Comparison

Map Chart Mosaic vs r.485

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

Head to head
About

Map Chart Mosaic

Access detailed topographic, satellite, and weather forecast maps offline on your iPhone and smartwatch. Plan routes, record GPS tracks, and share your journey data. View maps without an internet connection.

Highlights
  • Offline topographic and satellite maps
  • GRIB weather forecast maps
  • Cycle and hiking trail maps
  • Smartwatch map support (Apple Watch, Fitbit, Garmin, Amazfit)
  • Add map markers and travel routes
  • Record GPS tracks and share as GPX
  • GPS travel information (speed, ETA)
Features
Read full description

Offline maps for iPhone, Apple Watch, Fitbit, Garmin or Amazfit smartwatch: topographic maps, satellite images, GRIB weather forecast maps and road maps with cycle and hiking trails. Nautical charts are currently only for USA and Canada available. Please watch the video and read the FAQ: http://www.MapChartMosaic.com/ Switch seamlessly between maps from different sources to get detailed information about a location. Map views are automatically stored in an offline cache on your phone, so that you can view them later without an internet connection. Download offline maps to Apple Watch or Fitbit smart watch and view them without connection to your phone. Add map markers and travel routes to the offline maps (e.g. your current car parking location). Create map travel routes. Record your GPS Track. Share map marker, route and track data as GPX files. Get GPS travel info: speed, course, odometer, route ETA (estimated time of arrival)... Get GRIB weather forecast maps via Internet download, Email or Iridium Go satellite connection. You can display the maps also on the Fitbit smart watch. But please don't expect the same maps app performance on the Fitbit as on a phone. The Fitbit is very slow and has very limited space. The Fitbit phone app "Sync" step, shown in the video, is very important. Don't skip it and make sure that the watch app Map Chart is closed during the Sync. DISCLAIMER Do NOT use the app for navigation or any other purpose that may result in personal injury or property damage. Use it at your own risk.

About

r.485

Plan routes with multiple stops and import GPX files. This lightweight navigator is designed for watch-based navigation, prioritizing battery life over advanced features like offline maps or automatic route recalculation.

Highlights
  • Multi-waypoint route creation
  • GPX file import
  • Lightweight watch navigation
  • Battery life optimization
  • Detailed driving instructions (with subscription)
Features
Read full description

Create a route with multiple waypoints with a few clicks. Importing GPX files is also supported. --- Light-weight navigator: The essence of the app is to allow navigation on your watch. The light-weight navigator included in the app is very basic. It is not intended to be a replacement for full-featured mobile navigation apps, such as Google Maps or the pre-installed Maps app. Being light-weight means, for example, that it does not let you save offline maps and it does not recalculate routes automatically when you go off-course. In comparison to those full-featured apps, it will be better for your battery life. And, of course, it will allow you to navigate GPX files and all other possibilities which are offered in the route planning screen. --- SUBSCRIPTION TERMS: This app offers the possibility to purchase an auto-renewable subscription: "Unlock r.485". The length of this subscription is one year. By subscribing to our service, any content previously blocked in the app, such as the detailed driving instructions, will always be displayed. Payment will be charged to your iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal. Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase. Terms of use and privacy policy link: https://r-485-privacy-policy.blogspot.be

Screenshots

Map Chart Mosaic4 screens
r.4854 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: r.485 at 50% against Map Chart Mosaic's 0%. r.485 also leads on price (Free vs $3.99) and update cadence (every 10 days vs every 5 weeks). Map Chart Mosaic's advantage is rating (2.6 vs 2.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). On ratings volume, ads 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

r.485 is free to download; Map Chart Mosaic costs $3.99 up front. r.485 sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.99 per year. Map Chart Mosaic asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Map Chart Mosaic holds the better App Store score, 2.6 against 2.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 4 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 0% of Map Chart Mosaic's written reviews are positive against 50% of r.485's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Map Chart Mosaic ships an update every 5 weeks, r.485 every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Map Chart Mosaic versus r.485: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMap Chart Mosaicr.485
Price$3.99Free — better
Rating2.6 (5 ratings) — better2.0 (4 ratings)
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews50.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings5 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksEvery 10 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaid — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch
Requires iOS15.69.3 — better
Further details — not scored
Size39 MB25 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAppMosaic.comr.485

Customer experience

Map Chart Mosaic

All ratings5 ratings
Positive40.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative60.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

r.485

All ratings4 ratings
Positive25.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative75.0%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

None

Map Chart Mosaic

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

r.485

Subscriptions1
  • Unlock all features$9.991 Year

Questions

Is Map Chart Mosaic free?
Map Chart Mosaic costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is r.485 free?
r.485 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Map Chart Mosaic or r.485?
Map Chart Mosaic is rated higher. Map Chart Mosaic averages 2.6 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while r.485 averages 2.0 from 4 ratings.
Do Map Chart Mosaic or r.485 have ads?
Neither Map Chart Mosaic nor r.485 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Map Chart Mosaic or r.485?
Map Chart Mosaic ships an update every 5 weeks, and r.485 every 10 days. Most recently, Map Chart Mosaic was updated on October 25, 2026 and r.485 on October 24, 2026.

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