# MapGenie vs Middle Earth Explorer

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Middle Earth Explorer at none against MapGenie's 1. Middle Earth Explorer also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 17 months) and review sentiment (67% vs 47%). MapGenie's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (161 vs 16). On price and rating there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MapGenie sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Middle Earth Explorer asks for nothing beyond the download.

MapGenie holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MapGenie has 161 ratings behind it against 16, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 47% of MapGenie's written reviews are positive against 67% of Middle Earth Explorer's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

MapGenie ships an update every 17 months, Middle Earth Explorer fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MapGenie | Middle Earth Explorer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (161 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mapgenie-bg3-map/id6466304443/reviews)** | [4.6 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/middle-earth-explorer/id6759880971/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **161** | 16 |
| Positive reviews | 46.7% of reviews | **66.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 17 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 55 MB | 72 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 12+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Magic Lamp Technologies Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/499996104) | [Alp Ozcan](https://appshunter.io/developer/1878252814) |

## 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 |


### Middle Earth Explorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/middle-earth-explorer/id6759880971)

An interactive map and guide to the lands of Middle Earth, featuring over 50 locations, 90 events, and 10 quest timelines. Explore detailed lore, character journeys, and movie/book information. Works offline and supports accessibility features.

**Highlights:** Interactive Middle Earth map, 50+ detailed locations, 10 epic quest timelines, 26 major character profiles, Library of movies, books, and TV adaptations, Full-text search and bookmarking, Offline functionality

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MapGenie free?

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

### Is Middle Earth Explorer free?

Middle Earth Explorer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, MapGenie or Middle Earth Explorer?

MapGenie is rated higher. MapGenie averages 4.8 out of 5 from 161 ratings, while Middle Earth Explorer averages 4.6 from 16 ratings.

### Do MapGenie or Middle Earth Explorer have ads?

Middle Earth Explorer shows ads; MapGenie does not.

### Which is updated more often, MapGenie or Middle Earth Explorer?

MapGenie ships an update every 17 months, and Middle Earth Explorer fortnightly. Most recently, MapGenie was updated on October 23, 2026 and Middle Earth Explorer on October 25, 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.*