# OldMapsOnline vs Orbessa

The clearest difference is rating: Orbessa at 5.0 against OldMapsOnline's 3.2. Orbessa also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). OldMapsOnline's advantage is ratings volume (27 vs 1). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. OldMapsOnline sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Orbessa asks for nothing beyond the download.

Orbessa holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: OldMapsOnline has 27 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

OldMapsOnline ships an update every 4 months, Orbessa every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | OldMapsOnline | Orbessa |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.2 (27 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/oldmapsonline-history-and-maps/id1017609581/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/orbessa/id6802832940/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **27** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 25.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 11 MB | 24 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.2 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Klokan Technologies](https://appshunter.io/developer/593541068) | [NICOLAS SIMON BLIN](https://appshunter.io/developer/6802833422) |

## What reviewers say

### OldMapsOnline

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/oldmapsonline-history-and-maps/id1017609581)

Explore a vast collection of historical maps to visualize how the world has changed. Overlay old maps with modern views, use an interactive timeline, and access integrated historical information. Contribute to a growing community database of cartographic history.

**Highlights:** Vast collection of historical maps, Interactive map with timeline, Overlay and compare maps, Community-driven collection, Wikipedia integration, Search by location and year, Browser extension for map collection

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ad free version | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🗺️ Great access to historical maps
- 💡 Incredible resource for genealogists and historians
- 👍 User-friendly interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and glitchy performance
- 🔍 Difficulty zooming and navigating maps
- 📷 Poor map resolution and image quality
- 🔌 App no longer supported or updated

**Reported bugs**

- Maps not loading properly
- Constant crashes and freezes
- Inaccurate GPS and location data

**Requested features**

- Ability to overlay maps and see current location
- Option to download maps for offline use
- Improved search and filtering capabilities
- Easier map sharing and exporting


### Orbessa

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/orbessa/id6802832940)

Explore history through an interactive map and timeline. Discover illustrated stories, historical figures, and connections between events. Listen to narrated stories and access supplementary media like videos and books.

**Highlights:** Interactive map and timeline, Illustrated historical stories, Connections between events (Echoes), Audio narration, Supplementary media (videos, books, films), Cross-device syncing

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is OldMapsOnline free?

OldMapsOnline is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Orbessa free?

Orbessa is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, OldMapsOnline or Orbessa?

Orbessa is rated higher. OldMapsOnline averages 3.2 out of 5 from 27 ratings, while Orbessa averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do OldMapsOnline or Orbessa have ads?

OldMapsOnline shows ads; Orbessa does not.

### Which is updated more often, OldMapsOnline or Orbessa?

OldMapsOnline ships an update every 4 months, and Orbessa every 4 days. Most recently, OldMapsOnline was updated on November 1, 2026 and Orbessa on November 10, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*