# You Need A Map vs HeliPlates

The clearest difference is rating: HeliPlates at 5.0 against You Need A Map's 4.4. HeliPlates also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2). You Need A Map's advantage is update cadence (every 4 months vs every 21 months) and ratings volume (53 vs 3). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. You Need A Map sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. HeliPlates asks for nothing beyond the download.

HeliPlates holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: You Need A Map has 53 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.

You Need A Map ships an update every 4 months, HeliPlates every 21 months. The most recent releases landed on August 28, 2026 and June 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | You Need A Map | HeliPlates |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (53 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/you-need-a-map/id415545903/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heliplates/id1262922778/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **53** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 72.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 months** | Every 21 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 66 MB | 0 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.1** | 16.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [GrangerFX](https://appshunter.io/developer/363698835) | [California Department of Transportation](https://appshunter.io/developer/1193696576) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### HeliPlates

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heliplates/id1262922778)

This app provides detailed information on hospital heliports across California, including navigation coordinates, dimensions, and facility details. Users can view heliports on an interactive map or by hospital name, with aerial photos and approach paths included. Data can be saved for offline access.

**Highlights:** Interactive map of California hospital heliports, Detailed heliport information, Navigational coordinates, Aerial photos with approach paths, Offline data saving, Search by region, county, or hospital name

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is You Need A Map free?

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

### Is HeliPlates free?

HeliPlates is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

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

HeliPlates is rated higher. You Need A Map averages 4.4 out of 5 from 53 ratings, while HeliPlates averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do You Need A Map or HeliPlates have ads?

Neither You Need A Map nor HeliPlates shows ads.

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

You Need A Map ships an update every 4 months, and HeliPlates every 21 months. Most recently, You Need A Map was updated on August 28, 2026 and HeliPlates on June 4, 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.*