MapFly vs ApexGPS Hiking
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
MapFly
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Discover the Ultimate Outdoor Companion App! Navigate your adventures with precision using MapFly, the app designed for explorers, adventurers, and nature lovers. Whether you’re hiking, mountain biking, skiing, or just exploring scenic trails, our app provides everything you need to make your experience unforgettable. Key Features: High-Resolution 3D Maps: Visualize every peak, valley, and trail in stunning detail. Advanced Route Planning: Create and customize your routes with ease. Offline Maps: Download maps and access them anytime, even without an internet connection. Real-Time Adventure Tools: Track your progress, monitor elevation changes, and stay updated on weather conditions. Community-Driven Recommendations: Discover popular routes, hidden gems, and tips shared by other explorers. Multisport Support: Perfect for hiking, skiing, biking, climbing, and more! Why Choose MapFly? Seamlessly plan, track, and enjoy your adventures with tools trusted by outdoor enthusiasts worldwide. Stay safe with real-time weather updates and terrain analysis. Join a growing community of adventurers and contribute your discoveries. Your Adventure Starts Here! Download MapFly today and elevate your outdoor experiences. Whether you're conquering mountains or exploring local trails, we’ve got you covered! You can also find our web app here : https://mapfly-app.com
ApexGPS Hiking
This navigation app offers offline maps, GPX support, and route planning without ads or subscriptions. It allows users to record tracks, plan routes, and access per-point weather forecasts, with all data stored locally on the device.
- Offline map caching
- GPX import and export
- Track recording with live stats
- Route planning with elevation profiles
- Per-waypoint weather forecasts
- Full-screen compass mode
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ApexGPS is a free iPhone hiking app for people who want the essentials of a good GPS navigator without ads, subscriptions, or the need to sign up. Offline maps, GPX, waypoints, track recording, route planning, and per-point weather — all data stays on your device. LANGUAGES • English, Deutsch, Français, Español, Polski, and العربية (Arabic) — with full right-to-left layout for Arabic • Built-in user guide translated into all six languages MAPS • ESRI Topo (default on new installs) • OpenTopoMap — topographic tiles with contour lines • OpenStreetMap Standard • ESRI World Imagery (satellite) • ESRI Hillshade (shaded relief) • Thunderforest Outdoors — contour lines + hiking difficulty shading (free API key required, added in Settings) • Switch styles with the Layers button; your choice is remembered OFFLINE • Tiles cache automatically as you browse, ready for airplane mode • Download a full region: pan the map to frame the area, pick a zoom range, hit Download • Cache size adjustable in Settings: 250 MB / 500 MB / 1 GB / 2 GB • Saved regions are stored separately and survive cache cleanups TRACK RECORDING • Keeps recording with the screen locked or while you use other apps • Live stats card right on the map: running duration, distance, elevation with its source (barometer or GPS), and total ascent — with confirmations so you never end a hike by accident • True mean-sea-level elevation (with a bundled global geoid correction) • GPS Diagnostics (Settings → Advanced): see exactly which quality gates each GPS fix passes and why a noisy altitude reading was filtered out — with a plain-language explainer for every gate GPX IMPORT & EXPORT • Open .gpx files from the Files app or share them in from WhatsApp, Mail, or any file-sharing app • Multi-file select for bulk import TRACK PLANNING • Sketch a route by tapping the map — drop numbered vertices • Long-press a vertex to drag, long-press a midpoint to insert a new one • Fetch the route's elevation profile from a worldwide DEM with one tap WAYPOINTS • Add by long-pressing the map, entering coordinates, or via GPX import • 32 OSM-aligned symbols, 16 colour choices • Long-press and drag on the map to relocate • Auto-fetch elevation from a worldwide DEM • Duplicates from re-imported GPX are automatically deduplicated WEATHER • Per-waypoint hourly forecast for the next 7 days (Open-Meteo, no API key) • Current conditions, pressure + humidity charts, sunrise / sunset / UV index • Fully localized: temperature units, condition labels, time-of-day follow your phone's language NAVIGATION & SHARING • Tap any waypoint to start navigation: dotted line, live distance + bearing, auto-stop on arrival • Full-screen compass mode for hands-free navigation • Send your live location as a one-tap link — opens in ApexGPS for recipients who have it, web map preview for everyone else DISTANCE MEASUREMENT • Tap to drop vertices; drag any vertex to refine; drag a midpoint handle to insert a new vertex • Total distance shown live in the stats bar MAP CONTROLS • Two-finger twist to rotate the map freely • Follow-me mode with screen-always-on during GPS tracking, plus a live stats bar: speed, elevation, distance SAMPLE HIKE • Load a real recording of the Watzmann Traverse (22.6 km, +2250 m) from Settings → Data and explore the app before your own first hike BACKUP & RESTORE • Export tracks, waypoints, saved map regions, and settings to a ZIP file • Restore on another phone with Merge (deduplicates) or Replace modes PRIVACY • All data stays on your device; location is never uploaded anywhere • Map tiles are fetched from public providers (OpenStreetMap, ESRI, Thunderforest) over anonymous HTTPS requests • No analytics, no tracking, no ad SDKs REQUIREMENTS • iPhone with iOS 17 or later • Location permission (optional — only needed for follow-me / recording) • No account, no sign-up Made in the UAE. Feedback welcome at sandwalker.one@proton.me.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: ApexGPS Hiking at weekly against MapFly's every 2 months. MapFly's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). On price, ads and in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
MapFly ships an update every 2 months, ApexGPS Hiking weekly. Both last shipped on October 6, 2026.
| Parameter | MapFly | ApexGPS Hiking |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 1 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 77 MB | 15 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Arnaud Pfundstein | Rene Duttra |
In-app purchases
MapFly
No in-app purchases
ApexGPS Hiking
No in-app purchases









