# Mapboard GIS vs Map Canvas

The clearest difference is update cadence: Map Canvas at fortnightly against Mapboard GIS's every 2 months. Map Canvas also leads on ratings volume (98 vs 2) and device support (4 vs 1). Mapboard GIS's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 79%) and iOS requirement (16.1 vs 18.0). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Mapboard GIS sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $29.99 per year and Map Canvas sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Mapboard GIS against 4.5 for Map Canvas. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Map Canvas has 98 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 100% of Mapboard GIS's written reviews are positive against 79% of Map Canvas's.

Mapboard GIS ships an update every 2 months, Map Canvas fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 8, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Mapboard GIS | Map Canvas |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mapboard-gis/id1446188315/reviews) | [4.5 (98 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/map-canvas-draw-on-maps/id6737522164/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **98** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 78.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 69 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.1** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Daven Quinn](https://appshunter.io/developer/1388611117) | [Ka Chun Wong](https://appshunter.io/developer/1734201673) |

## 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 |


### Map Canvas

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/map-canvas-draw-on-maps/id6737522164)

This app allows users to sketch, annotate, and plan routes directly on a world map. It supports importing and exporting geographic data files and offers tools for drawing and pathfinding. Users can also share their map creations online.

**Highlights:** Draw and annotate on world maps, Pathfinding tools, Import GeoJSON and GPX files, Export data for sharing, Journaling and illustration on maps

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 3-Days Free Trial | Free | one-time |
| Map Canvas Watch App | $1.99 | one-time |
| Donation | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Mapboard GIS free?

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

### Is Map Canvas free?

Map Canvas is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Mapboard GIS or Map Canvas?

Mapboard GIS and Map Canvas are both rated 4.5 out of 5 on the App Store, from 2 and 98 ratings respectively.

### Do Mapboard GIS or Map Canvas have ads?

Neither Mapboard GIS nor Map Canvas shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Mapboard GIS or Map Canvas?

Mapboard GIS ships an update every 2 months, and Map Canvas fortnightly. Most recently, Mapboard GIS was updated on September 8, 2026 and Map Canvas on September 21, 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.*