Workforce for ArcGIS vs Mapboard GIS
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Workforce for ArcGIS
This app provides a unified view for field and office teams, enabling efficient task assignment and tracking. It helps dispatch the right personnel with the necessary tools for their jobs. Users can manage assignments, share their status, and access supporting documents.
- Receive field assignments
- Sort to-do lists by priority/location
- Launch other ArcGIS apps
- Share status and location
- Add assignment notes
- View supporting documents
- Contact other mobile workers
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ArcGIS is available on your desktop, in a browser, and now on your iPhone or iPad. Workforce for ArcGIS enables a common view in the field and the office. Get the right worker to the right place with the right tools to do the right job. Features: - Receive assignments in the field - Sort your To Do list by priority, location, type, or due date - Launch other ArcGIS apps to get your work done - Share your status and location with the office - Add notes about your assignments - View supporting documents from your dispatcher - Find and contact other mobile workers Note: Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life.
Mapboard GIS
This iPad app allows users to draw field maps using an Apple Pencil, combining the ease of pen-and-paper with the precision of GIS. It's designed for geologists and others needing interpretive mapping, offering intuitive tools for creating topologically consistent geologic maps.
- Pen-based editing tools
- Intuitive reshaping and snapping
- Iterative topology solver
- Onboard Spatialite GIS engine
- Native GIS software compatibility
- User-configurable data types
- Tether to remote PostGIS
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Mapboard GIS is an iPad app for drawing maps with an Apple Pencil. Mapboard combines the intuitive workflow of pen-and-paper mapping with the precision, flexibility, and scale-independence of geospatial information systems (GIS). Its forward-looking design helps beginner and expert mappers produce multiscale, topologically consistent geologic maps. MOTIVATION AND DESIGN Mapboard GIS was born out of frustration with both paper– and GIS-based mapping workflows. It is primarily designed for geologists but is potentially useful in many situations demanding interpretive mapping. Mapboard attempts to bring digital mapping closer to the intuitive experience provided by paper. A sophisticated open-source spatial engine drives simple tools for drawing, erasing, and reshaping features. Outputs are natively compatible with common GIS software. Mapboard allows mapping time to be spent refining interpretations instead of fighting with technical tools. KEY FEATURES - Editing tools geared towards pen-based mapping - Powerful and intuitive reshaping, snapping, and erasing - Iterative topology solver to fill map units - Sophisticated onboard Spatialite GIS engine - Project files natively readable by standard GIS software (QGIS, ArcGIS, etc.) - User-configurable data types for line and polygon features - Tether to remote PostGIS for work across large datasets and real-time collaboration - Interoperable with standard formats (mbtiles, Spatialite, PostGIS) and open-source + commercial software OTHER FEATURES - Load MBTiles basemaps - Satellite, streets, and topographic basemaps - Dark mode support - Geologic line types TERMS OF USE: https://mapboard-gis.app/terms-of-service PRIVACY POLICY: https://mapboard-gis.app/privacy CHANGELOG: https://mapboard-gis.app/docs/ios/releases
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Workforce for ArcGIS at none against Mapboard GIS's 1. Workforce for ArcGIS also leads on rating (3.8 vs 3.3) and ratings volume (16 vs 3). On price, update cadence and ads 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
Both are free to download. Mapboard GIS sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $29.99 per year. Workforce for ArcGIS asks for nothing beyond the download.
Workforce for ArcGIS holds the better App Store score, 3.8 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Workforce for ArcGIS has 16 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Workforce for ArcGIS | Mapboard GIS |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.8 (16 ratings) — better | 3.3 (3 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 16 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 — better | 16.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 135 MB | 69 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | ESRI | Daven Quinn |
Customer experience
Workforce for ArcGIS
Mapboard GIS
In-app purchases
Workforce for ArcGIS
No in-app purchases
Mapboard GIS
- Full Version$29.991 Year
Questions
Is Workforce for ArcGIS free?
Is Mapboard GIS free?
Which has better reviews, Workforce for ArcGIS or Mapboard GIS?
Do Workforce for ArcGIS or Mapboard GIS have ads?
Which is updated more often, Workforce for ArcGIS or Mapboard GIS?
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