# MapGenie vs Middle Earth Explorer

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Middle Earth Explorer at none against MapGenie's 1. Middle Earth Explorer also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 26 months). MapGenie's advantage is ratings volume (2.6K vs 13) and rating (4.8 vs 4.5). On price there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MapGenie sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Middle Earth Explorer asks for nothing beyond the download.

MapGenie holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MapGenie has 2.6K ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 56% of MapGenie's written reviews are positive against 67% of Middle Earth Explorer's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

MapGenie ships an update every 26 months, Middle Earth Explorer fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MapGenie | Middle Earth Explorer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (2.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mapgenie-elden-ring-map/id1618843254/reviews)** | [4.5 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/middle-earth-explorer/id6759880971/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2.6K** | 13 |
| Positive reviews | 56.2% of reviews | **66.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 26 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 55 MB | 28 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 12+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Magic Lamp Technologies Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/499996104) | [Alp Ozcan](https://appshunter.io/developer/1878252814) |

## What reviewers say

### MapGenie

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mapgenie-elden-ring-map/id1618843254)

Navigate the vast world of Elden Ring with this unofficial interactive map. Discover over 4000 locations, track your progress, and mark points of interest. Essential for any Tarnished seeking to conquer The Lands Between.

**Highlights:** Over 4000 locations, 70+ categories, Quicksearch functionality, Progress tracking, Note-taking on map, Website sync

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Elden Ring Map PRO Upgrade | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Helpful for 100% completion
- 🚀 Accurate map and item locations
- 💡 Ability to track progress
- 👍 Essential companion tool
- 👍 Useful for beginners and veterans

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Issues with marking locations as found
- 🐛 Map shifting when clicking on icons
- 🐛 Inability to see the actual map in some cases
- 🔒 Paywall for full functionality
- 🐛 Inconsistent login/sync issues

**Reported bugs**

- Map not loading properly
- Inability to mark locations as found
- Filters resetting randomly

**Requested features**

- Ability to reset/clear progress
- Improved search functionality
- More zoom/panning options
- Ability to hide found locations
- Support for DLC maps and quests


### Middle Earth Explorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/middle-earth-explorer/id6759880971)

An interactive map and guide to the lands of Middle Earth, featuring over 50 locations, 90 events, and 10 quest timelines. Explore detailed lore, character journeys, and movie/book information. Works offline and supports accessibility features.

**Highlights:** Interactive Middle Earth map, 50+ detailed locations, 10 epic quest timelines, 26 major character profiles, Library of movies, books, and TV adaptations, Full-text search and bookmarking, Offline functionality

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MapGenie free?

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

### Is Middle Earth Explorer free?

Middle Earth Explorer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, MapGenie or Middle Earth Explorer?

MapGenie is rated higher. MapGenie averages 4.8 out of 5 from 2.6K ratings, while Middle Earth Explorer averages 4.5 from 13 ratings.

### Do MapGenie or Middle Earth Explorer have ads?

MapGenie shows ads; Middle Earth Explorer does not.

### Which is updated more often, MapGenie or Middle Earth Explorer?

MapGenie ships an update every 26 months, and Middle Earth Explorer fortnightly. Most recently, MapGenie was updated on September 30, 2026 and Middle Earth Explorer on September 25, 2026.

---

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