HipMaps vs UCLA Compass
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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HipMaps - custom maps with an interactive companion app – is a personalized itinerary, helping guests & visitors experience the destination like a local while easily navigating to every place they need to be. Include only the places that you want to highlight on your map – from 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 & visitor feels welcome and informed — and every organizer & host looks like a rock star. HipMaps are both printable and used in our interactive app so ALL your guests feel the love! Great for Chambers of Commerce, meetings & events, hotels & lodging, visitors bureaus, sport events & tournaments, colleges, wineries & more. While Using the HipMaps App You Can: - See your real-time location on your map: no getting lost! - Access curated comments about each place, strengthening your connection with the local community. - Link to websites, providing additional quick-hit information. - Pull up Apple Maps directions to each location. Don’t have a host’s access code? You can try out the HipMaps app with these access codes: HipTrail – A collection of parks and trails in the (pretend) community of Greenville, NC HipChamber – The (pretend) Franklin Chamber of Commerce highlighting their members in Northern California HipRiver – A (pretend) Inn in Wauwatosa, WI HipCampus – A (pretend) university’s Parents Weekend in Virginia INSTRUCTIONS: Download the HipMaps app and open it. Allow the HipMaps app to access your location while using the app. Enter your host’s map access code, or use one of the sample codes above, & hit ‘View Map’. Your host’s custom map will appear on your screen, with the Google Maps base map layered underneath it. Click on the bottom section with “Click for details, websites & 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. 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 ®
UCLA Compass
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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
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: UCLA Compass at monthly against HipMaps's every 3 months. HipMaps's advantage is iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). On price, ads, 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
HipMaps ships an update every 3 months, UCLA Compass monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | HipMaps | UCLA Compass |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (8 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 8 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 37 MB | 31 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | HipMaps LLC | cntxts Inc |
In-app purchases
HipMaps
No in-app purchases
UCLA Compass
No in-app purchases








