# MapLayers vs maps.earth

The clearest difference is rating: MapLayers at 5.0 against maps.earth's 3.2. MapLayers also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 16.4). maps.earth's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On price and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MapLayers sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $24.99 per year. maps.earth asks for nothing beyond the download.

MapLayers holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: maps.earth has 5 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

MapLayers ships an update every 3 weeks, maps.earth monthly. Both last shipped on October 27, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | MapLayers | maps.earth |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/maplayers/id6446806262/reviews)** | [3.2 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mapsearth/id6479329515/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **5** |
| Positive reviews | — | 33.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 24 MB | 27 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [CartoLake, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1604655747) | [Michael Kirk](https://appshunter.io/developer/1023813384) |

## What reviewers say

### MapLayers

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/maplayers/id6446806262)

Access a wide variety of maps for outdoor activities, including USGS and Bureau of Land Management charts. Import custom GeoPDF maps and overlay them with different base layers. Track your GPS location and record your travels for review.

**Highlights:** GPS tracking and logging, Multiple map types, Custom GeoPDF import, Map overlays, Compass navigation, View current location

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Basic Yearly | $24.99 | per year |


### maps.earth

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mapsearth/id6479329515)

Discover the world with low-stress directions powered by OpenStreetMap. This open-source application prioritizes user privacy by not displaying ads or selling data, focusing solely on providing a pleasant mapping experience.

**Highlights:** World exploration, Low-stress directions, OpenStreetMap powered, Ad-free experience, Data privacy focused, Open source

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MapLayers free?

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

### Is maps.earth free?

maps.earth is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, MapLayers or maps.earth?

MapLayers is rated higher. MapLayers averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while maps.earth averages 3.2 from 5 ratings.

### Do MapLayers or maps.earth have ads?

MapLayers shows ads; maps.earth does not.

### Which is updated more often, MapLayers or maps.earth?

MapLayers ships an update every 3 weeks, and maps.earth monthly. Most recently, MapLayers was updated on October 27, 2026 and maps.earth on October 27, 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.*