MapNero vs Glassing Maps
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
MapNero
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MapNero is a professional field-mapping app for anyone who needs accurate, offline maps — EOD operators, deminers, surveyors, foresters, rangers, search and rescue teams and more. Mark hazards, survey land and record your work directly on the map, then export a shareable georeferenced map sheet. Available on iOS and MacOS. KEY FEATURES Unlimited map import — load as many GeoPDF, GeoTIFF and KMZ maps as you want, no limits. IMAS land-release symbology (TNMA 07.11/01): SHA and CHA classification, contamination and activity icons, land-release products. MIL-STD-2525 military symbols. Pins, polygons, lines, tracks and area measurements with UTM and MGRS coordinates. Export to Shapefile, GeoPackage, GPX, KML, KMZ and CSV. Real-time team collaboration with encrypted layer sync and live positions. External GNSS/RTK receiver support (Trimble, Bad Elf, EOS). 12 languages including full right-to-left support. GEOREFERENCED PDF MAP EXPORT Export your map as a georeferenced PDF (GeoPDF) with UTM grid, legend, scale bar, north arrow and title block. Opens in Avenza Maps and QGIS with coordinates intact. Page sizes from A4 to A0. Also for: land surveyors, geologists, utilities, search and rescue, rangers and archaeologists. Developed by The Nero Labs. Not affiliated with Esri, ArcGIS or Avenza. LEGAL Privacy Policy: https://mapnero.com/privacy.html Terms of Use (EULA): https://mapnero.com/terms.html
Glassing Maps
This app offers offline backcountry navigation with detailed map layers and planning tools. It allows users to mark waypoints, record tracks, and plan routes without a cellular signal, all while conserving battery life. Saved data remains accessible even after a subscription ends.
- Offline map downloads
- Waypoint marking
- Route planning and following
- Track recording with battery optimization
- Multiple map layers (Topo, Satellite, Hybrid)
- Slope Angle Shading and Aspect views
- GPX/KML/KMZ import and export
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Glassing is an iOS-native backcountry navigation app with a refined design for quick, one-handed use. It sips battery and keeps every map layer and backcountry tool working offline. Download the grids for your trip and every available layer comes with them. Search, plan routes, record tracks and mark places without a signal. You know what’s available before you leave. DIRECTIONS Navigate calls each trail junction as you walk. Plan a Route finds the trailhead and the trails to anywhere you pick. Your iPhone and CarPlay guide the drive to the trailhead, turn by turn over highways and forest roads. Directions work offline in your downloaded maps. WAYPOINTS AND TRIPS Mark a place and choose its symbol with one hand. Keep track of camps, water sources and animal sightings without typing names or digging through menus. Your waypoints, tracks, routes and photos organize themselves into trips named for the place and month. A week in the Wallowas stays together instead of getting lost among hundreds of pins. RECORDING Start recording at the trailhead and put your phone away. Glassing saves battery by easing off GPS when you stop and picking up again when you move. Turn on Max detail when you want a more detailed track, like following a blood trail or backtracking for a dropped hat. ROUTES Follow trails with Snap to trail or draw your own route across open country. See distance and elevation gain as you draw, and drag a point to try another way. Plan and follow routes offline, with an alert if you wander off course. LAYERS Choose Topo, Satellite or Hybrid. Topo and Hybrid include shaded relief to help you read the terrain. Topo turns to a night map when your iPhone is in dark mode. Use Slope Angle Shading to spot steep hillsides and compare off-trail routes. Aspect shows which direction a hillside faces. Ownership shows public land and available private parcels. Cell Coverage shows where AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon reports outdoor 5G or LTE service. Every available layer works in your downloaded grids without a signal. Check its source and data date in the legend. Slope shading does not show current avalanche danger, parcel boundaries do not establish access permission, and predicted cell coverage does not guarantee a connection. APPLE WATCH AND WEB Check your heading, see your next turn, mark a waypoint or control recording from your Apple Watch while your iPhone stays in your pocket. Plan on a larger screen at glassing.app/map, with 3D terrain to help you look over your route. Your saved places sync when you have a signal. BRING YOUR SAVED PLACES Import GPX, KML and KMZ files. Review suggested trips to organize what you bring over. Export your waypoints, tracks and routes as GPX any time, including after your subscription ends. PRIVATE BY DEFAULT No advertising, third-party analytics, public heatmaps or social feed. We don’t sell your data. Location metadata is removed from photos you share through Glassing. YOUR MAPS AND DATA STAY YOURS Getting signed out won’t take away the maps and places saved on your phone. If your subscription ends, you can still view your saved trips, use downloaded maps and export your waypoints, tracks and routes for free. WHAT IT COSTS $19.99 a year, with the first month free for new subscribers. Every map layer is free to browse. Subscribe to save waypoints, record tracks, and download and update maps. Downloaded maps stay usable after your subscription ends. COVERAGE Maps cover the lower 48. Ownership coverage varies by area. TERMS AND PRIVACY Terms of Use: https://glassing.app/terms Privacy Policy: https://glassing.app/privacy Made by one person in Portland, Oregon.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: MapNero at every 5 days against Glassing Maps's every 9 days. MapNero also leads on iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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. MapNero sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $34.99 per year and Glassing Maps sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $19.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
MapNero ships an update every 5 days, Glassing Maps every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | MapNero | Glassing Maps |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 5.0 (3 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 3 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 5 days — better | Every 9 days |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | — | Subscription |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 65 MB | 47 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Serhan UCAR | Glassing, LLC |
In-app purchases
MapNero
- MapNero Core$34.991 Year
- MapNero Pro$79.991 Year
- MapNero Team Solo$99.991 Year
Glassing Maps
- Glassing Annual1 Month trial$19.991 Year









