MapSwipe

MapSwipe

Humanitarian volunteering

27 ratings
21 reviews
Free

Details

Released
July 13, 2016
Updated
November 4, 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 projects by reviewing satellite imagery and identifying features from your phone. No experience is needed to help validate map data for disaster response, public health, and development.

✓Identify buildings, roads, and waterways
✓Compare before-and-after satellite imagery
✓Validate building footprints
✓Check map data completeness
✓Assess photographs for feature confirmation
✓Locate objects for machine learning training
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+2

What's New in MapSwipe

3.0.10

November 4, 2026

* Fix locate project image redirection issue * Add proper android/iOS version while saving data

User reviews

Best ‘game’ that makes scrolling really helpful and productive

MapSwipe. Best app that seems like a game but isn’t. SCROLL REAL MAPS IN REAL DISASTER AREAS. HELP FIND HOUSES TO SAVE LIVES. Many rural settlements aren't well-mapped. it matters: Local agencies and teams are coordinating search, evacuation, and aid delivery in real time. By volunteering just a few minutes swiping through tiles, you help build the settlement location data that lets responders target relief where it's actually needed — turning imagery into life-saving logistics. Join any of the Red Cross groups to help rescue teams. Indonesia earthquake. Botswana, Columbia. Many parts aren’t well documented. You can help.
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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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Developer apps

FAQ

What is MapSwipe?

MapSwipe is a free, open-source utility app that allows users to contribute to humanitarian and development projects by reviewing satellite imagery. It helps organizations validate and improve map data for various critical uses.

Does MapSwipe have ads?

No, MapSwipe does not contain advertisements. It is a completely free and open-source application.

How often is MapSwipe updated?

The latest version of MapSwipe is 3.0.10, last updated on November 4, 2026. Updates typically focus on improving features and data validation processes.

What devices support MapSwipe?

MapSwipe is available for iPhone and iPad devices. It is designed for mobile use, allowing contributions from anywhere.

What is the age rating for MapSwipe?

MapSwipe has an age rating of 4+. This indicates it is suitable for a wide range of users, including younger individuals, due to its non-violent and educational nature.

How does MapSwipe compare to other mapping tools?

Unlike professional GIS software, MapSwipe focuses on simple, accessible tasks for volunteers. It democratizes data collection, making it easy for anyone to contribute without prior mapping experience.

What kind of impact does MapSwipe have?

The data generated by MapSwipe is crucial for disaster response, public health initiatives, climate resilience projects, and sustainable development. It makes OpenStreetMap data more accurate and accessible for these vital efforts.

Is MapSwipe managed by a professional team?

MapSwipe is managed by a volunteer-led team with support from prominent organizations like the American Red Cross and Médecins Sans Frontières. This collaborative effort ensures the app's continued development and impact.