Comparison

Outside Maps vs Maps Explorer

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

Head to head
About

Outside Maps

View and navigate diverse mapping data on your iPhone or iPad. Access Ordnance Survey maps for Great Britain, worldwide OpenStreetMap, historic maps, and aerial imagery. Features include GPS tracking, compass, and waypoint management.

Highlights
  • View Ordnance Survey maps (Great Britain)
  • Worldwide OpenStreetMap support
  • Historic Ordnance Survey maps
  • Aerial photography
  • Real-time GPS tracking
  • Compass and bearing
  • Waypoint import/export (GPX)
Read full description

*** Please do not use reviews to report bugs or ask for features. I almost never read the reviews and I cannot contact you for additional information! Contact support@outsidemaps.com instead *** Outside Maps is an iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch application that enables you to view and navigate a wide variety of mapping data using an easy-to-use touch interface. Outside Maps supports Ordnance Survey mapping for Great Britain at various scales including 1:50000. Outside Maps supports WORLDWIDE coverage for OpenStreetMap, OpenCycleMap and the Stamen and Thunderforest map sources. Outside Maps supports historic 1" Ordnance Survey mapping from 1880-1990 and 1921-1947 courtesy of the National Library of Scotland. Outside Maps supports shaded terrain data for the UK only derived from Ordnance Survey OS Terrain 50. Outside Maps supports shaded terrain data for Scotland only derived from Scottish Government 1m LIDAR. Outside Maps includes ESRI aerial photography courtesy of ESRI. Outside Maps includes the following features: - Intuitive "slippy maps" interface - Native iPad support in both portrait and landscape modes - Current Ordnance Survey mapping is available - OpenStreetMap and derived data is supported at all available resolutions - Historic 1" Ordnance Survey data from 1880-1990 and 1921-1947 - OpenCycleMap support - Thunderforest "Landscape" and "Transport" mapping support - Stamen mapping support - ESRI aerial imagery - Hill-shading mapping for the UK at 50m and selected 1m resolution - Full Ordnance Survey OSTN02 adjustments for highest accuracy (+/- 1m accuracy) - Real-time position tracking via GPS (or WiFi-based positioning) - Compass and bearing (either using GPS and movement tracking or hardware compass if available) - "Lookahead" feature when moving at > 5mph - Waypoints functionality including import and export via GPX format - OS OpenSpace-driven postcode and placename lookup (online only) - Grid reference and latitude/longitude lookup (offline) - what3words support (online only)

About

Maps Explorer

Features
Read full description

Maps Explorer is an app for those interested in history and antique maps. It allows you to experience the spirit of past eras, see how cities expanded, villages disappeared, roads changed, and discover hidden details of the landscape captured on old maps. The app features a vast collection of antique maps. If a specific old map is not available in the collection, Maps Explorer allows you to create georeferencing for any map yourself. This gives you full freedom to explore ancient maps and compare them with the modern landscape. The app also includes useful tools for map analysis: • Distance and area measurement; • Elevation profile generation for a selected route; • Viewing up-to-date satellite imagery of the Earth’s surface; In the “Help” section, you will find instructions, tips for georeferencing, and resources for finding maps. If you encounter any difficulties, the support team is always ready to assist you. Privacy Policy: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jeT1gX6RLhfTBc0gOf0oEtGDg1GkQk3nymnjRePBpw8/edit?usp=sharing Terms of Use: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZGX5ArwDcSvA2gzOJJpHxavEDxff40hgPhApPRYc-o4/edit?usp=sharing

Screenshots

Outside Maps3 screens
Maps Explorer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Outside Maps at none against Maps Explorer's 3. Outside Maps also leads on ads (none vs shown). Maps Explorer's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). On price, device support and iOS requirement 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. Maps Explorer sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.69 per month. Outside Maps asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Outside Maps ships an update every 2 months, Maps Explorer fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Outside Maps versus Maps Explorer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOutside MapsMaps Explorer
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews76.6% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size10 MB86 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperReplicade Ltd.Mykola Sukhyna

Bugs and requests

Outside Maps

Reported bugs

13 issues
  • Text to select map source invisible (white on white)
  • Tile cache unreliable when offline
  • Waypoints move around map accidentally
  • Map selection window not loading (iOS 8)
  • App crashes consistently (iOS 8)
Show 8 more
  • No iPhone 5 support
  • Not fitting larger iPhone screens
  • Help pages not mobile device friendly
  • Tendency for tiles not to match up
  • Tablecloth design instead of map
  • Opening map shows wrong location
  • Blue gridlines instead of map
  • App will not open (iOS 8)

Requested features

9 requests
  • Add zoom function for desktop version
  • Include a 1960's map
  • Ability to import custom map sources
  • Option for selected map source to remain default
  • Reinstate 'Save Waypoint' feature
Show 4 more
  • Add landscape view
  • Improve help section for mobile devices
  • Update for iPhone 5 screens
  • Sort out threading to prevent locking up

Maps Explorer

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Outside Maps

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Maps Explorer

Subscriptions2
  • Maps Explorer Monthly$0.691 Month
  • Maps Explorer Yearly$4.991 Year
One-time1
  • Maps Explorer Lifetime$4.99

Questions

Is Outside Maps free?
Outside Maps is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Maps Explorer free?
Maps Explorer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Outside Maps or Maps Explorer have ads?
Maps Explorer shows ads; Outside Maps does not.
Which is updated more often, Outside Maps or Maps Explorer?
Outside Maps ships an update every 2 months, and Maps Explorer fortnightly. Most recently, Outside Maps was updated on October 2, 2026 and Maps Explorer on October 5, 2026.

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