Maps for OSM vs MapLayers
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Maps for OSM
Explore detailed maps from OpenStreetMap with offline capabilities. Record tracks, add notes, and capture photos or videos directly on the map. This open-source application offers robust data management and backup features.
- Offline map tile preloading
- Place markers and notes
- Photo and video capture
- GPX track recording and export
- Data backup and restore
- Open source
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View maps from OpenStreetMap (app is not affiliated with OSM organization). Choose your own tile server. Preload tiles for offline use. Set place markers, take photos, video, audios. Write notes. Record, import and export tracks in gpx format. Backup and restore all your data. Free use, no ads. This app is open source. The code can be found at https://github.com/mr-elbe5/Maps-For-OSM-IOS.git Further information on https://en.elbe5.de
MapLayers
Access a wide variety of maps for outdoor activities, including USGS and Bureau of Land Management charts. Import custom GeoPDF maps and overlay them with different base layers. Track your GPS location and record your travels for review.
- GPS tracking and logging
- Multiple map types
- Custom GeoPDF import
- Map overlays
- Compass navigation
- View current location
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MapLayers is a collection of maps for outdoor activities and more! New in Version 1.4: Compass for navigating to any point on the map New in Version 1.2: App URLs to open individual charts either in app or on the web. New in Version 1.1: GPS Track Logging. You can now record and review your travels!. Discovering and downloading maps for your adventures is easy and fast. Multiple types of maps are available and multiple maps can be viewed at the same time. Custom maps can be imported as GeoPDF and we are adding more maps constantly. Featuring maps from the USGS, Bureau of Land Management and more! Each map is viewable on our custom, spherical based map engine and can be overlaid with various base maps. Your current location can also be shown on the map. SUPPORT We can help! Email team@cartolake.com LEGAL End User License Agreement: https://www.cartolake.com/about/terms Privacy Policy: https://www.cartolake.com/about/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Maps for OSM at none against MapLayers's 1. Maps for OSM also leads on ads (none vs shown). MapLayers's advantage is iOS requirement (14.0 vs 16.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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. MapLayers sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $24.99 per year. Maps for OSM asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Maps for OSM against 5.0 for MapLayers. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Maps for OSM | MapLayers |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 75.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 14.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 10 MB | 24 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Michael Roennau | CartoLake, LLC |
In-app purchases
Maps for OSM
No in-app purchases
MapLayers
- Basic Yearly7 Days trial$24.991 Year
