# Bird Up vs Vertex Maps

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Bird Up at none against Vertex Maps's 2. Bird Up also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). Vertex Maps's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 8 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Vertex Maps sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Bird Up asks for nothing beyond the download.

Bird Up ships an update every 8 months, Vertex Maps every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bird Up | Vertex Maps |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vertex-maps/id6808259820/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **3** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | — | Freemium |
| Size | 25 MB | 110 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Robert Howell](https://appshunter.io/developer/1645894332) | [Vertex Maps LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1582533006) |

## What reviewers say

### Bird Up

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bird-up-soarcast/id1645894330)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Vertex Maps

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vertex-maps/id6808259820)

This app provides backcountry maps and detailed weather forecasts for outdoor enthusiasts. It offers features for paragliding, backcountry skiing, and trail activities, including terrain data, route planning, and flight logging.

**Highlights:** Mountain weather forecasts, Terrain and elevation maps, Route planning and tracking, Flight log and activity tracking, Offline map downloads, Augmented reality terrain view

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Vertex Pro Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Vertex Pro Annual | $29.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bird Up free?

Bird Up is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Vertex Maps free?

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

### Do Bird Up or Vertex Maps have ads?

Neither Bird Up nor Vertex Maps shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Bird Up or Vertex Maps?

Bird Up ships an update every 8 months, and Vertex Maps every 3 days. Most recently, Bird Up was updated on November 3, 2026 and Vertex Maps on November 6, 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.*