# Google Maps vs Live Satellite View & Maps

The clearest difference is rating: Google Maps at 4.7 against Live Satellite View & Maps's 2.9. Google Maps also leads on review sentiment (43% vs 8%) and ratings volume (7.4M vs 36). Live Satellite View & Maps's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Google Maps sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Live Satellite View & Maps asks for nothing beyond the download.

Google Maps holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Google Maps has 7.4M ratings behind it against 36, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 43% of Google Maps's written reviews are positive against 8% of Live Satellite View & Maps's.

Google Maps ships an update every 6 days, Live Satellite View & Maps weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Google Maps | Live Satellite View & Maps |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (7.4M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/google-maps/id585027354/reviews)** | [2.9 (36 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/live-satellite-view-and-maps/id6476772953/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **7.4M** | 36 |
| Positive reviews | **43.3% of reviews** | 7.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 days** | Weekly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Best chart rank | **#1** | — |
| Size | 464 MB | 88 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Google LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/281956209) | [Zia Ur Rahman](https://appshunter.io/developer/1529429081) |

## 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 the world with real-time traffic data, turn-by-turn directions for various transport modes, and discover millions of businesses. Plan trips with Street View, Immersive View, and offline maps. Explore local places with user reviews and photos.

**Highlights:** Live traffic data, Turn-by-turn voice navigation, Public transport updates, Street View previews, Offline maps, Business discovery, Immersive View

**Features:** Apple Watch app, iMessage stickers

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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 (2 TB) | $9.99 | per month |
| Google AI Plus (2 TB) | $9.99 | per month |
| 100 GB | $19.99 | per year |

**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


### Live Satellite View & Maps

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/live-satellite-view-and-maps/id6476772953)

Explore the world with live satellite and street views, find optimal routes, and discover nearby points of interest. This free navigation tool helps you locate traffic, measure distances, and even shows your compass direction.

**Highlights:** Live satellite and street view, Route finder with voice search, Current location display, Nearby place discovery, Traffic condition locator, Distance calculation tool, Compass functionality

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Google Maps free?

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

### Is Live Satellite View & Maps free?

Live Satellite View & Maps is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Google Maps or Live Satellite View & Maps?

Google Maps is rated higher. Google Maps averages 4.7 out of 5 from 7.4M ratings, while Live Satellite View & Maps averages 2.9 from 36 ratings.

### Do Google Maps or Live Satellite View & Maps have ads?

Both Google Maps and Live Satellite View & Maps show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Google Maps or Live Satellite View & Maps?

Google Maps ships an update every 6 days, and Live Satellite View & Maps weekly. Most recently, Google Maps was updated on November 5, 2026 and Live Satellite View & Maps on November 4, 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.*