# Scenic Map vs CartoLake

The clearest difference is ads: Scenic Map at none against CartoLake's shown. Scenic Map also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and ratings volume (3 vs 1). CartoLake's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 3 months) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Scenic Map sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and CartoLake sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

CartoLake holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 1 respectively.

Scenic Map ships an update every 3 months, CartoLake weekly. The most recent releases landed on August 28, 2026 and June 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Scenic Map | CartoLake |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scenic-map/id629666111/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cartolake-map-studio/id1604655745/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **3** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 66 MB | 31 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.1 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [GrangerFX](https://appshunter.io/developer/363698835) | [CartoLake, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1604655747) |

## What reviewers say

### Scenic Map

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scenic-map/id629666111)

Explore the world with detailed 3D topographic maps, accessible even offline. Stream and cache global maps for use without cell service. Features include satellite overlays, customizable map styles, and GPS tracking for navigation and route replay.

**Highlights:** Global 3D topographic maps, Offline map caching, Satellite image overlays, Customizable map styles, GPS tracking and route replay, GPX track import/export

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Scenic Map Features | $4.99 | one-time |


### CartoLake

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cartolake-map-studio/id1604655745)

Create and georeference maps with various file formats. Supports imagery, scanned maps, and export options. Ideal for generating custom mapping content.

**Highlights:** Georeference imagery and scanned maps, Import Shapefile, KML, mbtiles, GeoJSON, PNG, Create simple maps, Export maps to various formats, Create ForeFlight Content Packs, Publish georeferenced imagery

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| FAA Sectionals | $0.99 | per month |
| Basic Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Topographic Base Map | $9.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Scenic Map free?

Scenic Map is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is CartoLake free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Scenic Map or CartoLake?

CartoLake is rated higher. Scenic Map averages 4.7 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while CartoLake averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Scenic Map or CartoLake have ads?

CartoLake shows ads; Scenic Map does not.

### Which is updated more often, Scenic Map or CartoLake?

Scenic Map ships an update every 3 months, and CartoLake weekly. Most recently, Scenic Map was updated on August 28, 2026 and CartoLake on June 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.*