Comparison

Cartograph 2 Lite Map Viewer vs Map Data Explorer

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

Head to head
About

Cartograph 2 Lite Map Viewer

View various offline and online maps, including vector and raster formats. Supports tracking, route search, and customizable interface units. Offers contour lines and drinking water source data.

Highlights
  • View Mapsforge offline vector maps
  • Offline raster map support
  • Online and WMS map support
  • GPX import/export
  • Scalable interface
  • Worldwide free offline maps
  • Contour lines
Features
Read full description

The Cartograph Lite app views Mapsforge offline vector maps, offline raster maps, and online/WMS maps. It supports tracking, route search, overlays, hillshading, reliefs, track drawing, and has many other features. Pro-version: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cartograph-2-maps/id1082995961?ls=1&mt=8 ### Lite Version Features ### - View Mapsforge offline vector maps. - Offline raster maps: Locus SQLite maps, MBTiles, TwoWays/CompeGPS RMAP*, Oruxmaps SQLite*. - Online map support (including WMS - Web Map Service maps), e.g. OpenStreetMap, OpenCycleMap, OpenSeaMap, WikiMedia hillshading. - GPX import and export (basic KML import support). - Scalable interface (e.g. to increase button sizes). - Units: Celsius, Kelvin, Fahrenheit, metric, imperial, nautic. - WaterSupply.at drinking water sources. - Worldwide, free offline maps. - Contour lines (Mapsforge maps). ### Additional Pro Features ### - GPS Track recording. - Full support for Mapsforge styling/render themes (including hillshading) and layers. - Custom online map sources. - Offline hillshading (from HGT/SRTM elevation data). - Offline relief shading. - Offline slope map. - Support for Mapsforge multi-maps (multiple .map files stitched into a single map). - Night/day mode. - Manual track drawing and editing. - Route altitude profile and elevation/slope visualization. - Online route search. - Live tracking and polling (using custom server, GPSies.com, or Cartograph server). - Support for Mapsforge POIs, offline POI search, and dynamic POI loading. - Compass. - Decimal and degree coordinate modes. - Customizable user interface color (dark, light, and colors) and size. - Strava upload. * RMAP and Oruxmaps use various map projections and support is experimental. Please contact us if a map does not work so that we can add support for your projection. Further information: http://www.cartograph.eu Getting started: https://www.cartograph.eu/gettingstarted Help&Tutorial: https://www.cartograph.eu/docs User manual: http://www.cartograph.eu/downloads/usermanual_en.pdf YouTube how-to videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dn9EOg5h3yY&list=PLP8X6xYv-qCz46hplsfGLW1LNgywBZrTk Full version: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cartograph-2-maps/id1082995961?ls=1&mt=8 Drop us a line if you have questions, feature requests, or other comments: http://www.cartograph.eu/contact ### Maps ### - OpenAndroMaps.org: very good maps for outdoor activities.

About

Map Data Explorer

This advanced mapping application supports various data formats including GeoJSON, MBTILES, and GPKG. It offers tools for drawing, editing vector data, and collecting dynamic information. Visualize terrain in 3D and utilize a suite of navigation and measurement features.

Highlights
  • Vector tile basemaps
  • User-loaded GeoJSON, MBTILES, GPKG data
  • Map catalog support
  • Vector data drawing and editing
  • 3D terrain and building visualization
  • Advanced data collection forms
  • Coordinate conversion and measurement tools
Features
Read full description

