# Google Maps vs Earth Maps

Google Maps and Earth Maps both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 79% of Earth Maps's written reviews are positive against 44% of Google Maps's. Earth Maps also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (14.1 vs 16.0). Google Maps's advantage is ratings volume (7.4M vs 1.2K) and update cadence (every 6 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Google Maps sells 22 in-app purchases, starting at $0.89 per month and Earth Maps sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Google Maps against 4.8 for Earth Maps. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Google Maps has 7.4M ratings behind it against 1.2K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 44% of Google Maps's written reviews are positive against 79% of Earth Maps's.

Google Maps ships an update every 6 days, Earth Maps every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Google Maps | Earth Maps |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (7.4M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/google-maps/id585027354/reviews) | **[4.8 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/earth-maps/id6444058891/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **7.4M** | 1.2K |
| Positive reviews | 43.5% of reviews | **78.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 days** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#1** | — |
| Size | 469 MB | 78 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **14.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Google](https://appshunter.io/developer/281956209) | [FOXPOI PTE. LTD.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1641489904) |

## What reviewers say

### Google Maps

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/google-maps/id585027354)

**Currently charting:** #1 Top Free · Navigation, #25 Top Free (US App Store)

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:** Apple Watch app, iMessage stickers

**In-app purchases (22)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 30 GB | $0.89 | per month |
| 30 GB | $0.89 | per month |
| 100 GB | $1.99 | per month |
| 100 GB | $1.99 | per month |
| 200 GB | $2.99 | per month |
| 200 GB | $2.99 | per month |
| Google AI Plus (400 GB) | $4.99 | per month |
| Google AI Plus (2 TB) | $9.99 | per month |
| Google AI Plus (2 TB) | $9.99 | per month |
| Google AI Pro (5 TB) | $19.99 | per month |
| 100 GB | $19.99 | per year |
| 100 GB | $19.99 | per year |
| 100 GB | $19.99 | per year |
| Google AI Pro (2 TB) | $19.99 | per month |
| 200 GB | $29.99 | per year |
| 200 GB | $29.99 | per year |
| 200 GB | $29.99 | per year |
| 10 TB | $49.99 | per month |
| 2 TB | $99.99 | per year |
| 20 TB | $99.99 | per month |
| 2 TB | $99.99 | per year |
| Google AI Ultra (30 TB) | $249.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

- 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


### Earth Maps

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/earth-maps/id6444058891)

Explore Earth with high-definition satellite imagery and historical street views. This app offers a detailed 3D globe, allowing you to virtually travel the world and examine terrain, buildings, and roads with exceptional clarity. Discover places online without leaving your home.

**Highlights:** High-definition 3D globe, Historical street view, Latest satellite imagery, Measure area distance, Oriental compass function

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Week | $5.19 | one-time |
| month | $14.99 | one-time |
| year | $24.49 | one-time |
| Lifetime | $36.49 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great app
- 👍 Helpful for finding locations
- 👍 Useful for travel
- 👍 Excellent graphics
- 👍 Precise location information

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitchy performance
- 🐛 Crashes and freezes
- 💰 Paywall for historical imagery
- 💰 Too many ads
- 🤔 Not available in some countries

**Reported bugs**

- Historical imagery not loading
- Compatibility issues on older devices

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- More frequent updates
- Improved historical imagery access


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Google Maps free?

Google Maps is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Earth Maps free?

Earth Maps is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Google Maps or Earth Maps?

Earth Maps is rated higher. Google Maps averages 4.7 out of 5 from 7.4M ratings, while Earth Maps averages 4.8 from 1.2K ratings.

### Do Google Maps or Earth Maps have ads?

Google Maps shows ads; Earth Maps does not.

### Which is updated more often, Google Maps or Earth Maps?

Google Maps ships an update every 6 days, and Earth Maps every 3 weeks. Most recently, Google Maps was updated on September 25, 2026 and Earth Maps on September 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.*