# Smart Maps vs Sidewalk

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Sidewalk at none against Smart Maps's 1. Sidewalk also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs monthly) and ratings volume (928 vs 11). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Smart Maps sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $0.99 per month. Sidewalk asks for nothing beyond the download.

Sidewalk holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sidewalk has 928 ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of Smart Maps's written reviews are positive against 74% of Sidewalk's.

Smart Maps ships an update monthly, Sidewalk every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Smart Maps | Sidewalk |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-maps-create-and-explore/id6504718134/reviews) | **[4.6 (928 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sidewalk-walk-every-block/id6758922428/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 11 | **928** |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | **73.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 163 MB | 18 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.4** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Lucas Rugar](https://appshunter.io/developer/1736127695) | [Joe Puccio](https://appshunter.io/developer/916434470) |

## What reviewers say

### Smart Maps

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-maps-create-and-explore/id6504718134)

Visualize detailed US Census data, including population density, home prices, and salaries, down to the street level. Discover upcoming events and explore hundreds of measures. An optional upgrade unlocks additional data layers for deeper insights.

**Highlights:** Street-level US Census data visualization, Population density mapping, Home price and salary data, Commute time analysis, Upcoming Ticketmaster events, Customizable information layers

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Smart Maps Plus | $0.99 | per month |


### Sidewalk

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sidewalk-walk-every-block/id6758922428)

This app helps you explore New York City by tracking the blocks you walk on an interactive map. It allows you to import past walks and compete with others on a leaderboard. Enjoy detailed stats and history of your explorations.

**Highlights:** Interactive block tracking map, Import walks from other apps, Leaderboard for New Yorkers, Background walking detection, Detailed walk history and stats, Privacy-focused with no sign-up

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Smart Maps free?

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

### Is Sidewalk free?

Sidewalk is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Smart Maps or Sidewalk?

Sidewalk is rated higher. Smart Maps averages 4.3 out of 5 from 11 ratings, while Sidewalk averages 4.6 from 928 ratings.

### Do Smart Maps or Sidewalk have ads?

Neither Smart Maps nor Sidewalk shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Smart Maps or Sidewalk?

Smart Maps ships an update monthly, and Sidewalk every 3 days. Most recently, Smart Maps was updated on October 18, 2026 and Sidewalk on October 20, 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.*