Comparison

Light Pollution Map vs Mapply for Open Street Map

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

Head to head
About

Light Pollution Map

Visualize sky brightness data, including VIIRS and SQM measurements, to understand light pollution levels. Explore various overlays like cloud coverage, aurora forecasts, and observatory locations. Offers offline access to essential maps.

Highlights
  • VIIRS, Sky Brightness, World Atlas, Cloud, Aurora layers
  • Color blind friendly color options
  • Cloud animation
  • SQM/SQC readings submission
  • International dark sky parks overlay
  • Offline mode
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

The map displays VIIRS/World Atlas/Clouds/Aurora/IAU observatories and the user SQM measurements. The primary use is to show VIIRS/DMSP data in a friendly manner, but over time it also included some other interesting overlays that concern light pollution like SQM/SQC, World Atlas 2015 zenith brightness, clouds, aurora and IAU observatories. If you have a permanent SQM reader installed you can add it to the map by sending me an e-mail. Please send comments and requests for new features via email (look under help) Functionalities: - VIIRS, Sky Brightness, World Atlas 2015, Cloud coverage and Aurora forecast layers - VIIRS and Sky Brightness layers can be displayed in color blind friendly colors - Road & Satellite base maps - Cloud animation for the last 12 hours - Get detail radiance and SQM values from layers at a click. For Sky brightness/World Atlas 2015, you also get Bortle class estimation. - SQM, SQM-L, SQC, SQM-LE, SQM readings submitted by users - International dark sky parks overlay - Submit your own SQM (L) readings - Observatories layer - Save your favorite locations - Distance measurement tool with azimuth angle report - All-sky view of light pollution with real horizon - Offline mode (Sky brightness map and a base map are saved to your device, so it will be displayed when you are offline)

About

Mapply for Open Street Map

Explore detailed maps of the world, including transport networks, hiking trails, and topography. This app leverages OpenStreetMap and other specialized map layers for comprehensive navigation and outdoor adventure planning. Enjoy offline caching for uninterrupted exploration.

Highlights
  • OpenStreetMap integration
  • Specialized map layers (cycling, transport, sea, trails)
  • Topographical data
  • Railway information
  • Offline caching
  • Satellite views
Features
Read full description

Introducing Mapply, the ultimate map viewer for Open Street Map (OSM) and tile-based map layers. With Mapply, you're one tap away from exploring the world in detail, navigating transport networks, embarking on outdoor adventures, and discovering intricate topography - all tailored to your needs. Experience satellite views, hiking trails, topography, railway routes, seas, terrain analysis, and much more! Uncover the World of Open Street Map (OSM): With OpenStreetMap, a , of the world, rich in details about locations both near and distant. Navigate through an extensive network of roads, trails, and points of interest - all meticulously crowd-sourced by a global community of map enthusiasts. Find the right cycling path with CyclOSM: Beautifuly designed, yet highly functional map to guide you on the best cycling paths around the globe. Transport Network with Open Transport Map: Dive into the intricate infrastructure of transportation, encompassing airports, railway lines, stations, bus routes, and stops. Mapply's integration with OpenTransportMap is your indispensable resource for navigating the intricacies of modern transportation. Embark on Marine Journeys with Open Sea Map: OpenSeaMap opens the door to your nautical adventures, offering intricate details about harbors, buoys, and more. It's the perfect tool for sailors, explorers, and maritime enthusiasts to navigate with confidence. Unleash Outdoor Adventures with Waymarked Trails: Mapply brings the outdoor world to your fingertips, providing specialized maps for a myriad of activities such as hiking, cycling, mountain biking, and skiing. From easy-going cycling routes to challenging mountain biking trails, and from serene hiking paths to exhilarating ski slopes - all your outdoor adventures begin with Mapply. Discover Topography with Open Topo Map: Mapply leverages OpenTopoMap to provide users with precise topographical information. Understand the height profiles of specific areas, and plan your journeys with in-depth knowledge of the terrain. Unravel Railways with Open Railway Map: Mapply is a treasure trove for railway enthusiasts. OpenRailwayMap offers comprehensive data on global train tracks, and further layers reveal specifics about maximum speeds, signals, electrification, and track gauge. It's a comprehensive guide to the world's railways, all on your device. Enhanced User Experience with Offline Caching: Mapply ensures your adventures are uninterrupted with its offline caching feature. Once you've explored an area, Mapply caches it on your device. Mapply is built on open-source data for map data and overlay styles, displaying attributions in-app. We're always eager to enhance your Mapply experience and welcome suggestions for additional maps to be included in future updates. Start your journey with Mapply, and open up a world of exploration. Maps included: - OpenStreetMap: The collaborative project that offers a free, editable map of the world - CyclOSM: The go to open map for cycling paths and trails - OpenTransportMap: Your go-to resource for transportation details - OpenSeaMap: The ultimate marine cartography platform - Waymarked Trails - Hiking: Comprehensive hiking trail maps - Waymarked Trails - Cycling: Detailed cycling route maps - Waymarked Trails - Mountain Biking: Expert mountain biking trail maps - Waymarked Trails - Slopes: Extensive skiing slope maps - OpenTopoMap: Your source for detailed topographic maps - OpenRailwayMap - Standard: Comprehensive train track maps - OpenRailwayMap - Max Speed: Speed limit details for train tracks - OpenRailwayMap - Signals: Signal locations on train tracks - OpenRailwayMap - Electrification: Electrification data for train tracks - OpenRailwayMap - Track Gauge: Track gauge information for train tracks - NASA GIBS - CityLights - The earth by night with beautiful dark satellite imagery

