Private Maps vs OSM Maps
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Private Maps
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.
- Minimalist OpenStreetMap data
- Own servers for privacy
- No usage data collection
- High-resolution detailed maps
- Clean interface
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The maps are based on OpenStreetMap data and style. Own servers are used to guarantee your privacy. Clean and minimalist interface. High-resolution detailed maps. The usage data is neither collected nor shared. Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
OSM Maps
View OSM maps from various sources, create notes, and add multimedia like photos, audio, and video. Record and manage routes and tracks in GPX format, with iCloud synchronization and desktop backup options.
- View OSM maps from multiple sources
- Create and edit notes with multimedia
- Record and manage GPX routes and tracks
- iCloud synchronization
- Desktop backup functionality
- Open Source
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This app shows OSM maps from a various sources (OSM, Elbe5, etc). You can create notes add and edit photos, audios, videos, routes and tracks in GPX format, take photos, add record own audios, videos, routes and tracks. It has list views of all attached items. It can synchronize all of this via iCloud or backup files with the desktop app. This app is the successor of 'Maps for OSM' by this author. It has a different data structure and different features, so it had to become a new app. But you can import data from older backup files. This app is not affiliated with OpenStreetMap, but the use of this name has been approved. This app is Open Source, the code is published at https://github.com/mr-elbe5/OSM-Maps. If you find any problems or missing features, please let me know!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: OSM Maps at 100% against Private Maps's 0%. OSM Maps also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and update cadence (every 11 days vs every 2 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Private Maps sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. OSM Maps asks for nothing beyond the download.
Private Maps ships an update every 2 months, OSM Maps every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Private Maps | OSM Maps |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | — | 1 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 11 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 — better | 17.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 9 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | 64 Characters | Michael Roennau |
Customer experience
Private Maps
OSM Maps
In-app purchases
Private Maps
- Monthly Pro$1.991 Month
- Yearly Pro14 Days trial$19.991 Year
OSM Maps
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Private Maps free?
Is OSM Maps free?
Do Private Maps or OSM Maps have ads?
Which is updated more often, Private Maps or OSM Maps?
Other comparisons
