Comparison

ArcGIS Runtime SDK Samples vs GlobeViewer

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

Head to head
About

ArcGIS Runtime SDK Samples

Explore interactive samples demonstrating powerful mapping and spatial analysis capabilities. View source code for each sample to learn how to integrate these features into your own applications. Covers maps, layers, feature editing, routing, analysis, and augmented reality.

Highlights
  • Interactive mapping samples
  • View source code
  • Map and scene visualization
  • Feature editing and geodatabases
  • Routing and directions
  • Spatial analysis
  • Augmented reality integration
Features
Read full description

Explore the ArcGIS Runtime SDK for iOS with dozens of interactive samples. Experience the SDK's powerful capabilities and learn how to incorporate them into your own apps. View the code behind each sample from within the app and see how easy it is to use the SDK. + Maps - Open, create, interact with and save maps + Layers - Display vector and raster data in maps and scenes + Features - Work with Feature layers and geodatabases + Edit Data - Add, delete, and edit features and attachments + Display Information - Show graphics, popups, callouts, and sketches + Search - Find addresses, places, and points of interest + Geometry - Create geometries and perform geometric operations + Route & Directions - Calculate routes between locations and around barriers + Analysis - Perform spatial analysis via geoprocessing tasks and services + Cloud & Portal - Search for webmaps and list portal group users + Scenes - Visualize 3D environments and symbols + Utility network - Work with utility networks, performing traces and exploring network elements + Augmented reality - View data overlaid on the real world through your device's camera The source code for the app is available on GitHub: https://github.com/Esri/arcgis-runtime-samples-ios

About

GlobeViewer

Explore Earth with a high-resolution 3D globe and topography maps. View surface, underwater, and topographical details, with real-time event overlays. Access extensive geographical data for offline use.

Highlights
  • Interactive 3D globe
  • High-resolution topography maps
  • Surface and underwater views
  • Real-time event overlays
  • Offline data caching
  • Extensive place names and geographical features
Features
Read full description

GlobeViewer is a high resolution 3D terrestrial globe with topography and surface maps. This app enables a high-quality view of the surface of our blue planet. It is divided into two areas: the rotatable, global view as an interactive globe and a high-resolution 3D map representation of the Earth's topography. - Interactive 3D globe with surface, underwater and topography maps - High-resolution 3D topography map set of the entire Earth's surface - divided into 22,912 individual tiles. You can load 110 different regions onto the interactive globe, which then present the many individual tiles in a meaningful, connected way and reload them automatically. The app initially only contains the textures for the globe in low resolution. All required downloads are automatically loaded from our server. A total of around 105 GB of data is available. The data remains in the cache on your device for offline use, but can be deleted at any time in the main menu. Furthermore, all events recorded by the GDACS, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, etc., are entered on the globe. The 3D topography map is based on the elevation data from the NASA Terra probe, which recorded 83° of the northern and southern hemispheres between 2000 and 2013 - this is the result of the ASTER3-DEM. With version 0.10.0, the map is enriched with around 7.5 million place names from geonames.org. This means that all the towns, mountains, lakes, deserts and many other geographical features entered there are shown on the map. From version 0.12.0, data from OpenStreetMaps (buildings, borders, streets...) is also available on the tiles - but only for the demos and the purchased maps. Use the tutorial in the app to get started quickly or read the manual to find out which functions are included in this app. Since the app is still under development, some functions may still change. We hope you enjoy using GlobeViewer!

Screenshots

ArcGIS Runtime SDK Samples4 screens
GlobeViewer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: ArcGIS Runtime SDK Samples at 4.7 against GlobeViewer's 3.4. ArcGIS Runtime SDK Samples also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 11) and ads (none vs shown). GlobeViewer's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 14.0). On price, ratings volume, update cadence 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. GlobeViewer sells 11 one-off in-app purchases. ArcGIS Runtime SDK Samples asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ArcGIS Runtime SDK Samples holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 10 and 5 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ArcGIS Runtime SDK Samples ships an update every 2 months, GlobeViewer every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on August 31, 2026 and August 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
ArcGIS Runtime SDK Samples versus GlobeViewer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterArcGIS Runtime SDK SamplesGlobeViewer
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (10 ratings) — better3.4 (5 ratings)
Positive reviews—33.3% of reviews
Number of ratings10 — better5
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS14.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size137 MB236 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperESRIRAB-Software

Customer experience

ArcGIS Runtime SDK Samples

All ratings10 ratings
Positive90.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative10.0%

GlobeViewer

All ratings5 ratings
Positive60.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative40.0%
Written reviews15 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative66.7%

In-app purchases

None

ArcGIS Runtime SDK Samples

No in-app purchases

11 purchases

GlobeViewer

One-time11
  • 4K & Polar Regions$0.99
  • 4K & South America$2.99
  • 4K & Pacific$2.99
Show 8 more
  • 4K & Japan/Korea/Taiwan$2.99
  • 8K & North America$4.99
  • 8K & Australia$4.99
  • 8K & China$4.99
  • 8K & Russia$4.99
  • 8K & Europe$4.99
  • 8K Pass$8.99
  • Professional Version$14.99

Questions

Is ArcGIS Runtime SDK Samples free?
ArcGIS Runtime SDK Samples is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is GlobeViewer free?
GlobeViewer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, ArcGIS Runtime SDK Samples or GlobeViewer?
ArcGIS Runtime SDK Samples is rated higher. ArcGIS Runtime SDK Samples averages 4.7 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while GlobeViewer averages 3.4 from 5 ratings.
Do ArcGIS Runtime SDK Samples or GlobeViewer have ads?
GlobeViewer shows ads; ArcGIS Runtime SDK Samples does not.
Which is updated more often, ArcGIS Runtime SDK Samples or GlobeViewer?
ArcGIS Runtime SDK Samples ships an update every 2 months, and GlobeViewer every 6 weeks. Most recently, ArcGIS Runtime SDK Samples was updated on August 31, 2026 and GlobeViewer on August 14, 2026.

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