Comparison

Architecture vs Acarta

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

Head to head
About

Architecture

Discover the world's finest architectural masterpieces with this offline guide. It provides GPS-enabled directions, historical context, and images for significant 20th and 21st-century buildings globally. Explore iconic structures and hidden gems, even without a data connection.

Highlights
  • GPS-enabled architectural guide
  • Offline access to information and photos
  • Building stories and architect details
  • Walking and driving directions
  • Manual browsing by city and building
  • 20th and 21st-century architectural selection
Features
Read full description

The world's finest architectural masterpieces in your pocket. A one-stop GPS-enabled guide to the worlds greatest architectural achievements from the 20th and 21st century. Travel to any place in the world and this guide will tell you, where the most interesting buildings around you are located. It will tell the story behind the building and the architect, displays two pictures for every project and gives you walking or driving directions. No data connection is needed, because all information and pictures (except maps) are stored offline on your phone. So no expensive roaming cost when abroad! You can even use it without GPS and in Flight Mode, because it allows you to browse cities and buildings manually. All projects have a full description, photos and additional details such as the name of the architect, the year it was built and the associated website. It also presents you with walking and driving directions. This carefull selection of the major wonders of 20th and 21st century architecture spans traditions throughout the world, from Le Corbusier to the latest Pritzker Prize winners. From the renowned, famous icons to the hidden architectural gems. An indispensable tool for travellers and city dwellers, to discover great buildings worldwide.

About

Acarta

Features
Read full description

Your architectural field guide. Who designed the building you are standing in front of? When, and why does it look the way it does? Acarta is a field guide to architecture, public art, and landscape architecture: 16,000+ places, with photographs and the story behind the facade. Know what to look at next Open the app and there is already something to go see. Buildings near you, themes to follow, walking tours ready to start. Each suggestion says why it is there: because you like functionalism, because it is ten minutes away. Read the building in front of you Tap a pin: architect, year, style, story. One place leads to the next. A water tower in Oxelösund gets as much room as an opera house in Paris. Walks and road trips Follow curated architecture walks stop by stop. Put your own places on a map and Acarta draws the route. Driving somewhere? See what is worth a stop along the way. Log the places you visit Check in where you stand, or backdate last summer's trip. Photographs, notes, badges for the styles and cities you cover. Over the years it becomes a map of everything you have seen. 7,500+ architects and artists Their works, and the places where you can stand in front of them. Follow an architect the way you would follow a director. Bring your friends Their check-ins and photographs land in your feed. Follow a friend before a trip, come home with their map of what they loved. A living field guide Users add places, refine dates, upload photographs. Every contribution is credited. The guide gets better every week because of people who look closely. Free to read. Every description, photograph and biography, for everyone. Free to check in and to follow friends, too. With Acarta Pro you also get whole cities offline and unlimited maps of your own, and you help us improve the guide. Terms: https://acarta.app/terms Privacy: https://acarta.app/privacy

Screenshots

Architecture4 screens
Acarta4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Acarta at every 2 days against Architecture's every 187 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. Architecture sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Acarta sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Architecture ships an update every 187 months, Acarta every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Architecture versus Acarta: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterArchitectureAcarta
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.6 (998 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews40.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings998 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 187 monthsEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS17.616.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size176 MB112 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMakayama.comVäder AB

Bugs and requests

Architecture

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Incorrect location detection
  • Crashes and freezes on launch
  • Incomplete or inaccurate information
  • Compatibility issues with newer devices

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add more architects and buildings worldwide
  • Improve search and filtering capabilities
  • Provide more detailed information and photos
  • Offer a more affordable pricing model

Acarta

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Architecture

One-time1
  • unlimited, full version$3.99
2 purchases

Acarta

Subscriptions2
  • Acarta Pro$7.997 Days
  • Acarta Pro7 Days trial$49.991 Year

Questions

Is Architecture free?
Architecture is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Acarta free?
Acarta is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Architecture or Acarta have ads?
Neither Architecture nor Acarta shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Architecture or Acarta?
Architecture ships an update every 187 months, and Acarta every 2 days. Most recently, Architecture was updated on November 6, 2026 and Acarta on October 31, 2026.

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