Comparison

Ascend Maps vs Open Maps

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Ascend Maps

This app provides customizable outdoor maps with offline capabilities. It features 3D terrain, track recording, saved places management, and the ability to save map tiles for offline use. Explore the outdoors with detailed, personalized navigation tools.

Highlights
  • Offline search
  • 3D terrain
  • Track recording and editing
  • Saved places management
  • Customizable map styles
  • Offline map tile saving
Features
Read full description

Ascend is an open source app for vector and raster maps. Features include 3D terrain, offline search, track recording and editing, managing saved places, saving map tiles for offline use, and more. CUSTOMIZABLE * Includes a simple, customizable style for OpenStreetMap vector tiles with modes for hiking, biking, and transit. * Overlay customizable hillshading, shaded relief, contour lines, and slope angle shading calculated in real-time over any base map. * Supports plugins for search, routing, map sources and more. * Add new online map sources and combine layers to create new maps. * Generate and import your own vector tiles. COMPREHENSIVE * Offline search * Wikipedia search * Manage saved places * Show geotagged photos from your Photo Library. * Create and edit routes * Record and edit tracks for hiking, fitness, and more * Save map tiles for offline use Learn more at https://github.com/styluslabs/maps

About

Open Maps

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Open Maps for Everyone – Your Ultimate Collaborative Mapping Tool Discover a new way to explore, create, and share maps with Open Maps for Everyone. Designed for travelers, explorers, and community builders, our innovative app transforms the way you view locations and share experiences—all in one intuitive platform. Key Features: Custom Map Creation: Create public maps for the world to see, keep private maps just for you, or build member-only maps for a trusted circle. Tailor your maps to your lifestyle with flexible privacy settings. Versatile Drawing Tools: Draw more than just markers—add circles, polygons, and polylines to illustrate routes, zones, and areas of interest. Express your creativity and highlight the details that matter most. Enhanced Marker Functionality: Attach images, website links, and phone numbers directly to markers. With a simple tap, instantly open a website or place a call, making your maps not only informative but also interactive. Advanced Tagging & Search: Organize markers using multiple tags to easily filter and find exactly what you need. Utilize both address and keyword searches to quickly locate specific markers on your map. Personalized Marker Decoration: Customize markers with selectable background colors and choose from over 1,600 icons to visually represent your favorite locations. Highlight your best spots with favorite icons and rate them using a 5-star system. Seamless Navigation Integration: With one-tap functionality, launch third-party map apps directly from a marker for a smooth transition to turn-by-turn navigation and further exploration. Collaborative Mapping: Invite family, friends, or colleagues to co-edit your maps with varying permission levels—administrator, editor, or viewer. Build rich, shared maps that evolve with community input. Global Community Maps: Explore a vast collection of public maps created by users from around the world. Get inspired, find new places, and contribute your own discoveries to the global map community. Experience the freedom to create and explore with a tool that’s as dynamic as your adventures. Download Open Maps for Everyone now and start mapping your world in a fun, collaborative way! Terms of Use https://www.knecht.co/guidelines/terms-of-service Privacy Policy https://www.knecht.co/guidelines/privacy-policy

Screenshots

Ascend Maps4 screens
Open Maps4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Ascend Maps at none against Open Maps's 8. Ascend Maps also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.6). Open Maps's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 6 months). On price, ads and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Open Maps sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Ascend Maps asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Ascend Maps ships an update every 6 months, Open Maps every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
Ascend Maps versus Open Maps: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAscend MapsOpen Maps
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size11 MB93 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperMatthew WhiteKnecht, Inc.

In-app purchases

None

Ascend Maps

No in-app purchases

8 purchases

Open Maps

Subscriptions8
  • Basic (Monthly)$4.991 Month
  • Basic (Monthly)$5.991 Month
  • Pro (Monthly)$9.991 Month
Show 5 more
  • Pro (Monthly)$11.991 Month
  • Basic (Annual)$49.991 Year
  • Basic (Annual)$59.991 Year
  • Pro (Annual)$99.991 Year
  • Pro (Annual)$119.991 Year

Questions

Is Ascend Maps free?
Ascend Maps is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Open Maps free?
Open Maps is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Ascend Maps or Open Maps have ads?
Neither Ascend Maps nor Open Maps shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Ascend Maps or Open Maps?
Ascend Maps ships an update every 6 months, and Open Maps every 4 days. Most recently, Ascend Maps was updated on October 27, 2026 and Open Maps on October 25, 2026.

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