# Guru Maps vs You Need A Map

The clearest difference is update cadence: Guru Maps at every 10 days against You Need A Map's every 4 months. Guru Maps also leads on ratings volume (2.9K vs 53) and rating (4.7 vs 4.4). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Guru Maps sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and You Need A Map sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Guru Maps holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Guru Maps has 2.9K ratings behind it against 53, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 76% of Guru Maps's written reviews are positive against 73% of You Need A Map's.

Guru Maps ships an update every 10 days, You Need A Map every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and August 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Guru Maps | You Need A Map |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (2.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/guru-maps-offline-navigation/id321745474/reviews)** | [4.4 (53 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/you-need-a-map/id415545903/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2.9K** | 53 |
| Positive reviews | **75.7% of reviews** | 72.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 10 days** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | **#163** | — |
| Size | 123 MB | 66 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Evgen Bodunov](https://appshunter.io/developer/321745477) | [GrangerFX](https://appshunter.io/developer/363698835) |

## What reviewers say

### Guru Maps

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/guru-maps-offline-navigation/id321745474)

**Currently charting:** #163 Top Grossing · Navigation (US App Store)

Navigate the world without an internet connection using detailed offline maps and turn-by-turn GPS directions. Plan multi-stop routes, record your adventures, and discover millions of points of interest with rich 3D terrain views. Sync your data across devices for seamless exploration.

**Highlights:** Offline maps and navigation, Turn-by-turn voice directions, Multi-stop route planning, GPS track recording, 3D relief and terrain views, Offline search for places, Sync across devices

**Features:** Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Guru Maps Pro Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Guru Maps Pro Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| One-Time Purchase | $27.00 | one-time |
| One-Time Purchase | $40.49 | one-time |
| One-Time Purchase | $54.00 | one-time |
| One-Time Purchase | $89.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Offline maps work well
- 🚀 Fast and responsive
- 🚀 Detailed maps
- 🚀 Excellent for travel and outdoor activities
- 🚀 Useful offline navigation

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 🐛 Map search function not reliable
- 🐛 Difficulty downloading/importing custom maps
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 💰 Paid features required for full functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes after recent updates
- GPS not working reliably offline
- Incorrect map data in some areas
- Syncing issues between devices

**Requested features**

- Route planning and turn-by-turn navigation
- Elevation/terrain data display
- Ability to add custom waypoints and annotations
- Improved search functionality
- Easier map download and import process


### You Need A Map

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/you-need-a-map/id415545903)

This app provides detailed offline 3D topographic maps of the entire USA. It includes terrain, roads, water bodies, and landmarks, functioning even without a cell signal. It's ideal for navigation and emergency situations where connectivity is unreliable.

**Highlights:** Offline 3D topographic maps, Covers all 50 US states, Works without cell signal, Shows terrain, roads, and landmarks, GPS tracking and track replay, Detailed feature information display, Satellite image overlays

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 3D Mapping | Free | one-time |
| Scenic Map Features | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🗺️ Excellent offline maps
- ⛰️ Detailed terrain and 3D view
- 📸 Useful for photography planning
- ✈️ Great for pilots and aviation
- 🌲 Ideal for backcountry/remote areas

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💾 Large file size
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 🗺️ Missing specific locations (e.g., Isle Royale)
- 📉 Outdated map data in some areas
- ❓ Unintuitive at times

**Reported bugs**

- Dark mode alphanumeric display issue
- App crashes when touching GPS icon
- App won't open after update
- Download issues
- 3D feature purchase unavailable

**Requested features**

- Prioritize favorite waypoints
- Update satellite imagery
- Improve search functionality for towns/streets
- Add BLM and state trust land overlays
- Add Retina display graphics for new iPads


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Guru Maps free?

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

### Is You Need A Map free?

You Need A Map is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Guru Maps or You Need A Map?

Guru Maps is rated higher. Guru Maps averages 4.7 out of 5 from 2.9K ratings, while You Need A Map averages 4.4 from 53 ratings.

### Do Guru Maps or You Need A Map have ads?

Neither Guru Maps nor You Need A Map shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Guru Maps or You Need A Map?

Guru Maps ships an update every 10 days, and You Need A Map every 4 months. Most recently, Guru Maps was updated on September 23, 2026 and You Need A Map on August 28, 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.*