MagVar vs SpeleoDB
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
MagVar
This navigation tool calculates magnetic variation, the difference between true and magnetic north, essential for plotting courses on maps. It's designed for pilots, sailors, cartographers, and anyone using maps and a compass.
- Magnetic variation calculation
- True vs. magnetic north difference
- Map overlay display
- Accurate for 2025-2029
- Declination and inclination calculation
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MagVar is targeted towards anyone interested in navigation. This includes, pilots of aircraft, captains of sea going vessels, cartographers, engineers and surveyors. Anyone who uses maps and a compass will find the declination calculation (also referred to magnetic variation) very useful. (Declination is the difference between true and magnetic north and used when plotting a course on a map.) MagVar calculates the magnetic flux density for any location on the Earth and then uses this data to calculate magnetic variation. The model is accurate for dates ranging from January 1, 2025 up through December 31, 2029. Using the model, the app calculates declination and inclination. As the user pans the map, the magnetic variation is calculated and graphically shown as a map overlay.
SpeleoDB
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This application gives you access in a completely offline to the SpeleoDB features we all love. - All your projects on an interactive satellite map - Landmarks, stations, exploration leads, and cylinder installs directly visible - Offline mode that just works: everything is accessible, no network no drama. - Offline satellite images that just pops ! - Force resync when you're back online - Project panel to toggle what's visible on the map You can't check a website from inside a cave, or underwater or in a cave. This app makes sure you don't have to.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: SpeleoDB at Free against MagVar's $0.99. SpeleoDB also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 23 months). MagVar's advantage is chart position (#129 vs unranked). On ads, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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
SpeleoDB is free to download; MagVar costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
MagVar ships an update every 23 months, SpeleoDB every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | MagVar | SpeleoDB |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 23 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Best chart rank | #129 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 16.4 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 2 MB | 21 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Robert Walker | SpeleoDB |
In-app purchases
MagVar
No in-app purchases
SpeleoDB
No in-app purchases
