ArcGIS Earth vs Mapboard GIS
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ArcGIS Earth
Explore and visualize geographic data in an intuitive 3D environment. Supports a wide range of data sources, including online services and local files. Offers tools for analysis, placemark management, and creating immersive tours.
- 3D geographic data visualization
- Connect to ArcGIS Online/Enterprise
- Support for local data files
- Interactive analysis tools
- Placemark collection and sharing
- Create and share tours
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ArcGIS Earth is designed for everyone and provides user-friendly 3D experiences. Data support ArcGIS Earth allows you to use a variety of items from ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Enterprise, local data, and web services: • Browse web scenes, map services, image services, scene services, and feature services. • Browse local files including mobile scene packages (MSPK), KML, KMZ, tile packages, and scene layer packages (SLPK). • Support has been added for Living Atlas of the World. Key features • Connect to ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise. • Tap to identify features. • Support has been added for collecting, editing, and sharing placemarks. • Interactive analysis tools include Measure, Line of Sight, and Viewshed. • Create and share tours with geotagged photos. • Search for places and switch locators. • Start-up tips and guidance for hand gestures are included. • Record and preview GPS tracks, and share with your organization.
Mapboard GIS
This iPad app allows users to draw field maps using an Apple Pencil, combining the ease of pen-and-paper with the precision of GIS. It's designed for geologists and others needing interpretive mapping, offering intuitive tools for creating topologically consistent geologic maps.
- Pen-based editing tools
- Intuitive reshaping and snapping
- Iterative topology solver
- Onboard Spatialite GIS engine
- Native GIS software compatibility
- User-configurable data types
- Tether to remote PostGIS
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Mapboard GIS is an iPad app for drawing maps with an Apple Pencil. Mapboard combines the intuitive workflow of pen-and-paper mapping with the precision, flexibility, and scale-independence of geospatial information systems (GIS). Its forward-looking design helps beginner and expert mappers produce multiscale, topologically consistent geologic maps. MOTIVATION AND DESIGN Mapboard GIS was born out of frustration with both paper– and GIS-based mapping workflows. It is primarily designed for geologists but is potentially useful in many situations demanding interpretive mapping. Mapboard attempts to bring digital mapping closer to the intuitive experience provided by paper. A sophisticated open-source spatial engine drives simple tools for drawing, erasing, and reshaping features. Outputs are natively compatible with common GIS software. Mapboard allows mapping time to be spent refining interpretations instead of fighting with technical tools. KEY FEATURES - Editing tools geared towards pen-based mapping - Powerful and intuitive reshaping, snapping, and erasing - Iterative topology solver to fill map units - Sophisticated onboard Spatialite GIS engine - Project files natively readable by standard GIS software (QGIS, ArcGIS, etc.) - User-configurable data types for line and polygon features - Tether to remote PostGIS for work across large datasets and real-time collaboration - Interoperable with standard formats (mbtiles, Spatialite, PostGIS) and open-source + commercial software OTHER FEATURES - Load MBTiles basemaps - Satellite, streets, and topographic basemaps - Dark mode support - Geologic line types TERMS OF USE: https://mapboard-gis.app/terms-of-service PRIVACY POLICY: https://mapboard-gis.app/privacy CHANGELOG: https://mapboard-gis.app/docs/ios/releases
Screenshots
Verdict
ArcGIS Earth and Mapboard GIS both sit at 3.5 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of Mapboard GIS's written reviews are positive against 35% of ArcGIS Earth's. Mapboard GIS also leads on iOS requirement (16.1 vs 26.0). ArcGIS Earth's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ratings volume (45 vs 3). On price, rating, update cadence and ads 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
Both are free to download. Mapboard GIS sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $29.99 per year. ArcGIS Earth asks for nothing beyond the download.
ArcGIS Earth holds the better App Store score, 3.5 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ArcGIS Earth has 45 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 35% of ArcGIS Earth's written reviews are positive against 100% of Mapboard GIS's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
ArcGIS Earth ships an update every 3 months, Mapboard GIS every 2 months. Both last shipped on November 2, 2026.
| Parameter | ArcGIS Earth | Mapboard GIS |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.5 (45 ratings) — better | 3.3 (3 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 35.3% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 45 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 16.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 145 MB | 69 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | ESRI | Daven Quinn |
Customer experience
ArcGIS Earth
Mapboard GIS
In-app purchases
ArcGIS Earth
No in-app purchases
Mapboard GIS
- Full Version$29.991 Year








