Comparison

SonsOfSmokey vs Glassing Maps

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

SonsOfSmokey

This app helps users identify and report illegal dumping on public lands. Users can geo-tag and photograph dump sites, then mark them as cleaned up. It aims to unite public land users and volunteers in restoring natural areas.

Highlights
  • Identify illegal dump sites
  • Geo-tag and photograph debris
  • Real-time trash map
  • Mark locations as cleaned up
  • Volunteer for cleanup projects
Features
Read full description

Sons Of Smokey - SOS app is uniting public land users of all types and volunteers looking to help restore public land for future generations! Use the SOS app to identify and clean up illegal dump locations on public land. Geo tag and photograph abandoned vehicles, dump sites, etc. and update our real-time trash map. Scout out these marked locations for clean up projects and mark them as cleaned up when you're done. How it works: - Download the app and Sign-In with Apple - Open the SOS app while using public lands - If you see dumped debris, select the large "+" button in the middle of the screen, provide a description of what it is and take a few photos - You will see the trash icon appear within the app - If you can clean up a trash location, do so and tap the 'Clean Up' to provide some new photos and describe what you did

About

Glassing Maps

This app offers offline backcountry navigation with detailed map layers and planning tools. It allows users to mark waypoints, record tracks, and plan routes without a cellular signal, all while conserving battery life. Saved data remains accessible even after a subscription ends.

Highlights
  • Offline map downloads
  • Waypoint marking
  • Route planning and following
  • Track recording with battery optimization
  • Multiple map layers (Topo, Satellite, Hybrid)
  • Slope Angle Shading and Aspect views
  • GPX/KML/KMZ import and export
Features
Read full description

Glassing is an iOS-native backcountry navigation app with a refined design for quick, one-handed use. It sips battery and keeps every map layer and backcountry tool working offline. Download the grids for your trip and every available layer comes with them. Search, plan routes, record tracks and mark places without a signal. You know what’s available before you leave. DIRECTIONS Navigate calls each trail junction as you walk. Plan a Route finds the trailhead and the trails to anywhere you pick. Your iPhone and CarPlay guide the drive to the trailhead, turn by turn over highways and forest roads. Directions work offline in your downloaded maps. WAYPOINTS AND TRIPS Mark a place and choose its symbol with one hand. Keep track of camps, water sources and animal sightings without typing names or digging through menus. Your waypoints, tracks, routes and photos organize themselves into trips named for the place and month. A week in the Wallowas stays together instead of getting lost among hundreds of pins. RECORDING Start recording at the trailhead and put your phone away. Glassing saves battery by easing off GPS when you stop and picking up again when you move. Turn on Max detail when you want a more detailed track, like following a blood trail or backtracking for a dropped hat. ROUTES Follow trails with Snap to trail or draw your own route across open country. See distance and elevation gain as you draw, and drag a point to try another way. Plan and follow routes offline, with an alert if you wander off course. LAYERS Choose Topo, Satellite or Hybrid. Topo and Hybrid include shaded relief to help you read the terrain. Topo turns to a night map when your iPhone is in dark mode. Use Slope Angle Shading to spot steep hillsides and compare off-trail routes. Aspect shows which direction a hillside faces. Ownership shows public land and available private parcels. Cell Coverage shows where AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon reports outdoor 5G or LTE service. Every available layer works in your downloaded grids without a signal. Check its source and data date in the legend. Slope shading does not show current avalanche danger, parcel boundaries do not establish access permission, and predicted cell coverage does not guarantee a connection. APPLE WATCH AND WEB Check your heading, see your next turn, mark a waypoint or control recording from your Apple Watch while your iPhone stays in your pocket. Plan on a larger screen at glassing.app/map, with 3D terrain to help you look over your route. Your saved places sync when you have a signal. BRING YOUR SAVED PLACES Import GPX, KML and KMZ files. Review suggested trips to organize what you bring over. Export your waypoints, tracks and routes as GPX any time, including after your subscription ends. PRIVATE BY DEFAULT No advertising, third-party analytics, public heatmaps or social feed. We don’t sell your data. Location metadata is removed from photos you share through Glassing. YOUR MAPS AND DATA STAY YOURS Getting signed out won’t take away the maps and places saved on your phone. If your subscription ends, you can still view your saved trips, use downloaded maps and export your waypoints, tracks and routes for free. WHAT IT COSTS $19.99 a year, with the first month free for new subscribers. Every map layer is free to browse. Subscribe to save waypoints, record tracks, and download and update maps. Downloaded maps stay usable after your subscription ends. COVERAGE Maps cover the lower 48. Ownership coverage varies by area. TERMS AND PRIVACY Terms of Use: https://glassing.app/terms Privacy Policy: https://glassing.app/privacy Made by one person in Portland, Oregon.

Screenshots

SonsOfSmokey4 screens
Glassing Maps4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Glassing Maps at 100% against SonsOfSmokey's 45%. Glassing Maps also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.8) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 3 months). SonsOfSmokey's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ratings volume (17 vs 3). On price, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Glassing Maps sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $19.99 per year. SonsOfSmokey asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Glassing Maps holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SonsOfSmokey has 17 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 45% of SonsOfSmokey's written reviews are positive against 100% of Glassing Maps's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SonsOfSmokey ships an update every 3 months, Glassing Maps every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
SonsOfSmokey versus Glassing Maps: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSonsOfSmokeyGlassing Maps
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.8 (17 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews45.5% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings17 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS15.5 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size43 MB47 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSons of SmokeyGlassing, LLC

Customer experience

SonsOfSmokey

All ratings17 ratings
Positive64.7%
Neutral11.8%
Negative23.5%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive45.5%
Neutral18.2%
Negative36.4%

Glassing Maps

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

SonsOfSmokey

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Glassing Maps

Subscriptions1
  • Glassing Annual1 Month trial$19.991 Year

Questions

Is SonsOfSmokey free?
SonsOfSmokey is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Glassing Maps free?
Glassing Maps is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, SonsOfSmokey or Glassing Maps?
Glassing Maps is rated higher. SonsOfSmokey averages 3.8 out of 5 from 17 ratings, while Glassing Maps averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.
Do SonsOfSmokey or Glassing Maps have ads?
Neither SonsOfSmokey nor Glassing Maps shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SonsOfSmokey or Glassing Maps?
SonsOfSmokey ships an update every 3 months, and Glassing Maps every 9 days. Most recently, SonsOfSmokey was updated on October 4, 2026 and Glassing Maps on October 15, 2026.

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