Earth vs ArcGIS Maps SDK Samples
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Earth
Visualize global climate data from NASA satellites, including temperature, CO2, and sea level. Explore 3D Earth models with interactive controls and color-coded maps to understand environmental conditions.
- Global climate data visualization
- Satellite data from Earth Science
- Surface air temperature maps
- CO2 and CO levels
- Ozone and water vapor data
- Gravity and sea level variations
- Interactive 3D Earth model
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NASA's Earth Now is an application that visualizes recent global climate data from Earth Science satellites, including surface air temperature, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, and water vapor as well as gravity and sea level variations. Data sets are visually described using "false color" maps. Color-coded legends are provided to indicate relative strength or weakness of an environmental condition. The resulting 3D model of the Earth may be rotated by a single finger stroke, and may also be zoomed in or out by pinching 2 fingers. It was developed by the Earth Science Communications and Visualization Technology Applications and Development Teams at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, with support from NASA Headquarters.
ArcGIS Maps SDK Samples
Explore interactive samples showcasing powerful mapping and visualization capabilities. Learn to integrate advanced features like augmented reality, data editing, and spatial analysis into your own applications by viewing and adapting the provided source code.
- Interactive map and scene samples
- Augmented reality visualization
- Data editing and offline capabilities
- Spatial analysis and routing
- View and adapt source code
- Search and query functionality
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Explore the ArcGIS Maps SDK for Swift with dozens of interactive samples. Experience the SDK's powerful capabilities and learn how to incorporate them into your own apps. View the code behind each sample from within the app and see how easy it is to use the SDK. • Maps - Open, create, interact with, and save maps • Scenes - Visualize 3D environments and symbols • Layers - Display vector and raster data in maps and scenes • Augmented Reality - View data overlaid on the real world through your device's camera • Visualization - Show graphics, popups, callouts, sketches, and style maps with symbols and renderers • Edit and Manage Data - Add, delete, and edit features and attachments, and take data offline • Search and Query - Find addresses, places, and points of interest • Routing and Logistics - Calculate routes between locations and around barriers • Analysis - Perform spatial analysis via geoprocessing tasks and services • Cloud and Portal - Search for web maps and securely connect to your portal • Utility Networks - Work with utility networks, performing traces and exploring network elements The source code for the app is available on GitHub: https://github.com/Esri/arcgis-maps-sdk-swift-samples
Screenshots
Verdict
Earth and ArcGIS Maps SDK Samples both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 74% of Earth's written reviews are positive against 0% of ArcGIS Maps SDK Samples's. Earth also leads on ratings volume (42 vs 9) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.0). On price, rating, update cadence and ads 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Earth against 4.6 for ArcGIS Maps SDK Samples. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 42 and 9 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 74% of Earth's written reviews are positive against 0% of ArcGIS Maps SDK Samples's.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Earth | ArcGIS Maps SDK Samples |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (42 ratings) | 4.6 (9 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 73.7% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 42 — better | 9 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 4 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 181 MB | 141 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Jet Propulsion Laboratory | ESRI |
Customer experience
Earth
ArcGIS Maps SDK Samples
Bugs and requests
Earth
Reported bugs
12 issues- App crashes on startup or during use
- Endless 'Loading model' message
- Crashes on iPhone 4 and older devices
- Pixel doubler requirement on iPad
- No landscape orientation support
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- Doesn't fill iPhone 5 screen properly
- Extremely slow data loading
- Menu navigation issues
- Equator display shows slashes of emptiness
- Zoom sensitivity causes twitchy behavior
- Text readability issues against Earth background
- Geographic data coverage gaps
Requested features
17 requests- Celsius/Kelvin temperature unit options
- Satellite information (height, launch date)
- ISS tracking capability
- Ocean current visualization
- Ice sheet data layers
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- Methane concentration data
- Snapshot/screenshot capability
- Adjustable animation playback speed
- Manual timeline scrolling for animations
- Higher resolution maps for Retina displays
- Landscape orientation support
- iPad version
- Google Earth integration
- More detailed explanations of data
- Selectable date ranges for animations
- Atmospheric CO2 levels (previously removed)
- Surface temperature data (previously removed)
ArcGIS Maps SDK Samples
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Earth
No in-app purchases
ArcGIS Maps SDK Samples
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Earth free?
Is ArcGIS Maps SDK Samples free?
Which has better reviews, Earth or ArcGIS Maps SDK Samples?
Do Earth or ArcGIS Maps SDK Samples have ads?
Which is updated more often, Earth or ArcGIS Maps SDK Samples?
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