# Architectural Guide BW vs Mapsarch

The clearest difference is update cadence: Mapsarch at every 5 weeks against Architectural Guide BW's every 20 months. Architectural Guide BW's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Architectural Guide BW ships an update every 20 months, Mapsarch every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Architectural Guide BW | Mapsarch |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 20 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Size | 50 MB | 88 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [FUF // Frank und Freunde](https://appshunter.io/developer/1130931190) | [Mapsarch Sa](https://appshunter.io/developer/6781862141) |

## What reviewers say

### Architectural Guide BW

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/architectural-guide-bw/id1148595790)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Mapsarch

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mapsarch/id1569798115)

Discover architectural marvels and connect with industry professionals. Share your experiences, add buildings and notes, and foster communication within a vibrant community.

**Highlights:** Discover architectural realizations, Interactive community platform, Add buildings and notes, Share user experiences, Connect with professionals and companies

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Architectural Guide BW free?

Architectural Guide BW is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Mapsarch free?

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

### Do Architectural Guide BW or Mapsarch have ads?

Neither Architectural Guide BW nor Mapsarch shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Architectural Guide BW or Mapsarch?

Architectural Guide BW ships an update every 20 months, and Mapsarch every 5 weeks. Most recently, Architectural Guide BW was updated on September 30, 2026 and Mapsarch on October 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.*