# Mapboard GIS vs GIS Lite

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Mapboard GIS at 100% against GIS Lite's 50%. GIS Lite's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 6 days vs every 2 months). On price 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. GIS Lite asks for nothing beyond the download.

Mapboard GIS ships an update every 2 months, GIS Lite every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on September 8, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Mapboard GIS | GIS Lite |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mapboard-gis/id1446188315/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **2** | — |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 6 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 69 MB | 30 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.1 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Daven Quinn](https://appshunter.io/developer/1388611117) | [Ioannis Sofos](https://appshunter.io/developer/1548266175) |

## What reviewers say

### 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 |


### GIS Lite

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gis-lite/id1548266173)

This app allows users to view and collect spatial data on their mobile devices. It supports various file formats, enables field data collection with photo attachments, and offers note-taking capabilities directly on maps. Offline access and extensive projection support make it ideal for field work.

**Highlights:** Load and view DXF, KML, Shapefiles, GeoTiff, Collect field data with photo attachments, Freehand/pencil notes over maps, Export georeferenced TIFFs, Offline data access, Support for over 3000 projections, Apple Pencil support for object selection

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Mapboard GIS free?

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

### Is GIS Lite free?

GIS Lite is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Mapboard GIS or GIS Lite have ads?

Neither Mapboard GIS nor GIS Lite shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Mapboard GIS or GIS Lite?

Mapboard GIS ships an update every 2 months, and GIS Lite every 6 days. Most recently, Mapboard GIS was updated on September 8, 2026 and GIS Lite on September 17, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*