# Earthmate vs NRDS Mobile Mapping ('Āina)

The clearest difference is rating: NRDS Mobile Mapping ('Āina) at 4.9 against Earthmate's 2.7. NRDS Mobile Mapping ('Āina) also leads on iOS requirement (13.4 vs 17.0). Earthmate's advantage is ratings volume (272 vs 7). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

NRDS Mobile Mapping ('Āina) holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 2.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Earthmate has 272 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Earthmate ships an update monthly, NRDS Mobile Mapping ('Āina) every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Earthmate | NRDS Mobile Mapping ('Āina) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.7 (272 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/earthmate/id519247758/reviews) | **[4.9 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nrds-mobile-mapping-aina/id1359548145/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **272** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | 21.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 92 MB | 44 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **13.4** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Garmin](https://appshunter.io/developer/411046952) | [Natural Resource Data Solutions Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1217760150) |

## 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


### NRDS Mobile Mapping ('Āina)

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nrds-mobile-mapping-aina/id1359548145)

This mapping and data collection tool allows users to geotag photos, record tracks, save waypoints, and draw various shapes. It functions both online and offline, making it ideal for fieldwork in conservation, agriculture, surveying, and hiking.

**Highlights:** Geotag photos, Record tracks, Save waypoints, Draw polygons, Offline functionality, Data synchronization, Report generation

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Earthmate free?

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

### Is NRDS Mobile Mapping ('Āina) free?

NRDS Mobile Mapping ('Āina) is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Earthmate or NRDS Mobile Mapping ('Āina)?

NRDS Mobile Mapping ('Āina) is rated higher. Earthmate averages 2.7 out of 5 from 272 ratings, while NRDS Mobile Mapping ('Āina) averages 4.9 from 7 ratings.

### Do Earthmate or NRDS Mobile Mapping ('Āina) have ads?

Neither Earthmate nor NRDS Mobile Mapping ('Āina) shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Earthmate or NRDS Mobile Mapping ('Āina)?

Earthmate ships an update monthly, and NRDS Mobile Mapping ('Āina) every 2 months. Most recently, Earthmate was updated on October 23, 2026 and NRDS Mobile Mapping ('Āina) on October 24, 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.*