# Earthmate vs AR AlpineGuide

The clearest difference is rating: AR AlpineGuide at 4.6 against Earthmate's 2.7. AR AlpineGuide also leads on update cadence (weekly vs monthly) and review sentiment (42% vs 22%). Earthmate's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and ads (none vs shown). On price, ratings volume, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. AR AlpineGuide sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Earthmate asks for nothing beyond the download.

AR AlpineGuide holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 272 and 784 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 22% of Earthmate's written reviews are positive against 42% of AR AlpineGuide's.

Earthmate ships an update monthly, AR AlpineGuide weekly. Both last shipped on October 19, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Earthmate | AR AlpineGuide |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.7 (272 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/earthmate/id519247758/reviews) | **[4.6 (784 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ar-alpineguide/id1080350636/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 272 | **784** |
| Positive reviews | 21.6% of reviews | **42.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 92 MB | 175 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Garmin](https://appshunter.io/developer/411046952) | [にゃんこソフトウェア](https://appshunter.io/developer/1843663669) |

## What reviewers say

### Earthmate

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/earthmate/id519247758)

Connect your satellite communicator to your mobile device for text messaging, navigation, and trip planning. Access offline maps, track your location, and share your adventures globally. Stay connected and safe on any outdoor expedition.

**Highlights:** Send/receive text messages, Offline topographic maps, Waypoint and route navigation, Tracking and location sharing, Trip logging and planning, Cloud storage for trips, Control inReach device features

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Offline maps
- 📡 Satellite communication
- 💬 Messaging functionality
- 🗺️ Tracking and navigation

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Unreliable Bluetooth connectivity
- 🔍 Lacking detailed maps
- 🔑 Login/sync issues
- 🔧 Buggy and unstable
- 🗓️ Frequent app crashes

**Reported bugs**

- Invisible text fields
- Disappearing waypoints and tracks
- Inability to send preset messages from app
- Incorrect wind speed display
- Broken map downloads

**Requested features**

- Apple Watch integration
- Customizable preset messages
- Improved map detail and customization
- Seamless sync between app and device
- Frequent message check intervals


### AR AlpineGuide

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ar-alpineguide/id1080350636)

Identify mountains in real-time by pointing your device. See names, altitudes, and distances of over a million peaks worldwide in an augmented reality view. Explore 3D terrain and share your discoveries.

**Highlights:** Identify 1M peaks worldwide, Augmented reality peak naming, 3D terrain visualization, View from any map location, Photo sharing, Adjustable peak name display, Import photos for labeling

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ad-Free | $0.99 | per month |
| Ad-Free | $1.99 | per 2 months |
| Ad-Free | $3.99 | per year |
| Ad-Free | $5.99 | per year |
| Ad-Free | $5.99 | per month |
| AdFree (Forever) | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Useful app
- 🚀 Works almost everywhere
- 💡 Provides information about mountains, sun, and moon
- 👍 Excellent app
- 👍 Very good app, works well

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy, not functioning properly
- 🐛 Inaccurate mountain identification
- 🐛 Difficult to use, not intuitive
- 🐛 Orientation issues, compass not calibrated
- 🐛 Disappearing peak names after updates

**Reported bugs**

- App not launching after updates
- Constant pop-up notifications
- Camera view not working, only black screen
- Compass spinning uncontrollably

**Requested features**

- Allow selecting elevation range to display
- Add ability to download/save images locally
- Improve language support and translations


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Earthmate free?

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

### Is AR AlpineGuide free?

AR AlpineGuide is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Earthmate or AR AlpineGuide?

AR AlpineGuide is rated higher. Earthmate averages 2.7 out of 5 from 272 ratings, while AR AlpineGuide averages 4.6 from 784 ratings.

### Do Earthmate or AR AlpineGuide have ads?

AR AlpineGuide shows ads; Earthmate does not.

### Which is updated more often, Earthmate or AR AlpineGuide?

Earthmate ships an update monthly, and AR AlpineGuide weekly. Most recently, Earthmate was updated on October 19, 2026 and AR AlpineGuide on October 19, 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.*