GridPoint GB vs Blue Light Maps
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
GridPoint GB
Locate yourself on a paper Ordnance Survey map using your iPhone's GPS and compass, even without mobile reception. It provides your grid reference and heading, with accurate coordinate conversions. Features include Apple Watch integration, location sharing, and sunset/sunrise times.
- GPS and compass for location
- Accurate coordinate conversions
- Apple Watch app and complication
- Location sharing
- Sunset and sunrise times
- Distress signal
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If you have a paper Ordnance Survey (OS) map, GridPoint GB makes it easy to locate yourself — even when you've got no mobile reception. The app uses your iPhone's GPS and compass to provide your current grid reference and heading, and illustrates how to use this to locate yourself on the map. Coordinate conversions are implemented via OS's OSTN02, accurate to within 1m. The app also: * Includes an Apple Watch app and associated complication * Reports full numerical easting and northing, tetrad, raw latitude/longitude, a nearby postcode, and various heading parameters * Has a sharing facility so you can share, copy or store your location * Calculates next sunset and sunrise times * Can emit a distress signal, just in case All features are free to use — the in-app purchase is simply a tip you can give the developer to show appreciation. For details and instructions, please see http://mackerron.com/gridpointgb/ Please note: this app works ONLY in Britain (i.e. England, Scotland or Wales). It does not operate in other parts of the UK or British Isles and cannot provide coordinates in Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland, since a different coordinate system is used.
Blue Light Maps
Navigate faster and more accurately with this specialized navigation app designed for emergency responders. It offers detailed maps, optimized routing using legal exemptions, and features tailored for larger emergency vehicles. Offline maps ensure connectivity even in areas with poor reception.
- Detailed maps with visible addresses
- Optimized routing with legal exemptions
- Up to 60% shorter routes
- Early turn notifications
- Tailored for large emergency vehicles
- Offline maps
- Integrated destination search
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Navigate smarter and arrive faster with BlueLight Maps—the navigation app built for the frontline, by the frontline. Specifically designed for police, EMTs, firefighters and private ambulance services, our app revolutionizes emergency response navigation. Unparalleled Map Detail • Most Detailed Maps Available: Building and addresses clearly visible, from apartment blocks to farmhouses. • Always Know Where You Are: Enhanced mapping ensures precise location awareness at all times. Optimised Routing Using Your Exemptions • Faster Routes: Factor in legal exemptions for restricted turns, bus gates, low traffic neighborhoods, and more. • Up to 60% Shorter: Find routes significantly shorter than those from Google Maps or TomTom. • Early Turn Notifications: Get timely alerts for turns, even at high speeds. Stay Oriented— • Know Your Location: Clearly see your current road and direction, crucial for assistance calls and accurate reporting during pursuits. • Enhance Communication: Aligns with agency principles by facilitating precise location sharing among services. Tailored for Larger Emergency Vehicles like Ambulances and Fire Trucks • Avoid Restrictions: Specialised modes ensure you don't get stuck at width restrictions and tight turns. • Smooth Journeys: Transporting a patient? Use our mode that avoids speed humps. Effortless Destination Search • Integrated Search: Use Google Search or What3Words to find destinations quickly. • Visual Guidance: Built-in Google Street View shows you the destination as you approach Offline Maps—Always Available • Stay Connected: Navigate seamlessly even in areas with poor reception. Trusted by First Responders “Allowed us to get to an incident much quicker compared to Google Maps.” “Enhanced on-screen ETA accuracy.” “A more efficient route, utilizing exemptions for a no-right-turn saved 3 minutes.” “Unlike TomTom’s suggestion to detour around traffic, we could clearly bypass it and saved a few minutes.” Start Your Free Trial Today Experience the difference with a free trial of BlueLight Maps. Continue with an individual subscription available within the app, or via an enterprise subscription through your employer. Terms of Use: https://bluelightmaps.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://bluelightmaps.com/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: GridPoint GB at 72% against Blue Light Maps's 35%. GridPoint GB also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.6). Blue Light Maps's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 16 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Both are free to download. GridPoint GB sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and Blue Light Maps sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
GridPoint GB ships an update every 16 months, Blue Light Maps every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | GridPoint GB | Blue Light Maps |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 72.3% of reviews — better | 35.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 1 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 16 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 16.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 23 MB | 154 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | George MacKerron | Blue Light Maps |
Customer experience
GridPoint GB
Blue Light Maps
Bugs and requests
GridPoint GB
Reported bugs
17 issues- Won't open on latest iOS
- App just closes as soon as it opens
- Crashes when opened
- Crashes and closes a few seconds after starting on iOS 9
- Won't open and keeps crashing since iOS upgrade
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- Application remains unfixed since move to iOS9
- Freezes on iPhone 6
- Freezes on phone on home page and does not shut down
- Crash on startup
- Quits on startup on iPhone 6 and iOS9.1
- Not working on latest iOS
- iOS 9 has killed it
- Crashes instantly
- Crashing continuously on iOS9
- Issue with iOS9
- Splash screen appears then it just closes straightaway on iOS9.0.2
- Broken temporarily by iOS 9
Requested features
12 requests- See 8-figure grid and altitude on watch complication
- Switch to tetrad view
- Option to change to 6-figure grid
- Record a small note when saving a location
- Convert to mils mag as well as degrees
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- Option to put in grids and navigate between them
- iWatch version
- See grid magnetic angle without calculation
- OS map layer under the graphic
- Add waypoints and pre-loaded mapping
- Memory Map or other ordnance survey maps on iPhone
- Give tetrad as well as grid reference
Blue Light Maps
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
GridPoint GB
- Magnificent tip$2.99
- Majestic tip$4.99
- Monumental tip$8.99
Blue Light Maps
- Premium7 Days trial$4.991 Month
- Quarterly7 Days trial$12.993 Months
- Annual14 Days trial$39.991 Year









