# ArcGIS Earth vs Mapboard GIS

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | ArcGIS Earth | Mapboard GIS |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.5 (45 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcgis-earth/id1442724282/reviews)** | [3.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mapboard-gis/id1446188315/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **45** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 35.3% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 145 MB | 69 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **16.1** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ESRI](https://appshunter.io/developer/379687933) | [Daven Quinn](https://appshunter.io/developer/1388611117) |

## What reviewers say

### ArcGIS Earth

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcgis-earth/id1442724282)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Mapboard GIS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mapboard-gis/id1446188315)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full Version | $29.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ArcGIS Earth free?

ArcGIS Earth is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Mapboard GIS free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ArcGIS Earth or Mapboard GIS?

ArcGIS Earth is rated higher. ArcGIS Earth averages 3.5 out of 5 from 45 ratings, while Mapboard GIS averages 3.3 from 3 ratings.

### Do ArcGIS Earth or Mapboard GIS have ads?

Neither ArcGIS Earth nor Mapboard GIS shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ArcGIS Earth or Mapboard GIS?

ArcGIS Earth ships an update every 3 months, and Mapboard GIS every 2 months. Most recently, ArcGIS Earth was updated on November 2, 2026 and Mapboard GIS on November 2, 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.*