Comparison

Ascend Maps vs PapaMap

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

PapaMap

This app helps dads find accessible changing tables, indicating if they are available to all parents or restricted to women's restrooms. It leverages crowdsourced data to provide navigation and allows users to contribute by adding or verifying table locations.

Highlights
  • Find accessible changing tables
  • Indicates table availability (all parents vs. ladies' room)
  • Crowdsourced data from OpenStreetMap
  • Navigation integration with popular apps
  • User contributions to add/verify locations
  • Offline map functionality
  • Siri and widget integration
Features
Read full description

PapaMap shows changing tables that dads can actually get to. Green means both parents can reach the table. Red means it is in the ladies' room only. Grey means nobody has recorded yet which room it is in. The data comes from OpenStreetMap, about 26,000 changing tables in 49 countries, refreshed every night. "Nearest changing table" shows the closest table you can reach, with the distance. "Route" opens your navigation app, Apple Maps, Google Maps, Waze or Organic Maps. On a grey pin the app asks "Which room is the changing table in?". Your answer goes straight to OpenStreetMap. You need an account there once, that takes a minute, after that it is a few seconds per pin. If the table is missing completely, add it with "Add a place". Filters for accessible, play corner and high chair. Dad view and mum view. Search for places and addresses. Save a city offline and the map works without a connection. Siri, a widget and a Control Center control show the nearest table without opening the app. "My PapaMap" lists your answers, saved places and how much of your city is answered already. The app collects no data. Your location stays on the phone.

Screenshots

Ascend Maps4 screens
PapaMap4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: PapaMap at every 2 days against Ascend Maps's every 6 months. Ascend Maps's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Ascend Maps ships an update every 6 months, PapaMap every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Ascend Maps versus PapaMap: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAscend MapsPapaMap
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size11 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMatthew WhiteJakub Waller

Customer experience

Ascend Maps

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

PapaMap

Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Ascend Maps

No in-app purchases

None

PapaMap

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Ascend Maps free?
Ascend Maps is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is PapaMap free?
PapaMap is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Ascend Maps or PapaMap have ads?
Neither Ascend Maps nor PapaMap shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Ascend Maps or PapaMap?
Ascend Maps ships an update every 6 months, and PapaMap every 2 days. Most recently, Ascend Maps was updated on October 27, 2026 and PapaMap on October 29, 2026.

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