Esri Support vs Mapboard GIS
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Esri Support
Access self-help resources, AI-powered support, and manage your cases for GIS software. Get instant notifications on updates, explore video tutorials, and contact support via phone or chat.
- AI chatbot for technical issues
- Instant notifications for updates
- Video tutorials for Esri technologies
- Contact support via phone, chat, or form
- Manage support cases and bugs
- ArcGIS Online service status dashboard
Read full descriptionHide full description
Esri is the global market leader in geographic information system (GIS) software, location intelligence, and mapping that builds the leading mapping and spatial analytics software such as ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online and many more. The Esri Support app brings self-help resources for all Esri's software products, assisted-support services, and case management features directly from your smartphone. With the Esri Support app you can: 1. Find answers to your questions and solutions to technical issues using our generative AI chatbot. 2. Get notified instantly about new technical articles, videos, patches, bug status updates, case updates, ArcGIS Blogs, and more. 3. Explore video tutorials for Esri technologies. 4. Contact Esri Support by phone, chat, or case submission form. 5. Request a call back to get help on your schedule. 6. Manage your support cases, bugs, and enhancements. 7. Check the status of ArcGIS Online services with the ArcGIS Online Dashboard and get notified when a service is interrupted. 8. Subscribe to bugs and receive notifications whenever new information becomes available.
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
Read full descriptionHide full description
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
Esri Support and Mapboard GIS both sit at 4.5 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of Mapboard GIS's written reviews are positive against 25% of Esri Support's. Esri Support's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, rating, ads and iOS requirement 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. Esri Support asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Esri Support against 4.5 for Mapboard GIS. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Esri Support has 33 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 25% of Esri Support's written reviews are positive against 100% of Mapboard GIS's.
Esri Support ships an update every 2 weeks, Mapboard GIS every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Esri Support | Mapboard GIS |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (33 ratings) | 4.5 (2 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 33 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 — better | 16.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 89 MB | 69 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | ESRI | Daven Quinn |
Customer experience
Esri Support
Mapboard GIS
In-app purchases
Esri Support
No in-app purchases
Mapboard GIS
- Full Version$29.991 Year
