Comparison

MapDraw vs Map Notes

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

Head to head
About

MapDraw

Create custom maps by drawing directly on them. Mark locations, add annotations, and plan routes digitally. Ideal for educational purposes, trip planning, and sharing local insights.

Highlights
  • Draw directly on maps
  • Add custom annotations and symbols
  • Plan trips and connect destinations
  • Create custom maps for travel
  • Mark local insider tips
  • Digital education and homeschooling tool
Features
Read full description

There are endless examples of uses for MapDraw: You can use the map creator in geography classes to draw in flags, mark areas, etc. You can plan trips or excursions, connect many destinations and keep track of them - in digital. Press long on the map to add a annotation or a custom symbol. You can use the map maker to create a map of places they want to travel to. You can use the map maker to create a map with local insider tips. And much more. MapDraw is a tool that creates a lot of room for creativity and new possibilities in digital education and homeschooling.

About

Map Notes

This app allows users to draw directly on maps, add custom pins with icons, and plan journeys with direction calculation. It converts sketches into navigable paths and saves all annotations as part of the map, syncing across devices via iCloud.

Highlights
  • Draw directly on maps
  • Create pins with custom icons
  • Calculate directions
  • Convert drawings to navigable paths
  • Save annotations as part of the map
  • Attach tags, info, and photos
  • Sync across devices with iCloud
Features
Read full description

Map Notes: Your Personalized Cartography & Travel Planner "Map Notes" is your ultimate companion for personalized mapping and travel planning. With its intuitive interface and powerful features, Map Notes allows you to effortlessly mark your favorite spots, plan your adventures, and customize your maps like never before. Draw Directly on the Map:  Let your creativity flow as you draw directly onto the map. Whether it's highlighting a hiking trail, sketching out a scenic route, or simply doodling landmarks, Map Notes gives you the freedom to express yourself visually. Your drawing will stick to the map and become part of it, moving, rotating, and scaling along with the map itself. Create Pins with Custom Icons:  Make your map truly your own by creating pins with custom icons. Whether it's a favorite restaurant, a hidden gem, or a must-see attraction, personalize your pins to reflect your unique interests and preferences. Calculate Directions and Customise Colours:  Seamlessly plan your journeys with Map Notes' direction calculation feature. Simply pick your starting and ending locations, and let the app generate the optimal route for you. Plus, you can customize the color of your directions to enhance visibility. Convert Drawings to Navigable Paths:  Bridge the gap between creativity and utility. Draw a rough path on the map, and Map Notes can automatically convert your sketch into a formal, snap-to-road direction path. Once converted, save it directly to your map to keep your custom routes ready for your next adventure. Save Annotations as Part of the Map:  Your annotations aren't just temporary markings – they become integral parts of your map. Watch as your drawings, pins, and directions seamlessly rotate, scale, and move along with the map, ensuring that your personalized annotations are always in sync with your location. Attach Tags, Information, and Photos:  Add depth and context to your annotations by attaching tags, information, and photos. Whether it's adding notes about opening hours, descriptions of landmarks, or snapshots of memorable moments, Map Notes lets you enrich your map with meaningful details. Sync Across Devices with iCloud:  Your work is automatically saved to your iCloud account, ensuring seamless syncing across all your devices. Whether you're using your iPhone or iPad, access your maps and annotations anytime, anywhere, with the convenience of iCloud syncing. EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://developer.apple.com/help/app-store-connect/manage-app-information/manage-app-privacy/

Screenshots

MapDraw4 screens
Map Notes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: MapDraw at 65% against Map Notes's 0%. MapDraw also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and iOS requirement (14.1 vs 16.4). Map Notes's advantage is price (Free vs $3.99). On update cadence, 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

Map Notes is free to download; MapDraw costs $3.99 up front. Map Notes sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. MapDraw asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MapDraw ships an update every 2 weeks, Map Notes every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on September 21, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
MapDraw versus Map Notes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMapDrawMap Notes
Price$3.99Free — better
Rating4.5 (594 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews65.0% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings594 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS14.1 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB290 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCorvin HartmannZhuoyao lu

Customer experience

MapDraw

All ratings594 ratings
Positive85.7%
Neutral7.6%
Negative6.7%
Written reviews60 reviews
Positive65.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative25.0%

Map Notes

Written reviews2 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative50.0%

Bugs and requests

MapDraw

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Lines turning black unexpectedly
  • Drawing not keeping up with user input
  • Inability to edit or delete specific lines

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add eraser tool
  • Improve undo/redo functionality
  • Allow saving and restoring of maps
  • Improve color selection and consistency

Map Notes

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

MapDraw

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Map Notes

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Subscription3 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Yearly subscription3 Days trial$34.991 Year

Questions

Is MapDraw free?
MapDraw costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Map Notes free?
Map Notes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do MapDraw or Map Notes have ads?
Neither MapDraw nor Map Notes shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MapDraw or Map Notes?
MapDraw ships an update every 2 weeks, and Map Notes every 3 weeks. Most recently, MapDraw was updated on September 21, 2026 and Map Notes on September 21, 2026.

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