# You Need A Map vs Scenic Map

The clearest difference is monetization model: Scenic Map at free against You Need A Map's paid. Scenic Map also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.4). You Need A Map's advantage is ratings volume (53 vs 3). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. You Need A Map sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Scenic Map sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Scenic Map holds the better App Store score, 4.7 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. Written reviews complicate that: 73% of You Need A Map's written reviews are positive against 67% of Scenic Map's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

You Need A Map ships an update every 4 months, Scenic Map every 3 months. Both last shipped on August 28, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | You Need A Map | Scenic Map |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (53 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/you-need-a-map/id415545903/reviews) | **[4.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scenic-map/id629666111/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **53** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | **72.7% of reviews** | 66.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 66 MB | 66 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.1 | 16.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [GrangerFX](https://appshunter.io/developer/363698835) | [GrangerFX](https://appshunter.io/developer/363698835) |

## 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


### Scenic Map

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scenic-map/id629666111)

Explore the world with detailed 3D topographic maps, accessible even offline. Stream and cache global maps for use without cell service. Features include satellite overlays, customizable map styles, and GPS tracking for navigation and route replay.

**Highlights:** Global 3D topographic maps, Offline map caching, Satellite image overlays, Customizable map styles, GPS tracking and route replay, GPX track import/export

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Scenic Map Features | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is You Need A Map free?

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

### Is Scenic Map free?

Scenic Map is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

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

Scenic Map is rated higher. You Need A Map averages 4.4 out of 5 from 53 ratings, while Scenic Map averages 4.7 from 3 ratings.

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

Neither You Need A Map nor Scenic Map shows ads.

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

You Need A Map ships an update every 4 months, and Scenic Map every 3 months. Most recently, You Need A Map was updated on August 28, 2026 and Scenic 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.*