# AC Helper vs MapGenie

AC Helper and MapGenie both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 81% of AC Helper's written reviews are positive against 33% of MapGenie's. AC Helper also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 2 days vs every 43 months). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. AC Helper sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month and MapGenie sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

AC Helper holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: AC Helper has 392 ratings behind it against 49, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 81% of AC Helper's written reviews are positive against 33% of MapGenie's.

AC Helper ships an update every 2 days, MapGenie every 43 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AC Helper | MapGenie |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (392 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ac-helper/id1508764244/reviews)** | [4.5 (49 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mapgenie-s-and-v-map/id6446167078/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **392** | 49 |
| Positive reviews | **81.4% of reviews** | 33.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 days** | Every 43 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 43 MB | 54 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Thomas Ricouard](https://appshunter.io/developer/372456982) | [Magic Lamp Technologies Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/499996104) |

## What reviewers say

### AC Helper

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ac-helper/id1508764244)

This app helps players track their progress in a popular life simulation game. It provides comprehensive information on in-game collectibles, a turnip price prediction system, and a detailed catalog of items. Users can manage their collections, favorite villagers, and plan their island designs.

**Highlights:** Turnip price predictions, Collectible tracking (bugs, fish, fossils), Full furniture and clothing catalog, Villager information and favorites, Daily event dashboard, K.K. Slider music player, Custom item lists

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| AC Helper+ Monthly | $1.49 | per month |
| AC Helper+ Yearly | $14.49 | per year |
| AC Helper+ Lifetime | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Helpful app
- 👍 Great organization
- 🚀 Lots of features
- 👍 Clean and intuitive UI
- 👍 Useful for progress tracking

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and bugs
- 🐛 Data not saving properly
- 🐛 Certain pages/features not working
- 🐛 Outdated information
- 🐛 Compatibility issues

**Reported bugs**

- Critterpedia pages not loading
- Villager page crashes
- Catalog not updating correctly
- iCloud sync not working
- Turnip price editing issues

**Requested features**

- Add new villagers and items
- Allow time/date changes
- Improve Dodo code/Dream code features
- Add flower/hybrid tracking
- Sync with external websites/services


### MapGenie

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mapgenie-s-and-v-map/id6446167078)

This fan-made map app helps players find over 3000 locations, including TMs, legendary spawns, and side missions. Track your progress, take notes, and sync with the website for a complete exploration experience.

**Highlights:** Over 3000 locations, 50+ categories, Quick search functionality, Progress tracking, Note-taking on the map, Website progress sync

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Paldea Map PRO Upgrade | $6.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is AC Helper free?

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

### Is MapGenie free?

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

### Which has better reviews, AC Helper or MapGenie?

AC Helper is rated higher. AC Helper averages 4.6 out of 5 from 392 ratings, while MapGenie averages 4.5 from 49 ratings.

### Do AC Helper or MapGenie have ads?

MapGenie shows ads; AC Helper does not.

### Which is updated more often, AC Helper or MapGenie?

AC Helper ships an update every 2 days, and MapGenie every 43 months. Most recently, AC Helper was updated on October 24, 2026 and MapGenie on October 30, 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.*