How-Tos & FAQs
Your Guide to the Ground Score
Metal Detecting App
Do metal detecting apps work?
Some apps use your phone’s built-in magnetometer to detect changes in magnetic fields. While this can react to strong or surface-level metal objects, it does not work like a real metal detector and cannot reliably detect buried targets. Ground Score is designed as a companion app to be used alongside a real metal detector, helping you log hunts and finds, save photos and locations, and connect with other detectorists.
What is the Ground Score Metal Detecting App?
Ground Score is the only metal detecting app built to help you log your finds, track your hunt sessions, and save your detector settings — all in one place. You can upload one or multiple photos for each find, and if you choose, share them to a public feed to show off your best digs. Sharing is always optional, and exact locations are never shared.
As a subscriber, you also get exclusive access to join our Recovery Helper Directory — a premium feature that lets others find and contact you if they’ve lost something in your area. People searching for lost items can access the directory for free, even without a subscription, so it’s a great way to connect and help others while getting more out of your hobby.
What is the best metal detecting app?
The best metal detecting app is one that helps you stay organized, track your progress, and improve your success over time.
Ground Score is designed specifically for detectorists to log hunts, record finds, research locations, and connect with others who share the hobby — all in one simple app.
Unlike generic note or map apps, Ground Score is built for real detecting workflows, whether you’re hunting parks, beaches, relic sites, or recovering lost items.
Who is this app for?
The Ground Score metal detecting app is designed for metal detecting hobbyists of all levels — beach hunters, relic seekers, coin shooters, and even professional recovery experts. If you dig it, this app tracks it.
Can I upload photos of my finds?
Yes! You can upload one or multiple photos for each find. It's a great way to document your best digs and create a visual history of your hunts.
Does the Ground Score metal detecting app connect directly to my detector?
No — the Ground Score metal detecting app does not connect to your detector’s hardware. Instead, the app lets you manually log the settings you used during each hunt (such as mode, sensitivity, frequency, and more).
To make it easier:
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You choose which settings you want to track.
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The app remembers your last used settings and pre-fills them the next time you log a hunt.
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You can adjust or skip any fields you don’t need.
This way, you get flexibility without being tied to a specific detector brand or model.
Does the app track my GPS location?
When starting a hunt, the app saves a general location that you select — not your phone’s physical location — to help organize your hunt sessions and build personal stats over time. You also have the option to drop a pin on a specific dig, which captures your phone’s actual GPS coordinates. That way, you'll never forget exactly where you found something cool. This information is private and never shared with other users.
Does Ground Score track my entire walking path while I’m detecting?
Ground Score does not record the zig-zag trail of everywhere you walked during a hunt. We made this choice intentionally — continuous GPS tracking could drain your battery life and can clutter your map with too much noise. Instead, the app highlights the most important parts of your detecting journey: the locations of your hunts and the exact spots where you made finds.
Is my data private?
Absolutely. Your logs, settings, and hunt details are private by default. If you choose to share a find to the public feed, only the photo and the State you selected will be visible. Exact GPS locations and personal information are never shared.
What platforms is Ground Score available on?
Get Ground Score on the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.
Is there a cost to use the app?
We offer a small subscription of $1.99/month to keep the app ad-free and support ongoing development, storage, and app store fees. Your support helps us keep us digging towards cool features for the detecting community.
Are there any community features?
Yes! Ground Score includes optional community features designed to help detectorists learn, share, and connect.
The Unearthed community feed features photos of finds shared by detectorists from around the world, along with a forum-style feed where users can ask questions, share tips, and tell their detecting stories.
Can someone help me find a lost item?
Yes! The Ground Score metal detecting app includes a Recovery Helper Directory where anyone can search for detectorists in your area who are willing to help recover lost items. Any paid subscriber can choose to be listed in this public directory.
Please note: Ground Score does not vet or verify individuals in the directory. It’s up to those seeking help to take any necessary safety precautions when contacting someone.
In Ground Score, what can I log about a find?
You’re in charge of what you log. Add the details that matter to you and skip the rest — every detectorist has their own style.
You’ll be prompted to select your preferred fields, and you can edit these anytime — either while logging a find or later in your My Stuff page.
Want to capture something that isn’t listed? Drop it in the notes section, or email us and we’ll look at adding it to the app.
Your Privacy Comes First
Ground Score never shares your exact locations.
When you start a hunt or log a find, you only need to choose a general area (like a state or province). If you share a find publicly in the Unearthed Feed, that’s all anyone will ever see.
Adding more specific locations — even GPS coordinates — is completely optional and always stays private, visible only to you in your My Finds personal collection.
By default, most features in Ground Score are completely private. The only areas that show information publicly are the Unearthed Social Feed and the Recovery Helper Directory — and both are entirely optional.
How do I start a hunt and log finds in Ground Score?
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Start Hunt → Use this when you want to officially track your detecting session. Tapping Start Hunt records your start time, end time, lets you log finds as you go, and gives you stats like total hunt time on your dashboard.
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Log a Find → Use this if you just want to record a find without starting a timed hunt. Great for adding past finds into your collection.
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Post to Unearthed Community Feed → Use this when you want to share a find you’ve already logged. For new finds, you’ll be prompted to share right after logging them — no need to come here. You can also share from your My Finds page: if a photo has the icon, that means it’s already been shared to the feed.
What will my My Finds page look like in the Ground Score app?
Hopefully like this
..and not this
