# Mapboard GIS vs Pointscape

The clearest difference is rating: Pointscape at 5.0 against Mapboard GIS's 3.3. Pointscape also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 2 months). Mapboard GIS's advantage is ratings volume (3 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Mapboard GIS sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $29.99 per year and Pointscape sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Pointscape holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 1 respectively.

Mapboard GIS ships an update every 2 months, Pointscape every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Mapboard GIS | Pointscape |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mapboard-gis/id1446188315/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pointscape-point-cloud-viewer/id6760613463/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **3** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 69 MB | 47 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.1** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Daven Quinn](https://appshunter.io/developer/1388611117) | [Alexey Ledovskiy](https://appshunter.io/developer/425154844) |

## 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 |


### Pointscape

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pointscape-point-cloud-viewer/id6760613463)

View and analyze large LiDAR scans directly on your mobile device. Measure distances, angles, and areas on-site, annotate findings in 3D, and generate PDF reports before leaving. Integrates with AI assistants for advanced analysis.

**Highlights:** Open E57, LAS, LAZ, COPC, PLY, and more LiDAR formats, On-site measurement of distance, area, and height, 3D annotation and issue pinning, Generate one-tap PDF reports, Offline functionality, AI integration for scan analysis, Team collaboration and cloud syncing

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pointscape Pro (Monthly) | $19.99 | per month |
| Pointscape Pro + AI (Monthly) | $39.99 | per month |
| Pointscape Cloud+AI (Monthly) | $69.99 | per month |
| Cloud 200GB + AI (Monthly) | $89.99 | per month |
| Cloud 500GB + AI (Monthly) | $119.99 | per month |
| Pointscape Pro (Annual) | $149.99 | per year |
| Pointscape Pro + AI (Annual) | $299.99 | per year |
| Pointscape Cloud + AI (Annual) | $549.99 | per year |
| Cloud 200GB + AI (Annual) | $709.99 | per year |
| Cloud 500GB + AI (Annual) | $949.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Mapboard GIS free?

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

### Is Pointscape free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Mapboard GIS or Pointscape?

Pointscape is rated higher. Mapboard GIS averages 3.3 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Pointscape averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Mapboard GIS or Pointscape have ads?

Neither Mapboard GIS nor Pointscape shows ads.

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

Mapboard GIS ships an update every 2 months, and Pointscape every 3 days. Most recently, Mapboard GIS was updated on November 2, 2026 and Pointscape on November 5, 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.*