# MineAR vs Detector Maps

The clearest difference is monetization model: MineAR at freemium against Detector Maps's subscription. MineAR also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). Detector Maps's advantage is update cadence (every 6 days vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (248 vs 5). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MineAR sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Detector Maps sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

MineAR holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Detector Maps has 248 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two.

MineAR ships an update every 3 months, Detector Maps every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on June 1, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MineAR | Detector Maps |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/minear-augmented-reality-map/id1412905489/reviews)** | [4.7 (248 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/detector-maps/id6741421159/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 5 | **248** |
| Positive reviews | — | 73.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 6 days** |
| Monetization | **Freemium** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | — | **#106** |
| Size | 104 MB | 140 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Map Life, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1108578270) | [GOLD DISCOVERY SOLUTIONS PTY LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1788016705) |

## What reviewers say

### MineAR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/minear-augmented-reality-map/id1412905489)

Visualize your subsurface GIS data in 3D augmented reality directly in the field. Overlay your data with terrain and geography to identify obstructions, compare topography, and discover new exploration targets. Works offline and includes a NearMe service for points of interest.

**Highlights:** Augmented reality data visualization, Overlay subsurface data with terrain, Identify drilling obstructions, Offline functionality, NearMe service for points of interest, Import CSV and GEOJSON data, Data styling and organization

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $4.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $49.99 | per year |


### Detector Maps

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/detector-maps/id6741421159)

**Currently charting:** #106 Top Grossing · Navigation (US App Store)

This app provides advanced geological data and GPS tools for gold prospecting in Australia, the US, and New Zealand. It offers offline map access, breadcrumb tracking, and waypoint marking to help users explore efficiently and locate potential gold-bearing areas.

**Highlights:** Advanced geological and gold-focused data, Offline map and data layer downloads, Breadcrumb trail tracking (background GPS), Waypoint marking with field notes, Real-time GPS navigation, Historic gold mines and workings layers

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Explorer Plan | $7.99 | per month |
| Monthly Plan | $11.99 | per month |
| Yearly Explorer Plan | $59.99 | per year |
| Yearly Plan | $99.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Good maps
- 👍 Extremely handy
- 👍 Helpful information
- 👍 Excellent app
- 👍 Fantastic app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Missing areas
- 🐛 Discrepancies in data
- 🐛 LiDAR not working
- 🔒 Subscription issues

**Reported bugs**

- Issues with subscription and login
- LiDAR not working in certain areas

**Requested features**

- Expand coverage to more areas
- Improve data accuracy and consistency


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MineAR free?

MineAR is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Detector Maps free?

Detector Maps is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, MineAR or Detector Maps?

MineAR is rated higher. MineAR averages 5.0 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Detector Maps averages 4.7 from 248 ratings.

### Do MineAR or Detector Maps have ads?

Detector Maps shows ads; MineAR does not.

### Which is updated more often, MineAR or Detector Maps?

MineAR ships an update every 3 months, and Detector Maps every 6 days. Most recently, MineAR was updated on June 1, 2026 and Detector Maps on September 24, 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.*