# MapGenie vs Runner

The clearest difference is rating: MapGenie at 4.6 against Runner's 3.2. MapGenie also leads on ratings volume (144 vs 19). Runner's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 48 months). On price, review sentiment, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MapGenie sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Runner sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

MapGenie holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MapGenie has 144 ratings behind it against 19, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 53% of MapGenie's written reviews are positive against 57% of Runner's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

MapGenie ships an update every 48 months, Runner every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MapGenie | Runner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (144 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mapgenie-grounded-map/id6443450418/reviews)** | [3.2 (19 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/runner-marathon-map/id6756598848/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **144** | 19 |
| Positive reviews | 52.9% of reviews | **57.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 48 months | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 54 MB | 48 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Magic Lamp Technologies Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/499996104) | [Colby Maloy](https://appshunter.io/developer/1438078477) |

## What reviewers say

### MapGenie

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mapgenie-grounded-map/id6443450418)

An unofficial interactive map for the game Grounded. Discover over 500 locations for collectibles, resources, and more. Track your progress and sync with a website for 100% game completion.

**Highlights:** Over 500 locations, 80+ categories, Quicksearch functionality, Website progress sync, Progress tracker, Note-taking on map

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Grounded Map PRO Upgrade | $6.99 | one-time |


### Runner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/runner-marathon-map/id6756598848)

This companion app for Marathon provides players with interactive maps, item databases, and guides to enhance their gameplay. It aims to consolidate information typically found on Google and YouTube, saving players time.

**Highlights:** Interactive maps, Category filtering, Detailed locations, Beginner and expert guides, Runner shells, Item database, Quest information

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Runner01 | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| Runner Yearly | $3.99 | per year |
| Lifetime | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MapGenie free?

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

### Is Runner free?

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

### Which has better reviews, MapGenie or Runner?

MapGenie is rated higher. MapGenie averages 4.6 out of 5 from 144 ratings, while Runner averages 3.2 from 19 ratings.

### Do MapGenie or Runner have ads?

MapGenie shows ads; Runner does not.

### Which is updated more often, MapGenie or Runner?

MapGenie ships an update every 48 months, and Runner every 3 days. Most recently, MapGenie was updated on October 12, 2026 and Runner on October 6, 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.*