Comparison

Polis Inventory vs ClassicsViewer

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 ancient Greek settlements from the Archaic and Classical periods. This interactive map visualizes and filters historical data based on physical and historical parameters, offering a digital companion to a seminal scholarly work.

Highlights
  • Interactive map of ancient Greek poleis
  • Search and filter by physical/historical parameters
  • Data based on scholarly inventory
  • View parameter definitions in-app
  • Export data in GeoJSON format
  • No user data tracking
Features
Read full description

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

ClassicsViewer

Access a vast offline library of ancient Greek and Latin literature, complete with original texts and multiple English translations. Analyze words with instant morphological breakdowns, making it ideal for students and enthusiasts of classical studies.

Highlights
  • Complete offline access to classical texts
  • Original Greek and Latin languages
  • Multiple English translations
  • Instant word morphological analysis
  • Search and browse by author and work
  • Distraction-free mobile interface
Features
Read full description

Classics Viewer brings the treasures of ancient Greek and Latin literature to your mobile device, completely offline. Access the complete Perseus Digital Library collection of classical texts without any internet connection. **Featured Authors** • Greek: Homer, Hesiod, Xenophon, Plato, Aristotle, Plutarch, New Testament • Latin: Virgil Hundreds of additional authors plus Sanskrit texts available with optional available extended databases. **Key Features** **Complete Offline Access** - No internet required after initial download - Fast, responsive text viewing - Instant access to thousands of pages of classical literature **Original Languages** - Read texts in original ancient Greek and Latin - Clear, readable typography - Proper display of all diacritical marks **Multiple Translations** - Major English translations included - Multiple translation options for many works - Seamlessly switch between original and translation **Word Analysis** - Tap any word for instant morphological analysis - See all possible forms and meanings - Find other occurrences throughout the corpus - Perfect for students learning Ancient Greek - Search across all texts - Find specific passages quickly - Browse by author and work - Organized library structure **Designed for Mobile** - Smooth page swiping - Intuitive navigation - Clean, distraction-free interface - Optimized for phones **Perfect For:** - Classics students and scholars - Anyone learning Ancient Greek - Readers interested in ancient literature - Researchers needing offline access to primary sources **Technical Details:** - Database downloaded after installation (one-time download) - No ads, no tracking, no analytics - No permissions required except storage for database and bookmarks - Open source project **Note:** This release includes some major authors. The texts are from the Perseus Digital Library, one of the most trusted sources for classical texts. Experience the classics as never before - in your pocket, always accessible, with powerful tools for understanding and analysis.

Screenshots

Polis Inventory4 screens
ClassicsViewer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ClassicsViewer at none against Polis Inventory's 3. ClassicsViewer also leads on update cadence (every 10 days vs every 3 months). Polis Inventory's advantage is iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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. ClassicsViewer asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Polis Inventory against 5.0 for ClassicsViewer. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 3 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Polis Inventory ships an update every 3 months, ClassicsViewer every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Polis Inventory versus ClassicsViewer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPolis InventoryClassicsViewer
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (8 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings8 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 10 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB81 MB
Age rating9+17+
DeveloperJess TaylorDaniel Meany

Customer experience

Polis Inventory

All ratings8 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

ClassicsViewer

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Polis Inventory

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

ClassicsViewer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Polis Inventory free?
Polis Inventory is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ClassicsViewer free?
ClassicsViewer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Polis Inventory or ClassicsViewer?
ClassicsViewer is rated higher. Polis Inventory averages 4.9 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while ClassicsViewer averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.
Do Polis Inventory or ClassicsViewer have ads?
Neither Polis Inventory nor ClassicsViewer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Polis Inventory or ClassicsViewer?
Polis Inventory ships an update every 3 months, and ClassicsViewer every 10 days. Most recently, Polis Inventory was updated on November 7, 2026 and ClassicsViewer on October 30, 2026.

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