# Thru vs PlainWalk

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Thru at none against PlainWalk's 4. Thru also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (128 vs 17). PlainWalk's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 9 days). On price, rating, review sentiment and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PlainWalk sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.69 per month. Thru asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Thru against 4.9 for PlainWalk. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Thru has 128 ratings behind it against 17, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 93% of Thru's written reviews are positive against 88% of PlainWalk's.

Thru ships an update every 9 days, PlainWalk every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Thru | PlainWalk |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (128 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thru-virtual-hiking/id6753733703/reviews) | **[4.9 (17 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plainwalk-draw-your-own-map/id6800746478/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **128** | 17 |
| Positive reviews | **93.5% of reviews** | 87.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 29 MB | 65 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Aaron La Lau](https://appshunter.io/developer/1844744161) | [KANTA KOKONNO](https://appshunter.io/developer/6800746480) |

## What reviewers say

### Thru

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thru-virtual-hiking/id6753733703)

Conquer legendary hiking trails virtually by tracking your real-world steps. Progress through illustrated landscapes, collect badges, and check in at landmarks on an interactive map. Every mile walked brings your virtual hiker closer to the finish line.

**Highlights:** Virtual thru-hiking expeditions, Real-world step tracking integration, Interactive progress map, Illustrated landscape representations, Trail badge collection, Landmark check-ins

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### PlainWalk

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plainwalk-draw-your-own-map/id6800746478)

This app transforms your walks into a visual exploration by drawing your path on a blank map in real-time. It highlights newly explored roads and emphasizes frequently traveled routes, encouraging you to discover new streets and alleys.  Your location data stays private on your device.

**Highlights:** Real-time trail drawing on a blank map, Pioneered distance tracking for first-time roads, Road thickness indicates frequency of travel, Background recording, Live Activity and Home Screen widget, Real-map view overlay, Pinning spots with photos and notes

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PlainWalk Plus Monthly | $2.69 | per month |
| PlainWalk Plus Yearly | $26.90 | per year |
| Remove Ads | $5.99 | one-time |
| PlainWalk Plus Lifetime | $79.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Thru free?

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

### Is PlainWalk free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Thru or PlainWalk?

PlainWalk is rated higher. Thru averages 4.9 out of 5 from 128 ratings, while PlainWalk averages 4.9 from 17 ratings.

### Do Thru or PlainWalk have ads?

PlainWalk shows ads; Thru does not.

### Which is updated more often, Thru or PlainWalk?

Thru ships an update every 9 days, and PlainWalk every 3 days. Most recently, Thru was updated on October 30, 2026 and PlainWalk on October 31, 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.*