Screenshots

Light Pollution Map4 screens
Mapply for Open Street Map4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Mapply for Open Street Map at Free against Light Pollution Map's $4.99. Mapply for Open Street Map also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 3 months). Light Pollution Map's advantage is review sentiment (57% vs 14%) and ads (none vs shown). On rating, ratings volume, in-app purchases 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

Mapply for Open Street Map is free to download; Light Pollution Map costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.1 for Light Pollution Map against 4.1 for Mapply for Open Street Map. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 47 and 53 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 57% of Light Pollution Map's written reviews are positive against 14% of Mapply for Open Street Map's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Light Pollution Map ships an update every 3 months, Mapply for Open Street Map weekly. Both last shipped on October 27, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Light Pollution Map versus Mapply for Open Street Map: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLight Pollution MapMapply for Open Street Map
Price$4.99Free — better
Rating4.1 (47 ratings) — better4.1 (53 ratings)
Positive reviews57.1% of reviews — better14.3% of reviews
Number of ratings4753 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidAd-supported — better
Best chart rank#36 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size20 MB6 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperJurij StareFlorian Chrometz

Customer experience

Light Pollution Map

All ratings46 ratings
Positive76.1%
Neutral4.3%
Negative19.6%
Written reviews21 reviews
Positive57.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative42.9%

Mapply for Open Street Map

All ratings51 ratings
Positive70.6%
Neutral9.8%
Negative19.6%
Written reviews14 reviews
Positive14.3%
Neutral7.1%
Negative78.6%

In-app purchases

None

Light Pollution Map

No in-app purchases

None

Mapply for Open Street Map

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Light Pollution Map free?
Light Pollution Map costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Mapply for Open Street Map free?
Mapply for Open Street Map is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Light Pollution Map or Mapply for Open Street Map?
Light Pollution Map is rated higher. Light Pollution Map averages 4.1 out of 5 from 47 ratings, while Mapply for Open Street Map averages 4.1 from 53 ratings.
Do Light Pollution Map or Mapply for Open Street Map have ads?
Mapply for Open Street Map shows ads; Light Pollution Map does not.
Which is updated more often, Light Pollution Map or Mapply for Open Street Map?
Light Pollution Map ships an update every 3 months, and Mapply for Open Street Map weekly. Most recently, Light Pollution Map was updated on October 27, 2026 and Mapply for Open Street Map on October 27, 2026.

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