Map Data Explorer is a advanced mapping app powered by vector tile basemaps (TMG OSM vector tiles, MapBox and others) with configurable stylesheets Supports user loaded device GeoJSON,Raster tiles from MBTILES and GPKG and vector tiles from MBTILES. Supports user loaded Map Catalog (JSON) of internet mapping content (with catalog building screen) XYZ PNG/JPG Raster Tiles PBF Vector Tiles GeoJSON Local map tiles in mbtiles and gpkg Includes additional layers users can enable: vector overlays (Reference Grids, TimeZones and US State Boundaries) Draw/digitize vector data and support editing and assigning attributes. Map Supports Tilting to display 3D terrain and 3D Buildings (only some basemaps support 3D buildings ) Currently, terrain is not available offline. Map Tools: - Search - places, addresses - Advanced dynamic data collection forms with form builder - Draw/Digitize Data Creation and Editing and export as GeoJSON - Information Box for geojson data - Measure linear and Area - Geolocation & Coordinate Widget (Lat Long and MGRS and zoom level) and share location - Go to Lat Long - Placemarks (spatial bookmarks) (with import and export of Waypoints GeoJSON, KML and GPX) - Basic Route Planning with import of Waypoints (KML and GPX) - Connection to other Navigation Apps - GPS Recorder with background recording and export or track - View Spot Elevation - Display Military Symbology (App6/MilSpec2525C) GeoJSON Schema easily shared with other apps - Radius Ruler/Range Rings - Coordinate Converter (to/from projected coordinates or geographic and GRIDS - MGRS, GARS, WHAT3WORD) Includes an in-app vector converter to convert GIS data (Shapefiles, GPKG, GPX, KML, CSV, WKT to GeoJSON) must be 4326 Includes in-app coordinate converter to convert to /from different coordinate systems and GRIDS (MGRS,GARS, etc) Wifi Sharing - access device files from web browser File Manager To manage files Create Forms with in-app or web form designer with JSON Schema Load a form design and swap between forms Collect any form data Other features: Vector Conversion and Publishing API to convert local vector GIS Data and also publish to PostGIS database tables. Added Button links to TMG Map Data Explorer website for all in-app purchase screen Serve OGC GPKG -GeoPackage with Vector Tiles new OGC extensions Support for any SRS for raster tiles in GPKG (tested with 3857 and 3395) Support for any SRS for Vector Tiles in GPKG (tested with 3857 and 3395) Real-Time Data Module (Network Link KML and Internet KML, ESRI GeoServices REST API and GeoRSS) display on the map and update at set frequency Button to view attributes from GPKG Vector Features 2nd Non Map View – Office documents (Word, Excel, Powerpoint), PDF Viewer, EPUB Viewer, User links web pages and File Manager User loaded GeoJSON support for simple style spec and Marker Symbols ESRI GeoServices REST API (FeatureServer) in ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise Sync – download GeoJSON and Synchronize edited GeoJSON. Elevate API - submit geojson point and return back with Elevation, MGRS, GARS, What3Words, PlaceKey, Pluscode properties GeoRequest Area of Interest API for submitting jobs for offline data Pre-staged data downloading of ready to download data Area of interest downloading of online map data: Tile Downloader that supports building mbtiles from tile layers (XYZ/TMS, WMTS and Dynamic and cached mapping services (ESRI MapServer, ImageServer, OGC WMS) and downloading GeoJSON from WFS and MapServer and FeatureServer. Terms of Use: https://mapexplorer.techmaven.net/eula/

Screenshots

Cartograph 2 Lite Map Viewer4 screens
Map Data Explorer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Cartograph 2 Lite Map Viewer at none against Map Data Explorer's 7. Cartograph 2 Lite Map Viewer also leads on review sentiment (30% vs 0%) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 14.0). Map Data Explorer's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 5 months). On price, ads 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. Map Data Explorer sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per year. Cartograph 2 Lite Map Viewer asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Cartograph 2 Lite Map Viewer ships an update every 5 months, Map Data Explorer every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Cartograph 2 Lite Map Viewer versus Map Data Explorer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCartograph 2 Lite Map ViewerMap Data Explorer
PriceFreeFree
Rating—2.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews30.0% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better14.0
Further details — not scored
Size50 MB138 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHarald MeyerTech Maven GeoSpatial LLC

Customer experience

Cartograph 2 Lite Map Viewer

Written reviews10 reviews
Positive30.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative70.0%

Map Data Explorer

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

None

Cartograph 2 Lite Map Viewer

No in-app purchases

7 purchases

Map Data Explorer

Subscriptions6
  • TMG Elevate API7 Days trial$4.991 Year
  • Map Data Explorer Subscription7 Days trial$4.991 Year
  • TMG Vector Conversion API7 Days trial$14.991 Year
Show 3 more
  • MapBox RGB PNG Elevation Tiles7 Days trial$24.991 Year
  • GeoRequest Area of Interest7 Days trial$99.991 Year
  • Pre-Staged Data Downloading7 Days trial$199.991 Year
One-time1
  • Tile Downloader Module$4.99

Questions

Is Cartograph 2 Lite Map Viewer free?
Cartograph 2 Lite Map Viewer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Map Data Explorer free?
Map Data Explorer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Cartograph 2 Lite Map Viewer or Map Data Explorer have ads?
Neither Cartograph 2 Lite Map Viewer nor Map Data Explorer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Cartograph 2 Lite Map Viewer or Map Data Explorer?
Cartograph 2 Lite Map Viewer ships an update every 5 months, and Map Data Explorer every 2 months. Most recently, Cartograph 2 Lite Map Viewer was updated on October 19, 2026 and Map Data Explorer on October 3, 2026.

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