# Guiding Ring vs Crimson Map

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Guiding Ring at 59% against Crimson Map's 21%. Guiding Ring also leads on iOS requirement (14.5 vs 18.0). Crimson Map's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and rating (4.6 vs 4.2). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Guiding Ring sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Crimson Map sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 3 months. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Crimson Map holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 208 and 299 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 59% of Guiding Ring's written reviews are positive against 21% of Crimson Map's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Guiding Ring ships an update every 5 days, Crimson Map every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Guiding Ring | Crimson Map |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (208 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/guiding-ring-elden-companion/id1614662488/reviews) | **[4.6 (299 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crimson-map/id6760719422/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 208 | **299** |
| Positive reviews | **59.3% of reviews** | 21.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 days | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 20 MB | 170 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.5** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Agile Apps LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1735876999) | [Felipe Braunger Valio Desenvolvimento de Sistemas Ltda](https://appshunter.io/developer/615749291) |

## What reviewers say

### Guiding Ring

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/guiding-ring-elden-companion/id1614662488)

This app helps players track quests, NPCs, and game locations with detailed guides and an interactive map. It allows for note-taking, progress tracking, and managing collectibles across multiple playthroughs. Unlock all features with a subscription.

**Highlights:** Quest and NPC tracking, Interactive game map, Step-by-step walkthrough guides, Collectible checklist, Game journal and notes, Boss strategies, Rune farming locations

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Access | $1.99 | per month |
| Pro Access | $4.99 | per month |
| Pro Access | $9.99 | per year |
| Pro Access (Promo) | $11.99 | per year |
| Pro Access | $14.99 | per year |
| Annual Pro Access | $29.99 | per year |
| Banana-sized Tip | $0.99 | one-time |
| Coffee-sized Tip | $2.99 | one-time |
| Sub-sized Tip | $4.99 | one-time |
| Pizza-sized Tip | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🗺️ Excellent map feature and navigation
- ✅ Comprehensive item and boss tracking checklist
- 📍 Helpful for finding NPC questlines and locations
- 🎮 Great companion guide for Elden Ring gameplay
- 👍 User-friendly interface and easy navigation

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💸 Subscription model frustration and paywall concerns
- 🐛 App crashes and auto-closing issues
- 🐛 Black screen glitches requiring restart
- 🐛 Pro subscription not unlocking features despite payment
- 📺 Intrusive full-screen pop-up ads

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on startup or after character name entry
- Black screen glitches requiring app restart
- Pro subscription not activating despite payment confirmation
- Map feature not loading or displaying
- Resistances and absorption data failing to load

**Requested features**

- Build maker and save custom builds
- Favorite or bookmark items for quick access
- Recommended level for bosses and areas
- Bulk check/uncheck multiple items at once
- Account syncing across iPhone and MacBook


### Crimson Map

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crimson-map/id6760719422)

This app provides a detailed map for Crimson Desert, highlighting points of interest like Abyss Nexuses and map reveal bells. It allows users to save their progress and organize their exploration of Pywel's strongholds, caves, and landmarks.

**Highlights:** Detailed Pywel map, Abyss Nexus locations, Map reveal bell locations, Save game progress, Organize exploration, Landmark identification

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full access (3 Months) | $2.99 | per 3 months |
| Lifetime purchase | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Guiding Ring free?

Guiding Ring is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Crimson Map free?

Crimson Map is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Guiding Ring or Crimson Map?

Crimson Map is rated higher. Guiding Ring averages 4.2 out of 5 from 208 ratings, while Crimson Map averages 4.6 from 299 ratings.

### Do Guiding Ring or Crimson Map have ads?

Neither Guiding Ring nor Crimson Map shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Guiding Ring or Crimson Map?

Guiding Ring ships an update every 5 days, and Crimson Map every 3 days. Most recently, Guiding Ring was updated on November 3, 2026 and Crimson Map on November 9, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*