# ArcGIS Earth vs Touch GIS

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ArcGIS Earth at none against Touch GIS's 2. Touch GIS's advantage is rating (4.0 vs 3.5) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Touch GIS sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $29.99 per month. ArcGIS Earth asks for nothing beyond the download.

Touch GIS holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 45 and 32 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 35% of ArcGIS Earth's written reviews are positive against 50% of Touch GIS's.

ArcGIS Earth ships an update every 3 months, Touch GIS every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ArcGIS Earth | Touch GIS |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.5 (45 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcgis-earth/id1442724282/reviews) | **[4.0 (32 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/touch-gis/id1469504766/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **45** | 32 |
| Positive reviews | 35.3% of reviews | **50.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 145 MB | 79 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ESRI](https://appshunter.io/developer/379687933) | [TouchGIS](https://appshunter.io/developer/1737526594) |

## 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


### Touch GIS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/touch-gis/id1469504766)

This professional tool simplifies field data collection and mapping. It allows users to create and customize data forms, collect various data types offline, and export them to standard GIS formats. Professionals across diverse fields utilize it to enhance their fieldwork.

**Highlights:** Create Points, Lines, Polygons, Circles, Customizable attribute forms, Offline map tile saving, Export to industry standard formats, Attach photos to locations, Clinometer tool for orientation, Add custom base maps and overlays

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Subscription (Monthly) | $29.99 | per month |
| Pro License (Annual) | $299.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ArcGIS Earth free?

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

### Is Touch GIS free?

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

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

Touch GIS is rated higher. ArcGIS Earth averages 3.5 out of 5 from 45 ratings, while Touch GIS averages 4.0 from 32 ratings.

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

Neither ArcGIS Earth nor Touch GIS shows ads.

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

ArcGIS Earth ships an update every 3 months, and Touch GIS every 3 weeks. Most recently, ArcGIS Earth was updated on November 2, 2026 and Touch GIS on November 6, 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.*