# Earthmate vs igc Viewer

The clearest difference is rating: igc Viewer at 4.0 against Earthmate's 2.6. igc Viewer also leads on review sentiment (50% vs 22%). Earthmate's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ratings volume (273 vs 2). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. igc Viewer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Earthmate asks for nothing beyond the download.

igc Viewer holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 2.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Earthmate has 273 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 22% of Earthmate's written reviews are positive against 50% of igc Viewer's.

Earthmate ships an update monthly, igc Viewer every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Earthmate | igc Viewer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.6 (273 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/earthmate/id519247758/reviews) | **[4.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/igc-viewer/id1428270954/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **273** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 21.6% of reviews | **50.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 92 MB | 83 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Garmin](https://appshunter.io/developer/411046952) | [Hiroki Kijima](https://appshunter.io/developer/1326808571) |

## 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


### igc Viewer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/igc-viewer/id1428270954)

Easily view flight data from .igc files. Simply open the file through your device's File App or share it directly to the application. It handles various file sizes, displaying your flight information efficiently.

**Highlights:** Open .igc files, File App integration, Share to app functionality, Handles various file sizes, Displays flight information

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Flight Computer Mode | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Earthmate free?

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

### Is igc Viewer free?

igc Viewer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Earthmate or igc Viewer?

igc Viewer is rated higher. Earthmate averages 2.6 out of 5 from 273 ratings, while igc Viewer averages 4.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Earthmate or igc Viewer have ads?

Neither Earthmate nor igc Viewer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Earthmate or igc Viewer?

Earthmate ships an update monthly, and igc Viewer every 4 months. Most recently, Earthmate was updated on October 26, 2026 and igc Viewer on October 25, 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.*