Comparison

Mapcode Finder vs Mappu

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

Head to head
About

Mapcode Finder

This app provides a short, universal code for any location on Earth, functioning like a worldwide postal code. It allows users to find locations by mapcode, coordinates, or address, and generate routes to them. Mapcodes are designed to be easily communicated and are recognized by major navigation systems.

Highlights
  • Generate short address codes for any location
  • Find locations using mapcodes, coordinates, or addresses
  • Get routes to locations via the Maps app
  • Mapcodes recognized by HERE and TomTom
  • Precise location identification
  • Useful for emergency services and utility companies
Features
Read full description

This app provides a short address for ANY location on Earth. Much like a postal code, except its a world-wide postal code. What are mapcodes? Mapcodes are a free and open way to make location on Earth addressable by a short code even if it has no "official" address. For instance, with nothing but your mapcode, a navigation system will bring you to within meters of your front door. This app allows you to get mapcodes for any location on Earth by finding the location on the map, entering its coordinates, or entering its address (if that exists). And, obviously, if you have a mapcode, this app will you show where the location is and allow you to get a route to it (using the Maps app). Mapcodes were designed to be short and easy to recognize, remember and communicate. Shorter than a regular address and simpler than latitude and longitude coordinates. Regular mapcodes are precise to a few meters, which is good enough for everyday use, but they can be extended to almost arbitrary precision. Mapcodes are supported by major map makers, such as HERE and TomTom. For example, the HERE and TomTom navigation apps (also in this AppStore) and millions of satnav devices recognize mapcodes out-of-the box. Just type it in as if it were your address. Who uses mapcodes? Here are some examples of using mapcodes in real life. Emergency services need to quickly reach the strangest places. Not only will a Mapcode get an ambulance to within meters of its target, no matter where, but the short mapcodes can also be communicated clearly even over bad connections (for example in Eastern Cape and South Africa). Many countries are currently considering mapcodes as a candidate for their national postcode. Most countries today only have "zone" codes, where thousands of dwellings share the same code. South Africa was the first to introduce mapcodes to officially support informal dwellings (such as slum dwellings). In countries without an effective addressing system, utility services can not readily come to aid of households or businesses when they are faced with power cuts or water leakages. In Kenya, Uganda and Nigeria, electricity and water meters bear mapcodes which aren't just their unique identifier, but acts as the address of that particular house or business. Archeological and botanical finds are (of course) registered very precisely. Many errors are made, however, both in writing down and in copying the unwieldy latitudes and longitudes. Mapcodes are now used to put a human face on coordinates by the Naturalis Biodiversity Center. Land or building ownership is a relevant and complicated, but vastly under-organized issue in many countries. Several land registry offices are looking into easily and unique identifying parcels of land by their central mapcode whilst others (South Africa, India, USA) have implemented mapcode down to a 1m2 accuracy for urban planning and asset management. Contact the Mapcode Foundation for more information on mapcodes or for questions or feedback on this app. You can reach us at http://mapcode.com and info@mapcode.com.

About

Mappu

Easily find Japan's proprietary location codes for any place, from landmarks to hidden gems. Simply tap on the map or search by name/address to get a Mapcode compatible with rental car GPS systems. Save your itinerary with iCloud sync and access previously looked-up codes offline.

Highlights
  • Tap any location for Mapcode
  • Search by name, address, or coordinates
  • Save and organize favorite locations
  • iCloud sync across devices
  • Offline access to saved Mapcodes
  • Multiple map display modes
Features
Read full description

Planning a road trip in Japan? Mappu gives you the Mapcode for any place in Japan with a single tap — the same compact code your rental car's GPS already understands. WHAT IS A MAPCODE? Mapcode is Japan's proprietary location code system, printed on restaurant flyers, sightseeing brochures, and accepted by virtually every car navigation system in Japan. Just type in the code (no street address needed) and your GPS knows exactly where to go. ONE TAP TO GET ANY MAPCODE • Tap any spot on the map — landmark, restaurant, hotel, hidden onsen — and Mappu instantly shows its Mapcode. • Search by name, address, coordinates, or Mapcode with autocomplete that understands Japanese, English, and Chinese. • Long-press anywhere to drop a pin and look up the Mapcode for that exact coordinate. GO STRAIGHT TO A MAPCODE OR COORDINATE • Already have a Mapcode from a flyer or a friend? Type it into the search box and Mappu drops a pin right at that spot and shows its address. • Enter a latitude and longitude (e.g. 35.6586, 139.7454) to jump straight to any coordinate in Japan and get its Mapcode. TAP ANY POI Curious about that interesting building? Tap the icon to see its name, phone number, and Mapcode — perfect for calling ahead or pasting straight into your car's GPS. SAVE YOUR ITINERARY WITH ICLOUD SYNC • Save the places you plan to visit to your Favorites before your trip. • Organize favorites into folders (e.g. "Day 1 — Tokyo", "Day 2 — Hakone"). • Everything syncs through iCloud, so your itinerary appears on every device you sign in to. DESIGNED FOR THE ROAD • Clean, distraction-free map view. • Light, dark, and satellite modes — readable in any lighting condition. • Works offline for Mapcodes you've already looked up. WHO IT'S FOR • Travelers renting a car in Japan who want to enter destinations into their GPS without typing long addresses. • Japan residents sharing business addresses or sightseeing places by Mapcode. PRIVACY Mappu doesn't sell your data. Your favorites stay in your private iCloud. Mappu is supported by ads — ad personalization is opt-in via the standard iOS permission. Note: Mapcodes are only meaningful for coordinates within Japan. SUBSCRIPTION & PURCHASES Mappu Pro is an auto-renewable subscription that unlocks Google Maps search and removes banner ads, offered as a monthly or yearly plan. Prices are shown in the app before you buy. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase, and the subscription renews automatically unless you cancel at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel it at any time in your Apple Account settings. A separate one-time "Remove Banner Ads" purchase removes the banner ad only; it does not include Google Maps search. Terms of Use (EULA): https://mappu.app/mappu_terms.html Privacy Policy: https://mappu.app/mappu_privacy.html

Screenshots

Mapcode Finder4 screens
Mappu4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Mapcode Finder at none against Mappu's 2. Mapcode Finder also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 16.0). Mappu's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 4 months). On price 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. Mappu sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Mapcode Finder asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Mapcode Finder ships an update every 4 months, Mappu weekly. Both last shipped on September 17, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Mapcode Finder versus Mappu: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMapcode FinderMappu
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings—2 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterAd-supported
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS11.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB36 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperRijn BuvePegasus Coders LLC

Customer experience

Mapcode Finder

Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

Mappu

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Mapcode Finder

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Mappu

Subscriptions2
  • Mappu Pro - Monthly$9.991 Month
  • Mappu Pro - Yearly$89.991 Year

Questions

Is Mapcode Finder free?
Mapcode Finder is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Mappu free?
Mappu is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Mapcode Finder or Mappu have ads?
Mappu shows ads; Mapcode Finder does not.
Which is updated more often, Mapcode Finder or Mappu?
Mapcode Finder ships an update every 4 months, and Mappu weekly. Most recently, Mapcode Finder was updated on September 17, 2026 and Mappu on September 17, 2026.

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