# MapGenie vs SF Journal

The clearest difference is update cadence: SF Journal at every 2 days against MapGenie's every 17 months. SF Journal also leads on review sentiment (67% vs 43%). MapGenie's advantage is ratings volume (157 vs 12) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 26.0). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MapGenie sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and SF Journal sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for MapGenie against 4.8 for SF Journal. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MapGenie has 157 ratings behind it against 12, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 43% of MapGenie's written reviews are positive against 67% of SF Journal's.

MapGenie ships an update every 17 months, SF Journal every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MapGenie | SF Journal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (157 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mapgenie-bg3-map/id6466304443/reviews) | [4.8 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sf-journal/id6753732321/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **157** | 12 |
| Positive reviews | 42.9% of reviews | **66.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 17 months | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 55 MB | 360 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Magic Lamp Technologies Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/499996104) | [Jeffrey Bemelmans](https://appshunter.io/developer/1836784862) |

## What reviewers say

### MapGenie

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mapgenie-bg3-map/id6466304443)

This fan-made map app helps players navigate a popular fantasy RPG. Discover over 3,000 locations, including gear, quests, and secrets, with a progress tracker and note-taking features. It covers all game acts and offers quick search functionality.

**Highlights:** Over 3,000 locations, 40+ categories, Quicksearch functionality, Progress tracker, Note-taking, All Acts covered

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| BG3 Map PRO Upgrade | $9.99 | one-time |


### SF Journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sf-journal/id6753732321)

This app serves as an unofficial companion for a popular space exploration game. It offers a centralized hub for managing exploration progress, tracking missions, and accessing lore. The interface is designed for long gaming sessions, providing essential game context without needing to switch away from the game.

**Highlights:** Star system exploration with planet details, Galaxy map for organized exploration, Resource and crafting material lookup, Character skill and progression planning, Mission and quest tracking, Lore recap timeline

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Starfield Journal | $1.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MapGenie free?

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

### Is SF Journal free?

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

### Which has better reviews, MapGenie or SF Journal?

MapGenie and SF Journal are both rated 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store, from 157 and 12 ratings respectively.

### Do MapGenie or SF Journal have ads?

Neither MapGenie nor SF Journal shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, MapGenie or SF Journal?

MapGenie ships an update every 17 months, and SF Journal every 2 days. Most recently, MapGenie was updated on October 16, 2026 and SF Journal on October 2, 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.*