Comparison

MapMarkup vs Map Notes

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

MapMarkup

Create custom maps with annotations like arrows and labels to share directions or locations. Draw on road or satellite views and save unlimited markups. Log places you've visited or recommend restaurants.

Highlights
  • Add arrows, labels, and freehand drawings
  • Unlimited map markups
  • Draw on road or satellite maps
  • Share maps via social media and email
  • Log visited places and recommendations
  • No data gathering
Features
Read full description

The easiest way to create custom maps! Telling your friends where the party is or informing your colleagues how to get to the client’s address is very important, so make it easy with MapMarkup. Add arrows, labels and more to highlight the details and share! You can add unlimited markup to your global map and MapMarkup will remember it all. There’s no need to re-create a map ever. Freehand lines and shapes in different colours allow you to make it easy for your friends to get to exactly where they need to go, and you can draw on road maps or satellite images as well. Share maps to facebook, twitter, email and more. You can add several maps to a message too, so letting people know about that tricky motorway exit on the way to your place is easy. You can even use MapMarkup to log places you’ve been to, or note good places to eat! Unlike other mapping apps, we never gather any of your data.

About

Map Notes

This app allows users to draw directly on maps, add custom pins with icons, and plan journeys with direction calculation. It converts sketches into navigable paths and saves all annotations as part of the map, syncing across devices via iCloud.

Highlights
  • Draw directly on maps
  • Create pins with custom icons
  • Calculate directions
  • Convert drawings to navigable paths
  • Save annotations as part of the map
  • Attach tags, info, and photos
  • Sync across devices with iCloud
Features
Read full description

Map Notes: Your Personalized Cartography & Travel Planner "Map Notes" is your ultimate companion for personalized mapping and travel planning. With its intuitive interface and powerful features, Map Notes allows you to effortlessly mark your favorite spots, plan your adventures, and customize your maps like never before. Draw Directly on the Map:  Let your creativity flow as you draw directly onto the map. Whether it's highlighting a hiking trail, sketching out a scenic route, or simply doodling landmarks, Map Notes gives you the freedom to express yourself visually. Your drawing will stick to the map and become part of it, moving, rotating, and scaling along with the map itself. Create Pins with Custom Icons:  Make your map truly your own by creating pins with custom icons. Whether it's a favorite restaurant, a hidden gem, or a must-see attraction, personalize your pins to reflect your unique interests and preferences. Calculate Directions and Customise Colours:  Seamlessly plan your journeys with Map Notes' direction calculation feature. Simply pick your starting and ending locations, and let the app generate the optimal route for you. Plus, you can customize the color of your directions to enhance visibility. Convert Drawings to Navigable Paths:  Bridge the gap between creativity and utility. Draw a rough path on the map, and Map Notes can automatically convert your sketch into a formal, snap-to-road direction path. Once converted, save it directly to your map to keep your custom routes ready for your next adventure. Save Annotations as Part of the Map:  Your annotations aren't just temporary markings – they become integral parts of your map. Watch as your drawings, pins, and directions seamlessly rotate, scale, and move along with the map, ensuring that your personalized annotations are always in sync with your location. Attach Tags, Information, and Photos:  Add depth and context to your annotations by attaching tags, information, and photos. Whether it's adding notes about opening hours, descriptions of landmarks, or snapshots of memorable moments, Map Notes lets you enrich your map with meaningful details. Sync Across Devices with iCloud:  Your work is automatically saved to your iCloud account, ensuring seamless syncing across all your devices. Whether you're using your iPhone or iPad, access your maps and annotations anytime, anywhere, with the convenience of iCloud syncing. EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://developer.apple.com/help/app-store-connect/manage-app-information/manage-app-privacy/

Screenshots

MapMarkup4 screens
Map Notes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: MapMarkup at 50% against Map Notes's 0%. MapMarkup also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and iOS requirement (9.3 vs 16.4). Map Notes's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 24 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Map Notes sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. MapMarkup asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MapMarkup ships an update every 24 months, Map Notes every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
MapMarkup versus Map Notes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMapMarkupMap Notes
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (10 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings10 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 24 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS9.3 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB290 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperStratospherix LtdZhuoyao lu

Customer experience

MapMarkup

All ratings10 ratings
Positive90.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral30.0%
Negative20.0%

Map Notes

Written reviews2 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

None

MapMarkup

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Map Notes

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Subscription3 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Yearly subscription3 Days trial$34.991 Year

Questions

Is MapMarkup free?
MapMarkup is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Map Notes free?
Map Notes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do MapMarkup or Map Notes have ads?
Neither MapMarkup nor Map Notes shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MapMarkup or Map Notes?
MapMarkup ships an update every 24 months, and Map Notes every 3 weeks. Most recently, MapMarkup was updated on October 15, 2026 and Map Notes on October 11, 2026.

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