Comparison

Google Maps vs Satellite Map

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Google Maps

Navigate your world with real-time traffic, turn-by-turn directions for driving, walking, cycling, and public transport. Discover millions of businesses and places with photos and reviews. Plan trips with Street View, Immersive View, and offline maps.

Highlights
  • Real-time GPS navigation
  • Live traffic data
  • Public transport updates
  • Business and place discovery
  • Street View and Immersive View
  • Offline maps
  • User reviews and photos
Features
Read full description

Explore and navigate the world with confidence using Google Maps. Find the best routes with live traffic data and real-time GPS navigation for driving, walking, cycling, and public transport. Discover over 250 million businesses and places - from restaurants and shops to everyday essentials – with photos, reviews, and helpful information. Navigate the world, the way you want: • Get to where you need to go with fuel-efficient route options • Find the best route with real-time, turn-by-turn voice, and on screen navigation • Save time with automatic rerouting based on live traffic, incidents, and road closures • Catch the bus, train, and ride-share effortlessly, with real-time updates • Find bike or scooter rentals to get around more easily Plan trips and experiences effortlessly: • Preview an area before you go (e.g. parking, entrances) with Street View • Use Immersive View to experience what landmarks, parks and routes look like, and even check the weather so you can be ready in advance • Create custom lists of your favorite saved places and share with others • Order delivery and takeout, make reservations, and book hotels • Don't get lost with offline maps in an area with bad signal • Search for local places and things to do, and decide based on user reviews and photos Discover and explore like a local: • Explore with confidence knowing 500 million users contribute and keep the map up to date each year • Avoid the crowds by seeing how busy a place is before you get there • Use Lens in Maps to see walking directions overlaid on the real world • Filter restaurants by cuisine, hours, price, rating and more • Ask questions about a place, from dishes to parking, and get quick answers Some features not available in all countries or cities Navigation isn't intended to be used by oversized or emergency vehicles

About

Satellite Map

Explore the world with high-definition satellite imagery, 3D building models, and real-time contour maps. Discover global street information and enjoy breathtaking scenery from anywhere.

Highlights
  • HD satellite maps
  • 3D building models
  • Real-time contour maps
  • Global street information
  • Explore global scenery
Features
Read full description

HD satellite maps provide the latest and most complete satellite maps, which is your best companion to explore the unknown world, and enjoy the global scenery without leaving home. In addition to satellite maps, there are 3D maps (showing 3D models of buildings), contour maps (showing coordinates in real time, longitude and latitude), and flat maps (showing global street information). Disclaimer: Apps will continue to use the location feature in the background, which will reduce battery life.

Screenshots

Google Maps4 screens
Satellite Map3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Google Maps at 4.7 against Satellite Map's 2.8. Google Maps also leads on update cadence (every 6 days vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (7.4M vs 326). Satellite Map's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 34). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Google Maps sells 22 in-app purchases, starting at $0.89 per month. Satellite Map asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Google Maps holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Google Maps has 7.4M ratings behind it against 326, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 44% of Google Maps's written reviews are positive against 27% of Satellite Map's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Google Maps ships an update every 6 days, Satellite Map every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Google Maps versus Satellite Map: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGoogle MapsSatellite Map
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (7.4M ratings) — better2.8 (326 ratings)
Positive reviews43.5% of reviews — better27.0% of reviews
Number of ratings7.4M — better326
Update frequencyEvery 6 days — betterEvery 2 months
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesAd-supported — better
Best chart rank#1 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS16.015.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size469 MB63 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGoogle慧敏 赵

Customer experience

Google Maps

All ratings7,375,894 ratings
Positive92.1%
Neutral2.7%
Negative5.3%
Written reviews8,919 reviews
Positive43.5%
Neutral6.2%
Negative50.3%

Satellite Map

All ratings326 ratings
Positive41.7%
Neutral4.9%
Negative53.4%
Written reviews141 reviews
Positive27.0%
Neutral3.5%
Negative69.5%

User reviews

Google Maps

From 7.4M App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Accurate navigation
  • 👍 Helpful for travel and exploration
  • 💡 Useful for delivery drivers
  • 👍 Reliable traffic information

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy and unreliable directions
  • 🔄 Constant rerouting without user consent
  • 🗺️ Inaccurate or outdated maps
  • 🚧 Dangerous routing suggestions
  • 🤔 Confusing interface changes

Satellite Map

From 326 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🌍 Satellite map - live earth
  • 🤖 Clones
  • 🎨 3d live

Room to improve

  • 🌐 Everything's in Chinese no translation available
  • 🌐 Only Chinese language available
  • 🌐 The text on the map is in Chinese
  • 🌐 Everything is written in Chinese!!!
  • 🌐 Everything is in Chinese

Bugs and requests

Google Maps

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Inability to save/access favorite locations
  • Frequent crashes or freezes
  • Incorrect address/location detection
  • Voice navigation issues

Requested features

5 requests
  • Option to avoid tolls or specify vehicle type
  • Ability to manually edit/update maps
  • Better integration with public transit
  • Improved offline functionality
  • More customization options for routes

Satellite Map

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • The satellite map is not live
  • The pictures are out of date
  • Can't find map index, no way to find a particular street or area

Requested features

2 requests
  • English version
  • Change language to English

In-app purchases

22 purchases

Google Maps

Subscriptions22
  • 30 GB$0.891 Month
  • 30 GB1 Month trial3 variants$0.891 Month
  • 100 GB2 variants$1.991 Month
Show 19 more
  • 100 GB1 Month trial2 variants$1.991 Month
  • 200 GB1 Month trial2 variants$2.991 Month
  • 200 GB2 variants$2.991 Month
  • Google AI Plus (400 GB)2 variants$4.991 Month
  • Google AI Plus (2 TB)2 variants$9.991 Month
  • Google AI Plus (2 TB)1 Month trial2 variants$9.991 Month
  • Google AI Pro (5 TB)$19.991 Month
  • 100 GB1 Year trial$19.991 Year
  • 100 GB1 Month trial$19.991 Year
  • 100 GB$19.991 Year
  • Google AI Pro (2 TB)$19.991 Month
  • 200 GB1 Year trial$29.991 Year
  • 200 GB1 Month trial$29.991 Year
  • 200 GB$29.991 Year
  • 10 TB$49.991 Month
  • 2 TB1 Month trial$99.991 Year
  • 20 TB$99.991 Month
  • 2 TB1 Year trial$99.991 Year
  • Google AI Ultra (30 TB)2 variants$249.991 Month
None

Satellite Map

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Google Maps free?
Google Maps is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Satellite Map free?
Satellite Map is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Google Maps or Satellite Map?
Google Maps is rated higher. Google Maps averages 4.7 out of 5 from 7.4M ratings, while Satellite Map averages 2.8 from 326 ratings.
Do Google Maps or Satellite Map have ads?
Both Google Maps and Satellite Map show ads.
Which is updated more often, Google Maps or Satellite Map?
Google Maps ships an update every 6 days, and Satellite Map every 2 months. Most recently, Google Maps was updated on September 24, 2026 and Satellite Map on September 23, 2026.

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