# Private Maps vs maps.earth

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: maps.earth at none against Private Maps's 2. maps.earth also leads on review sentiment (33% vs 0%). Private Maps's advantage is device support (3 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Private Maps sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. maps.earth asks for nothing beyond the download.

Private Maps ships an update every 2 months, maps.earth monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Private Maps | maps.earth |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[3.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mapsearth/id6479329515/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **5** |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **33.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Size | 1 MB | 26 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.4** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [64 Characters](https://appshunter.io/developer/406825481) | [Michael Kirk](https://appshunter.io/developer/1023813384) |

## What reviewers say

### Private Maps

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-maps/id6459475207)

This navigation app offers detailed, minimalist maps powered by OpenStreetMap data. It prioritizes user privacy with its own servers and ensures no usage data is collected or shared. Enjoy a clean interface and high-resolution maps.

**Highlights:** Minimalist OpenStreetMap data, Own servers for privacy, No usage data collection, High-resolution detailed maps, Clean interface

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Pro | $1.99 | per month |
| Yearly Pro | $19.99 | 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 Private Maps free?

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

### Is maps.earth free?

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

### Do Private Maps or maps.earth have ads?

Neither Private Maps nor maps.earth shows ads.

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

Private Maps ships an update every 2 months, and maps.earth monthly. Most recently, Private Maps was updated on October 6, 2026 and maps.earth on October 9, 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.*