Comparison

CoMaps vs APRSSwift

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

Head to head
About

CoMaps

Navigate your world with a free, open-source mapping application focused on privacy and offline functionality. Discover detailed maps, plan trips without cellular service, and enjoy essential navigation features. It's community-built and respects your data.

Highlights
  • Downloadable detailed maps
  • Offline navigation
  • Outdoor mode with trails
  • Points of interest search
  • Voice navigation
  • Bookmark favorite places
  • Track recording
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

A community-led free & open source maps app based on OpenStreetMap data and reinforced with commitment to transparency, privacy and being not-for-profit. ‣ Simple and Polished: essential easy to use features that just work. ‣ Offline-focused: Plan and navigate your trip abroad without the need for cellular service, search waypoints while on a distant hike, etc. All app functions are designed to work offline. ‣ Respecting Privacy: The app is designed with privacy in mind - does not identify people, does not track, and does not collect personal information. Ads-free. ‣ Saves Your Battery and Space: Doesn’t drain your battery like other navigation apps. Compact maps save precious space on your phone. ‣ Free and Built by the Community: People like you helped build the app by adding places to OpenStreetMap, testing and giving feedback on features and contributing their development skills and money. ‣ Open and Transparent Decision-making and Financials, Not-for-profit and Fully Open Source. Main Features: • Downloadable detailed maps with places which are not available in many commercial maps • Outdoor mode with highlighted hiking trails, campsites, water sources, peaks, contour lines, etc • Walking paths and cycleways • Points of interest like restaurants, gas stations, hotels, shops, sightseeings and many more • Search by name or an address or by point of interest category • Navigation with voice announcements for walking, cycling, or driving • Bookmark your favorite places with a single tap • iCloud sync for your bookmarks and tracks • Offline Wikipedia articles • Subway transit layer and directions • Track recording • Export and import bookmarks and tracks in KML, KMZ, GPX formats • A dark mode to use during the night • Improve map data for everyone using a basic built-in editor • CarPlay support Freedom Is Here Discover your journey, navigate the world with privacy and community at the forefront!

About

APRSSwift

Track and message on the APRS network with your amateur radio callsign. View nearby stations on a live map, exchange text messages, and decode various packet types. Supports multiple connection methods and includes an Apple Watch app.

Highlights
  • Live APRS map with station tracking
  • Two-way APRS messaging
  • Full packet decoding
  • Multiple connection methods
  • Apple Watch app integration
  • SmartBeaconing for adaptive beaconing
Features
Read full description

APRSSwift brings the Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS) to your Apple devices — a native, universal amateur-radio app for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch. Report your position to the APRS network, watch nearby stations move on a live map, read a real-time packet log, and exchange APRS text messages — all with your own callsign. FEATURES • Live map with APRS symbols, station tracks, and your own location • Connect via APRS-IS (Internet), a TCP KISS TNC, a Bluetooth TNC (Mobilinkd), or the built-in AFSK sound modem (1200 baud — no extra hardware) • Full packet decoding: position, Mic-E, compressed, objects, items, status, weather, messages, and telemetry • SmartBeaconing — adaptive beacon rate based on speed and turns • Two-way APRS messaging with acknowledgements • Station list with distance, favorites, and proximity alerts • Maidenhead grid locator, metric or imperial units, and dead reckoning • Post APRS objects, send status reports, and view weather & telemetry charts • Apple Watch app: beacon, grid, and nearby stations on your wrist APRSSwift is designed for licensed amateur radio operators. A valid callsign is required; your APRS-IS passcode is generated automatically from it. 73!

Screenshots

CoMaps4 screens
APRSSwift3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ratings volume: CoMaps at 136 against APRSSwift's 2. CoMaps also leads on chart position (#179 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). APRSSwift's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and review sentiment (100% vs 80%). 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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

APRSSwift holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CoMaps has 136 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of CoMaps's written reviews are positive against 100% of APRSSwift's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

CoMaps ships an update fortnightly, APRSSwift every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
CoMaps versus APRSSwift: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCoMapsAPRSSwift
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (136 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews80.1% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings136 — better2
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
Best chart rank#179 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS15.6 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size148 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAnton WenemoserSevket Bugra CANATA

Customer experience

CoMaps

All ratings136 ratings
Positive91.2%
Neutral4.4%
Negative4.4%
Written reviews156 reviews
Positive80.1%
Neutral10.3%
Negative9.6%

APRSSwift

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

CoMaps

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Unable to find known locations and addresses
  • Incorrect search results for distant locations

Requested features

3 requests
  • Add ability to read GPX files and compute distances
  • Add option to display elevations in feet
  • Improve search functionality to include parks and trails

APRSSwift

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

CoMaps

No in-app purchases

None

APRSSwift

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is CoMaps free?
CoMaps is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is APRSSwift free?
APRSSwift is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, CoMaps or APRSSwift?
APRSSwift is rated higher. CoMaps averages 4.7 out of 5 from 136 ratings, while APRSSwift averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do CoMaps or APRSSwift have ads?
Neither CoMaps nor APRSSwift shows ads.
Which is updated more often, CoMaps or APRSSwift?
CoMaps ships an update fortnightly, and APRSSwift every 4 days. Most recently, CoMaps was updated on September 28, 2026 and APRSSwift on September 22, 2026.

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