MapSwipe

MapSwipe

Humanitarian volunteering

24 ratings
20 reviews
Free

Details

  • Released
  • Updated
  • July 13, 2016
  • July 13, 2026

Features

MapSwipe screenshot #1 for iPhone
MapSwipe screenshot #2 for iPhone
MapSwipe screenshot #3 for iPhone
MapSwipe screenshot #4 for iPhone
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About

Contribute to humanitarian efforts by analyzing satellite imagery. Identify settlements, roads, and rivers in crisis-prone areas to help aid organizations locate vulnerable populations. Your contributions enable faster and more effective delivery of life-saving assistance.

Analyze satellite imagery
Identify settlements and infrastructure
Support humanitarian missions
Contribute to mapping projects
Crowdsource data for aid organizations
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What's New in MapSwipe

3.0.2

July 13, 2026

- Fix OSM login issue - Fix minor UI issues

User reviews

Good Goal, Way Too Buggy

I love being able to use my phone for something that helps other people instead of just social media, BUT using this app is an exercise in frustration due to bugs.

By far the most frustrating is that when you’re in the middle of a mapping task, the app will randomly white out the screen and then flash the MapSwipe logo at you while saying “loading groups” and a button that says something like “if this takes too long, tap here to go back to the home screen.”

I’ve waited several minutes, and it never finishes “loading the groups.” And the only way to leave that screen is to go back to home or to close the app. Either way, you lose your entire mapping task progress. I tried joining a random group to see if it would stop trying to “load groups,” but it still happened.

It’s incredibly discouraging, and I have to restrain myself from rushing through a task because I’m afraid that the groups thing is going to appear and make all the time I spent be wasted. I find myself avoiding the projects that make you do large numbers of swipes in one task because I know that increases the likelihood of encountering the issue before I can finish them.

Less prevalent but no less annoying is that when you try to sign in with OpenStreetMap instead of creating a dedicated MapSwipe account from scratch, this app just hangs. It’ll open OSM in the browser, OSM will ask if you’r like to authorize MapSwipe, you click “authorize”, and then it opens MapSwipe and just… flashes the logo at you, over and over.

I like the color-coded tapping system and the project system. When the app works, it feels incredibly rewarding and also even relaxing, but it currently doesn’t work consistently at all.
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Swipe down is flakey, allow more zooming in

The app is fine, but it’s quite frustrating trying to get the down swipe to work. I end up just triple tapping each tile individually, which slows down progress. Would be nice if it allowed a little more zooming in. Even with low res, it could be helpful.

Bringt Spaß

Macht Spaß und dabei kann man noch was gutes tun. Außerdem ein schönes Handling der App.

overall great app

honestly I rarely do reviews but this app is great if you want to do something quick but slowly make an impact. Some of the guidance tutorials can’t be really applied to what some projects are asking for, but definitely wish more people knew about this app. it’s one of the easiest ways I can volunteer online through quarantine and I really hope that this app will blow up and get even more people on the project <3
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Great Idea and Execution

This is a really cool app, it’s good to use when you’ve got some time to sit or are just hanging out. It doesn’t need a very strong connection or a powerful phone to work, and looking for buildings on it gets kind of addicting! It’s an awesome idea to crowdsource this kind of stuff, and the app functions perfectly. It’s simple and easy and has a good tutorial, so you should at least give it a try.
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Developer apps

FAQ

What is MapSwipe used for?

MapSwipe allows users to analyze satellite imagery to identify settlements, roads, and rivers. This data is then used by humanitarian organizations to create detailed maps for delivering aid to vulnerable populations.

Is MapSwipe free to use?

Yes, MapSwipe is completely free to download and use. It is developed in support of humanitarian efforts and does not have any associated costs for users.

What devices does MapSwipe support?

MapSwipe is currently available for iPhone devices. Support for other platforms may be considered in future updates.

How often is MapSwipe updated?

The latest version of MapSwipe is 2.6.4, last updated on January 20, 2026. Updates typically include improvements to functionality and data processing.

What is the age rating for MapSwipe?

MapSwipe has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for users of all ages interested in contributing to humanitarian mapping.

Who developed MapSwipe?

MapSwipe was developed by the British Red Cross in support of the Missing Maps Project, collaborating with various humanitarian organizations.

How does MapSwipe contribute to humanitarian aid?

By crowdsourcing the identification of remote communities and infrastructure from satellite images, MapSwipe helps professionals on the ground to quickly locate those in need and deliver life-saving aid more effectively.

What kind of tasks can I do in MapSwipe?

Users can choose tasks focused on specific regions and humanitarian needs, such as spotting villages at risk of outbreaks or identifying settlements in crisis-prone areas. You then swipe through satellite images to mark features.