Spyglass vs MCG Maps
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Spyglass
This app is a comprehensive offline navigation tool for outdoor and off-road adventures. It combines a high-tech compass, GPS receiver, and augmented reality display with numerous tools for tracking, measuring, and celestial observation.
- Offline GPS and maps
- Augmented reality display
- Advanced compass and gyrocompass
- Waypoint tracking and navigation
- Sun, Moon, and star finder
- Optical rangefinder
- Camera with GPS data overlay
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Spyglass is an essential offline GPS app for outdoors and off-road navigation. Packed with tools it serves as binoculars, heads-up display, hi-tech compass with offline maps, gyrocompass, GPS receiver, waypoint tracker, speedometer, altimeter, Sun, Moon and star finder, gyro horizon, rangefinder, coordinate converter, sextant, inclinometer, angular calculator and camera. It saves your custom places and waypoints, navigates precisely to them later, shows them on maps and using real-time augmented reality displays detailed GPS info, measures distances, sizes, angles, and does a lot more. COMPASS & GYROCOMPASS Accuracy improvement techniques, special compass modes and calibration methods available in Spyglass only make it a real instrument – the most advanced and accurate digital compass. FINDER, TRACKER & AR NAVIGATION Spyglass operates in 3D and uses augmented reality to show real-time object positions, info and directions to them overlaid over camera or maps. Save current position, add points from maps, manually enter location coordinates and bearings, add stars by hand or use a built-in star catalogue. Find saved places and objects later simply by following directional arrows. Spyglass tracks multiple targets simultaneously and shows their info – distance, direction, azimuth, elevation and estimated time of arrival. Copy, paste and share locations, coordinates and map links using many supported formats. GPS, SPEEDOMETER & ALTIMETER Find and track your location and get detailed real-time GPS data – coordinates in dozens of formats, altitude, course, current, maximum and vertical speed, using imperial, metric, nautical and surveying units. OFFLINE MAPS See your and targets’ positions on maps using different map styles and alternative map providers – plan waypoints and measure distances. Offline maps optimized for retina displays are available for download. TRACK STARS, SUN AND MOON & NAVIGATE BY STARS Track positions of stars, Sun and Moon with arc second precision – use them as a reference to calibrate compass for maximum accuracy. OPTICAL RANGEFINDER Measure distances to objects in real time with a rangefinder reticle similar to sniper sights. SEXTANT, ANGULAR CALCULATOR AND INCLINOMETER Find out heights of objects and distances to them – measure visually and calculate dimensions and distances. CAMERA Take pictures overlaid with all available GPS, positional and directional data. DEMO & HELP Videos: http://j.mp/spyglass_vids Manuals: http://j.mp/spyglass_help If you need specific map sources for hiking, cycling, skiing and many more outdoor activities, feel free to enjoy Spyglass PLUS. At confirmation of the Spyglass PLUS purchase, payment will be charged to your iTunes account, and it will be charged for renewal within 24-hours before the end of the current period. Automatic renewal can be turned off at any time in your Account Settings after purchase. After the cancellation of the renewal, Spyglass Plus will expire at the end of the current period. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact us at https://spyglassnav.com Privacy Policy: https://www.unblip.com/tmp/privacy_and_terms/privacy.html Terms of Use: https://www.unblip.com/tmp/privacy_and_terms/terms.html
MCG Maps
This offline mapping application allows users to import georeferenced PDF incident maps and view their real-time location on them. It provides tools to add, organize, and share field information, including markers with descriptions and photos, all without requiring an internet connection.
- Import georeferenced PDF incident maps
- View real-time location on map
- Add markers with descriptions and photos
- Integrated compass for orientation
- Coordinate viewing and sharing (DD, DDM, DMS)
- Offline map and data functionality
- Import/export GeoJSON, KML, KMZ formats
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MCG Maps is a simple, offline-first mapping app built for firefighters, by a firefighter. Import your incident GeoPDF and take it into the field. MCG Maps shows your location directly on the map and gives you the tools you need to add, organize, and share field information without turning your map into a full GIS project. Built for the fireline • Import georeferenced PDF incident maps • See your location directly on the operational map • Use an integrated compass for orientation • Add Markers using your current location, manual map placement, or entered coordinates • Add descriptions and photos to Markers • View coordinates in Decimal Degrees (DD), Degrees Decimal Minutes (DDM), or Degrees Minutes Seconds (DMS) • Copy and share Marker coordinates • Move, edit, organize, and share Markers • Share maps with or without your Markers • Exchange MCG Maps packages with other MCG Maps users • Import and export common geographic formats including GeoJSON, KML, and KMZ • Keep multiple maps organized by Fire • Work with your maps and field data offline Simple by design MCG Maps is intended to make the common field workflow fast: open the incident map, see where you are, and mark what matters. There are no ads, no account requirement, and no subscription required to use MCG Maps. Your Fires, maps, Markers, photos, and other operational data are stored locally on your device. MCG Maps includes an optional tip jar for users who want to support continued development. Tipping is completely voluntary and unlocks no additional functionality. Mission Critical Guidance
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: MCG Maps at none against Spyglass's 4. MCG Maps also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). Spyglass's advantage is ratings volume (3.9K vs 2) and chart position (#149 vs unranked). On price 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
Both are free to download. Spyglass sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. MCG Maps asks for nothing beyond the download.
MCG Maps holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Spyglass has 3.9K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.
| Parameter | Spyglass | MCG Maps |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (3.9K ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 80.2% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 3.9K — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | — |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Best chart rank | #149 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 13.4 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 66 MB | 8 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Pavel Ahafonau | Mission Critical Guidance LLC |
Bugs and requests
Spyglass
Reported bugs
3 issues- Compass not always accurate or consistent
- Freezing or unresponsive issues after updates
- Difficulty syncing waypoints and locations
Requested features
5 requests- Improved waypoint and location management
- Larger text and UI elements for better readability
- Integration with popular mapping and navigation apps
- Offline elevation data and terrain analysis
- Apple Watch companion app for on-the-go use
MCG Maps
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Spyglass
- Spyglass Plus$3.991 Month
- Spyglass Plus (Month)3 Days trial$3.991 Month
- Spyglass Plus (Year)7 Days trial$29.991 Year
- Spyglass Pro (Lifetime)$39.99
MCG Maps
No in-app purchases









