Paper Maps vs MapLayers
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Paper Maps
This app allows you to view and edit digital maps with support for various file formats. You can customize maps by adding placemarks, recording tracks, and drawing shapes. It also offers real-time annotation sharing and useful tools like a theodolite.
- View PDF, TIFF, KAP, KML files
- Cloud integration (iCloud, Google Drive, Dropbox)
- Add placemarks and record tracks
- Draw lines and shapes
- Real-time annotation sharing
- Theodolite and georeferencer tools
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The best digital maps viewer and editor ever made for a mobile device! - View PDF, TIFF, KAP, KML - Integrated with iCloud, Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, - Customize your map - add placemarks, record tracks, draw lines and shapes - Share annotations with other users in real time - A lot of useful tools: theodolite, georeferencer and more!
MapLayers
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MapLayers is a collection of maps for outdoor activities and more! New in Version 1.4: Compass for navigating to any point on the map New in Version 1.2: App URLs to open individual charts either in app or on the web. New in Version 1.1: GPS Track Logging. You can now record and review your travels!. Discovering and downloading maps for your adventures is easy and fast. Multiple types of maps are available and multiple maps can be viewed at the same time. Custom maps can be imported as GeoPDF and we are adding more maps constantly. Featuring maps from the USGS, Bureau of Land Management and more! Each map is viewable on our custom, spherical based map engine and can be overlaid with various base maps. Your current location can also be shown on the map. SUPPORT We can help! Email team@cartolake.com LEGAL End User License Agreement: https://www.cartolake.com/about/terms Privacy Policy: https://www.cartolake.com/about/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Paper Maps at none against MapLayers's shown. Paper Maps also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 14.0). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Paper Maps sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and MapLayers sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $24.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 14, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Paper Maps | MapLayers |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.9 (13 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 42.9% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 13 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 14.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 59 MB | 24 MB |
| Age rating | +4 | 4+ |
| Developer | Abbro Inc | CartoLake, LLC |
In-app purchases
Paper Maps
- Monthly Subscription$4.991 Month
- Yearly Subscription7 Days trial$9.991 Year
- Map$0.99
- Map$1.99
- Map$2.99
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- Map$3.99
- Map$4.99
- Unlock data export$4.99
MapLayers
- Basic Yearly7 Days trial$24.991 Year
