Fossil Identifier: FossilRef

Usher Schwartz

Contains adsIn-app purchases

About this app

FossilRef is a 100% offline fossil identifier app and fossil field guide for fossil hunters — from first-time hobbyists to serious collectors. Every entry is expert-curated with real field-identification data, not AI guesswork. No internet required, no sign-up — just open it and identify your finds at the dig site, on the beach, or in the shale bed.

Found a fossil on a beach walk? Prying open shale for trilobites? Asking "what fossil is this?" FossilRef gives you the answer and the legal context — no guessing, no dead-end web searches. Whether you're fossil hunting, planning a serious dig, or curious about a fossil in your backyard, FossilRef is the field guide fossil hunters reach for.

WHAT YOU CAN IDENTIFY
• Trilobites, ammonites, orthoceras, brachiopods, crinoids, marine reptiles, dinosaur teeth, plant fossils, and more
• Fossil identification by time period — Cambrian (507 Ma) to Pleistocene
• Fossil hunting near me — fossil sites and where each specimen is found across North America
• Look-alike comparisons so you don't confuse similar species
• Whether the fossil is legal to collect in your state

WHY FOSSILREF IS DIFFERENT
Most fossil apps just identify the species. FossilRef is the only one that answers the question every fossil hunter asks: "is this fossil legal to collect?" We pair fossil identification with fossil collecting laws by state so you can dig, keep, and display with confidence. The fossil field guide is built for real field use — works 100% offline, no AI photo guesses.

WHAT'S INSIDE
• Fossil identification for every major group: trilobites, ammonites, orthoceras, brachiopods, crinoids, marine reptile fossils, dinosaur teeth, dinosaur fossil fragments, plant fossils
• Fossil hunting sites near you and where each specimen is found across North America
• Fossil sites near me — regional guides for the western US, eastern US, Midwest, and Canada
• Fossil hunting app — works at the dig site, on the beach, in the shale bed
• Fossil collecting laws by state and region — know before you dig whether it's legal to keep
• Is this fossil legal to collect? Look-alike comparisons and species ID help you answer
• Time periods from the Cambrian (507 Ma) to the Pleistocene
• Fossil look alikes side-by-side for confident identification
• Paleontology field guide for serious collectors
• 38 entries free spanning every major fossil group
• Unlock all 76 entries with Pro — including rare and restricted specimens

PREMIUM FEATURES — FOSSILREF PRO
Upgrade to Pro ($9.99/year) and unlock:
• Full access to all 76 fossils including 38 rare pro-only specimens — trilobites, marine reptiles, dinosaur teeth, and restricted-collecting species
• Detailed regional collection hotspots — where to find each fossil across North America
• Complete legal collecting guide by state — permits, restrictions, and federal rules
• Expert look-alike identification tips — differentiate similar species with confidence
• Pro Quiz mode — test your fossil ID skills with the full 76-fossil database
• Ad-free experience — no interruptions in the field

Subscription auto-renews annually. Cancel anytime. Restore purchases supported.

BUILT FOR FOSSIL HUNTERS
Coverage spans the western US, eastern US, Midwest, and Canada. Whether you're splitting shale for trilobites, checking a beach cobble for an ammonite, or building a paleontology collection, FossilRef is your complete fossil field guide — giving you the ID and the legal context in one tap. Works 100% offline — at the dig site, the beach, or the backcountry with no signal.

WHO USES FOSSILREF
• Fossil hunters planning digs across North America
• Beachcombers finding fossils on shorelines
• Paleontology students studying prehistoric life
• Rockhounding enthusiasts exploring shale beds
• Families identifying fossils on nature trips
• Museum visitors learning about ancient specimens

Download FossilRef and identify your fossil finds today — the only fossil field guide with collecting laws.