Cartograph Maps 3 vs OSM Maps
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Cartograph Maps 3
View and record offline vector maps with advanced features like custom themes, hill shading, and multiple layer stacking. Plan routes offline, measure distances, and sync data across devices. Supports various map formats and coordinate systems.
- View Mapsforge offline vector maps
- Support for OpenAndroMaps render themes
- Offline route calculation with BRouter
- Track recording in background
- Measurement tools
- Cloud sync across devices
- Multiple map layer stacking
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# Cartograph Maps View Mapsforge offline vector maps and record tracks. Includes OpenAndroMaps render themes, MBTiles support, hill shading, multi-layer stacking, offline BRouter routing, measurement tools, cloud sync, search, and offline overlays. Questions, problems, or feature requests: https://www.cartograph.eu/v3/contact/ **NEW** The app now ships with a companion Apple Watch app: https://youtu.be/mMjO9Ngfak0 ## Map features - View Mapsforge offline vector maps (including OpenAndroMaps.org). - OpenAndroMaps render themes (Elevate, Elements) for hiking, mountainbiking, running, and more. - Other offline formats: MBTiles (raster/vector), TwoWays RMAP, Locus SQLite, Oruxmaps SQLite, Garmin IMG (non-NT). - Online types: Mapbox MVT, Bing quadkey, OSM slippy tiles, raster WMS, MapLibre. - Offline hillshading and slope mapping (*). - Mapsforge multi-maps (*). - Classic Mapsforge and Mapsforge VTM rendering. - Stack multiple map layers, including transparency (*). - 3D buildings (*). - Create custom Mapsforge maps (**). - Grid overlays: WGS84, UTM, MGRS, and local projections (*). - Coordinate display: WGS84, UTM, MGRS, and local (proj4) projections. - Online map tile downloader (*). - Image-to-map calibration tool (*). - Zoom lock. ## Tracks and routing - Background track recording (*). - Custom track drawing tool (*). - Photo, video, and audio waypoints (*). - BRouter offline route calculation (*). - OSRM routing. - Google Directions (**). - Offline navigation with voice/custom audio instructions (*). - Waypoint alerts (*). - Live route elevation profile (*). - Import/export GPX, KML, KMZ (import only). - Import EXIF JPEG photos and Google Takeout as bookmarks (*). - Garmin icon support (*). - Live friend tracking (*). ## Other features - Measurement tools: distance, elevation profile, circular distance (*). - Workspaces for managing maps/overlays/tracks (*). - Cloud sync via OneDrive, DropBox, or your own server (*). - "What's here" reverse geocoding. - Built-in offline overlays: drinking water, supermarkets, hostels, restaurants. - Search: Google Places, Nominatim (**). - WunderLINQ and Carpe-Iter-Control support. - Translations: Czech, English, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Polish, Traditional Chinese (add your own: https://www.cartograph.eu/v3/add-ons/translations/). - Bluetooth heart rate, cadence, and speed sensors. (*) Full version, via in-app purchase. (**) Requires credits, obtainable in-app. ## In-app purchases Unlock all features and access third-party services (e.g. Google Directions). Details and Terms of Use: https://www.cartograph.eu/v3/in-app-purchase-info/ ## Disclaimer Background track recording uses location services and may significantly increase battery usage.
OSM Maps
View OSM maps from various sources and create detailed notes with multimedia attachments like photos, audio, and video. Record routes and tracks in GPX format, synchronize data via iCloud, or back it up to a desktop app. This open-source application is a successor to a previous version, allowing data import.
- View OSM maps from multiple sources
- Create and edit multimedia notes (photos, audio, video)
- Record and export routes/tracks in GPX format
- iCloud synchronization
- Open Source
- Data import from older backups
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This app shows OSM maps from a various sources (OSM, Elbe5, etc). You can create notes add and edit photos, audios, videos, routes and tracks in GPX format, take photos, add record own audios, videos, routes and tracks. It has list views of all attached items. It can synchronize all of this via iCloud or backup files with the desktop app. This app is the successor of 'Maps for OSM' by this author. It has a different data structure and different features, so it had to become a new app. But you can import data from older backup files. This app is not affiliated with OpenStreetMap, but the use of this name has been approved. This app is Open Source, the code is published at https://github.com/mr-elbe5/OSM-Maps. If you find any problems or missing features, please let me know!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: OSM Maps at 5.0 against Cartograph Maps 3's 4.3. OSM Maps also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 10) and review sentiment (100% vs 76%). Cartograph Maps 3's advantage is ratings volume (3 vs 1). 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
Both are free to download. Cartograph Maps 3 sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.49 per month. OSM Maps asks for nothing beyond the download.
OSM Maps holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 1 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 76% of Cartograph Maps 3's written reviews are positive against 100% of OSM Maps's.
Cartograph Maps 3 ships an update every 5 days, OSM Maps every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Cartograph Maps 3 | OSM Maps |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.3 (3 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 76.2% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 3 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 days — better | Every 11 days |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch |
| Requires iOS | 16.2 — better | 17.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 133 MB | 8 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Harald Meyer | Michael Roennau |
Customer experience
Cartograph Maps 3
OSM Maps
In-app purchases
Cartograph Maps 3
- Add 100 3rd party credits$2.491 Month
- Full version (monthly)$2.991 Month
- Cloud synchronization7 Days trial$2.991 Month
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- Full version (6 months)$4.996 Months
- Monthly subscription$4.991 Month
- Full version (yearly)$8.491 Year
- Yearly subscription$17.991 Year
- Add 100 3rd party credits$1.99
- Cartograph for Apple Watch$3.99
- Full version (life-time)$29.99
OSM Maps
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Cartograph Maps 3 free?
Is OSM Maps free?
Which has better reviews, Cartograph Maps 3 or OSM Maps?
Do Cartograph Maps 3 or OSM Maps have ads?
Which is updated more often, Cartograph Maps 3 or OSM Maps?
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