Comparison

Polis Inventory vs Irschen

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

Head to head
About

Polis Inventory

Explore an interactive map of over 1,000 ancient Greek city-states from the Archaic and Classical periods. Discover their locations, characteristics, and historical details. Export data for further research.

Highlights
  • Interactive map of 1,035 ancient Greek poleis
  • Detailed historical and geographic information
  • Search and filter settlements by parameters
  • Export dataset in GeoJSON format
  • Based on scholarly research
Features
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Explore the ancient Greek world through an interactive map of 1,035 poleis (city-states) from the Archaic and Classical periods (c. 650–325 BCE). Polis Inventory brings together geographic and historical information about ancient Greek settlements, allowing you to explore their locations, examine their characteristics, and discover patterns across the Greek world. Explore and Discover - View 1,035 ancient Greek poleis on an interactive map, with terrain and geographic context. - Search for individual poleis by name or explore them geographically. - Filter settlements using 20 geographic and historical parameters. - Examine detailed information about each polis, including its history, political organization, territory, and coinage. - Export the complete dataset in GeoJSON format for use in other mapping and research applications. Built on Scholarly Research Polis Inventory is based on *An Inventory of Archaic and Classical Poleis* by M. H. Hansen and T. H. Nielsen (Oxford University Press, 2004), a pioneering publication of the Copenhagen Polis Centre, referred to here as the “HN Inventory.” The digital dataset comes primarily from polis.stanford.edu, maintained by Stanford University's Department of Classics. It reflects ongoing digitization and enhancement of the original work by the Stanford team and subsequent scholars. We continue to refine the dataset by improving geographic locations, correcting errors, and incorporating additional historical information. Definitions of the historical and geographic parameters are available within the app. Further details, documentation, and attribution can be found at odysseymaps.io, polis.stanford.edu, and in the HN Inventory itself. Free and Independent Polis Inventory is free to use. An optional Tip Jar supports ongoing development; tips are voluntary and do not unlock features. Privacy: No user data is tracked or stored by Polis Inventory. Independence: Polis Inventory is an independent companion to the HN Inventory and is not affiliated with, sponsored, or endorsed by Stanford University or Oxford University Press.

About

Irschen

Features
Read full description

Discover the history of the ancient village of Burgbichl with this app!

Screenshots

Polis Inventory4 screens
Irschen4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Irschen at none against Polis Inventory's 3. On price, 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

Both are free to download. Polis Inventory sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Irschen asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Polis Inventory versus Irschen: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPolis InventoryIrschen
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (8 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings8 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS17.016.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB9 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperJess TaylorMobile3D

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Polis Inventory

One-time3
  • Small Tip$0.99
  • Medium Tip$2.99
  • Large Tip$4.99
None

Irschen

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Polis Inventory free?
Polis Inventory is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Irschen free?
Irschen is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Polis Inventory or Irschen have ads?
Neither Polis Inventory nor Irschen shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Polis Inventory or Irschen?
Polis Inventory ships an update every 3 months, and Irschen every 3 months. Most recently, Polis Inventory was updated on November 7, 2026 and Irschen on November 3, 2026.

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