Comparison

HipMaps vs UCLA Compass

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

Head to head
About

HipMaps

Create and share custom maps highlighting specific locations with personalized comments and branding. Guests can access directions, websites, and view their real-time location on the curated map.

Highlights
  • Create custom maps with highlighted locations
  • Add personalized comments and branding
  • Guests get directions and website links
  • Real-time location tracking on curated maps
  • Printable and interactive map options
  • Visually engaging designs
Features
Read full description

HipMaps - custom maps with a modern twist – is a handy little guide you created that slips into your guest’s pocket to ensure they’re always exactly where they want and need to be. • Include only the places that you want to highlight on your map – from the insider’s local scoop on hot spots & hidden gems in the area to event logistics – you choose! • Curate your comments about each place & tailor your map to your audience, whether that be for guests or marketing – you choose! • Guests link to websites and get directions right from the app – there is no need for you or your guests to learn new technology – our app is easy-peasy! • HipMaps are visually engaging and designed in your style with your branding, serving as part tool and part keepsake! HipMaps ensures that every guest feels welcome and informed — and every organizer looks like a rock star. HipMaps are both printable and used in our interactive app so ALL your guests feel the love! Great for meetings & events, lodging, visitor’s bureaus, sport events, wineries & more. With the HipMaps app you can: - See your real-time location right on your host’s HipMap so you always know where you are in relation to what’s going on. - Read your host’s comments about each location and get their inside scoop on everything from the best BBQ in town to when the event shuttles are leaving. - Directly access each location’s website. - Obtain directions to each location. Don’t have a host’s access code? You can try out the HipMaps app with these access codes: Nash – Events in Nashville, TN Hinterland – A (pretend) hotel in Milwaukee, WI Casa – A (pretend) vacation rental near Denver, CO Connect – A conference in Minneapolis, MN HipMaps8 – A (pretend) Bar Mitzvah in Beacon, NY INSTRUCTIONS: 7. Download the HipMaps app and open it. 8. Allow the HipMaps app to access your location while using the app. 9. Enter your host’s map access code, or use one of the sample codes above, & hit ‘View Map’. 10. Your host’s custom map will appear on your screen, with the Google Maps base map layered underneath it. 11. Click on the bottom section with “Click here for list and directions” to expand the list of locations on the map. Click on the arrow symbol to the left of the desired location to bring up directions from your current location in Apple Maps. If there is a globe symbol to the right of the location, click on it to bring up that location’s website. Click on the map area to minimize the map list. Note: not all locations will have the globe symbol displayed - it is up to the map’s host to decide if they want to link a location to a website. 12. Zoom in and out (using fingers); use the app tools to zoom to the map extent (home symbol); toggle the custom map and Google Map labels on and off (layer symbol); zoom to your location (location symbol); or learn about HipMaps (i symbol). Note: if you do not want to see your location on the custom map or use the directions feature, simply do not allow the app to access your location. You can always update permissions in your phone’s Settings. Pro tip: In order avoid having to enter the map access code every time you use it, do not completely close the app – simply minimize it. Interested in learning more or creating your own HipMap? Visit HipMaps.com or email us at Hello@HipMaps.com SUPPORT We can help! Go to https://hipmaps.com/faqs/ Or get app instructions at https://hipmaps.com/hipmaps-app/ Or email us at Support@HipMaps.com LEGAL Privacy Policy: https://hipmaps.com/privacy-policy/ Terms of Use: https://hipmaps.com/terms-conditions/ CONNECT WITH US https://hipmaps.com/ Hello@HipMaps.com Wander Aimfully with HipMaps ®

About

UCLA Compass

Features
Read full description

The UCLA app provides services to the network of users that are somehow related to this physical campus. You have access to the campus news and events and can also view Zoom events in the App. A key element of this system is for users to access smart maps of the buildings and locate/navigate themselves even indoors where GPS does not work! You can search for places that are by now marked in these buildings for example restaurants, cafes, WC, elevators, etc. You can also navigate yourself to any of the places of interest. (This feature is currently in limited mode; contact us for more) Feel free to explore and let us know what you think! UCLA is powered by Vicinia smart enterprise solutions from cntxts Inc.

Screenshots

HipMaps4 screens
UCLA Compass4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: HipMaps at 9.0 against UCLA Compass's 17.0. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

HipMaps ships an update every 6 weeks, UCLA Compass monthly. The most recent releases landed on June 28, 2026 and September 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
HipMaps versus UCLA Compass: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHipMapsUCLA Compass
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (8 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings8 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS9.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size70 MB31 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHipMaps LLCcntxts Inc

In-app purchases

None

HipMaps

No in-app purchases

None

UCLA Compass

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is HipMaps free?
HipMaps is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is UCLA Compass free?
UCLA Compass is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do HipMaps or UCLA Compass have ads?
Neither HipMaps nor UCLA Compass shows ads.
Which is updated more often, HipMaps or UCLA Compass?
HipMaps ships an update every 6 weeks, and UCLA Compass monthly. Most recently, HipMaps was updated on June 28, 2026 and UCLA Compass on September 8, 2026.

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