Comparison

GlobeViewer vs ArcGIS Maps SDK Samples

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

Head to head
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!

About

ArcGIS Maps SDK Samples

Explore interactive samples showcasing powerful mapping and visualization capabilities. Learn to integrate advanced features like augmented reality, data editing, and spatial analysis into your own applications by viewing and adapting the provided source code.

Highlights
  • Interactive map and scene samples
  • Augmented reality visualization
  • Data editing and offline capabilities
  • Spatial analysis and routing
  • View and adapt source code
  • Search and query functionality
Features
Read full description

Explore the ArcGIS Maps SDK for Swift 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 • Scenes - Visualize 3D environments and symbols • Layers - Display vector and raster data in maps and scenes • Augmented Reality - View data overlaid on the real world through your device's camera • Visualization - Show graphics, popups, callouts, sketches, and style maps with symbols and renderers • Edit and Manage Data - Add, delete, and edit features and attachments, and take data offline • Search and Query - Find addresses, places, and points of interest • Routing and Logistics - Calculate routes between locations and around barriers • Analysis - Perform spatial analysis via geoprocessing tasks and services • Cloud and Portal - Search for web maps and securely connect to your portal • Utility Networks - Work with utility networks, performing traces and exploring network elements The source code for the app is available on GitHub: https://github.com/Esri/arcgis-maps-sdk-swift-samples

Screenshots

GlobeViewer4 screens
ArcGIS Maps SDK Samples4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: ArcGIS Maps SDK Samples at 4.6 against GlobeViewer's 3.4. ArcGIS Maps SDK Samples also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 10) and ads (none vs shown). GlobeViewer's advantage is review sentiment (33% vs 0%) and update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 4 months). On price, ratings volume 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 10 one-off in-app purchases. ArcGIS Maps SDK Samples asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ArcGIS Maps SDK Samples holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 9 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 33% of GlobeViewer's written reviews are positive against 0% of ArcGIS Maps SDK Samples's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

GlobeViewer ships an update every 6 weeks, ArcGIS Maps SDK Samples every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
GlobeViewer versus ArcGIS Maps SDK Samples: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGlobeViewerArcGIS Maps SDK Samples
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.4 (5 ratings)4.6 (9 ratings) — better
Positive reviews33.3% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings59 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks — betterEvery 4 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS12.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size236 MB141 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRAB-SoftwareESRI

Customer experience

GlobeViewer

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

ArcGIS Maps SDK Samples

All ratings9 ratings
Positive88.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative11.1%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

10 purchases

GlobeViewer

One-time10
  • 4K & Polar Regions$0.99
  • 4K & South America$2.99
  • 4K & Pacific$2.99
Show 7 more
  • 4K & Japan/Korea/Taiwan$2.99
  • 8K & North America$4.99
  • 8K & China$4.99
  • 8K & Russia$4.99
  • 8K & Europe$4.99
  • 8K Pass$8.99
  • Professional Version$14.99
None

ArcGIS Maps SDK Samples

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is GlobeViewer free?
GlobeViewer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ArcGIS Maps SDK Samples free?
ArcGIS Maps SDK Samples is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, GlobeViewer or ArcGIS Maps SDK Samples?
ArcGIS Maps SDK Samples is rated higher. GlobeViewer averages 3.4 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while ArcGIS Maps SDK Samples averages 4.6 from 9 ratings.
Do GlobeViewer or ArcGIS Maps SDK Samples have ads?
GlobeViewer shows ads; ArcGIS Maps SDK Samples does not.
Which is updated more often, GlobeViewer or ArcGIS Maps SDK Samples?
GlobeViewer ships an update every 6 weeks, and ArcGIS Maps SDK Samples every 4 months. Most recently, GlobeViewer was updated on November 2, 2026 and ArcGIS Maps SDK Samples on November 4, 2026.

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