# Current Altitude vs Distance Tool

The clearest difference is ads: Distance Tool at none against Current Altitude's shown. Distance Tool also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 12 months). Current Altitude's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.4) and review sentiment (72% vs 59%). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Current Altitude sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Distance Tool sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Current Altitude holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Current Altitude has 18K ratings behind it against 2.1K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 72% of Current Altitude's written reviews are positive against 59% of Distance Tool's.

Current Altitude ships an update every 12 months, Distance Tool every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Current Altitude | Distance Tool |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (18K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/current-altitude/id348408101/reviews)** | [4.4 (2.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/distance-tool/id478687476/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **18K** | 2.1K |
| Positive reviews | **71.8% of reviews** | 58.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 12 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 25 MB | 17 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Hearn Apps, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/310533788) | [Applorium Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1688522804) |

## What reviewers say

### Current Altitude

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/current-altitude/id348408101)

Track your current altitude and location with this GPS-powered utility. Save important spots, view coordinates in multiple formats, and easily share your position with others. Ideal for outdoor adventures and travel.

**Highlights:** GPS-powered location tracking, Save and reference locations, Multiple GPS format displays, Share location and altitude, Accurate altitude readings

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ad Removal | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Accurate and responsive
- ⛰️ Useful for tracking elevation changes
- 📍 Provides GPS coordinates
- 🌍 Works well in remote areas
- 🔍 Helpful for outdoor activities

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inconsistent or inaccurate readings
- 📱 Issues with compatibility on certain devices
- 💰 Concerns about hidden charges
- 📢 Excessive advertisements

**Reported bugs**

- App crashing or not loading properly
- Elevation readings fluctuating wildly
- Incompatibility with newer devices

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Ability to save/export elevation data
- More customization options
- Improved accuracy and precision


### Distance Tool

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/distance-tool/id478687476)

Calculate distances between points and areas of polygons on a map. Supports metric and imperial units, GPS location, and freehand drawing. Altitude calculation is also available, with or without data connectivity.

**Highlights:** Distance calculation between points, Area calculation for polygons, GPS location dropping, Metric and imperial units, Altitude calculation, Freehand drawing, Follow mode for real-time calculation

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Distance Calculator Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Distance Calculator Premium | $19.99 | per year |
| Premium - freehand & follow | $7.99 | one-time |
| Distance Tool Lifetime | $39.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Accurate measurements
- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 💡 Useful for various applications (farming, surveying, etc.)
- 🚀 Works well in remote areas

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitchy pin drop functionality
- 🐛 Inaccurate distance measurements
- 💰 Paywall for advanced features
- 🐛 Difficulty unsubscribing from paid plans

**Reported bugs**

- GPS not working on certain devices
- App crashes when trying to access location services
- Saved routes not loading properly
- Inconsistent distance calculations

**Requested features**

- Ability to edit/reposition dropped pins
- Option to toggle visibility of distance labels
- Support for entering coordinates manually
- Improved map quality and zooming capabilities


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Current Altitude free?

Current Altitude is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Distance Tool free?

Distance Tool is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Current Altitude or Distance Tool?

Current Altitude is rated higher. Current Altitude averages 4.8 out of 5 from 18K ratings, while Distance Tool averages 4.4 from 2.1K ratings.

### Do Current Altitude or Distance Tool have ads?

Current Altitude shows ads; Distance Tool does not.

### Which is updated more often, Current Altitude or Distance Tool?

Current Altitude ships an update every 12 months, and Distance Tool every 2 months. Most recently, Current Altitude was updated on October 17, 2026 and Distance Tool on October 15, 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.*