not recognise photos. You search by properties or post an identification request in its forum. That makes it useful when an app has given you a guess and you want to see whether it holds up. You give up speed. Nothing comes back instantly, because you are reading, searching or waiting for people to reply. ### When paying is worth it Pay only if you scan often. Stone Snap Pro is $4.99 per month for unlimited identifications, and the free allowance on Rock Identifier's site is one scan per day. If you identify a stone now and then, the free options may be enough. If you are sorting a large box of finds, a paid plan is more likely to be worth it. ## What to watch for Rock Identifier says accuracy is high for distinctive specimens such as granite, basalt and quartz, but drops on weathered, polished, dyed or matrix-embedded samples and on lookalikes such as calcite and quartz. Its own page says the tool is not for certified gemstone appraisal, meteorite confirmation, hazardous mineral safety decisions or professional lab identification. If money or safety depends on the answer, treat an app result as a starting point only. On pricing, Ruby Glint does not show its premium price on the pages we read, so check the price in the store listing before you subscribe. Stone Snap's Pro plan starts with a 3-day free trial and then costs $4.99 per month, so cancel before the trial ends if you do not want it. Stone Snap cannot identify a new photo offline, so check your signal before you rely on it away from home. ## How we checked On 2026-10-09 we read the Rock Identifier website, Ruby Glint's rock identifier page and its free online tool page, the Stone Snap website and the Mindat homepage and about page, plus the AI Rock ID listing on Apple's App Store (which lists weekly and yearly in-app purchases, while the vendor's own site states no price). Mindat's pages were fetched through a fallback fetcher after a direct request returned a block. Ruby Glint's pricing page does not exist at the address we tried, so its premium price is not verified. Nothing was tested hands-on. ## If none of these fit Mindat's identification request forum lets people look at your specimen, and its property search works without a photo. Rock Identifier's own page recommends a quick scratch, streak, magnet or dilute acid test when candidate minerals overlap. For other things you might want to identify, see our pages on an app to identify coins, a website to identify antiques and an app that identifies plants. ## Also typed as - is there an app to identify rocks and minerals - is there an app to identify rocks from a picture - is there an app to identify rocks for free - is there a free app to identify rocks - is there an app that can identify rocks - is there an app to identify crystals - is there an app to identify gemstones - is there an app to identify rocks and crystals ## Related questions - [Is there an app to identify coins?](https://isthereathing.com/an-app-to-identify-coins/) - [Is there a website to identify antiques?](https://isthereathing.com/a-website-to-identify-antiques/) - [Is there an app that identifies plants?](https://isthereathing.com/an-app-that-identifies-plants/) ## Sources - [Rock Identifier (rockidentifier.io)](https://rockidentifier.io/) (checked 2026-10-09) - [Ruby Glint rock identifier](https://www.rubyglint.com/rock-identifier) (checked 2026-10-09) - [Ruby Glint free online rock identifier](https://rubyglint.com/rock-identifier-free-online) (checked 2026-10-09) - [Stone Snap](https://stonesnapapp.com/) (checked 2026-10-09) - [Mindat](https://www.mindat.org/) (checked 2026-10-09) - [AI Rock ID on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ai-rock-id-crystal-identifier/id6743672966) (checked 2026-10-09) ## Questions people ask ### Is there an app to identify rocks from a photo? Yes. Rock Identifier, Ruby Glint and Stone Snap all name a rock, mineral or crystal from a photo. Rock Identifier describes the result as a first pass, not a laboratory result. ### Is there a free app to identify rocks? Rock Identifier offers one free scan per day on its site, Ruby Glint offers free online identification, and Stone Snap gives 5 free identifications before Pro at $4.99 per month. ### How accurate are rock identifier apps? Rock Identifier says accuracy is high for common, distinctive rocks from a sharp photo but drops on weathered, polished or dyed stones and lookalikes. Ruby Glint claims 90%+ accuracy for common rocks and minerals; that is its own figure. ### Is there a website to identify minerals without a photo? Yes. Mindat is a free database of 6,240+ mineral species that you can search by properties, and it has an identification request forum. ### Is there a rock identifier app for Android? Yes. Rock Identifier lists a Google Play app, Ruby Glint offers Android and iPhone apps, and Stone Snap is an Android app.