# Map Diary vs Mapzaar

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Mapzaar at none against Map Diary's 7. Mapzaar also leads on ratings volume (3 vs 1). Map Diary's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Map Diary sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Mapzaar asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Map Diary against 5.0 for Mapzaar. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 3 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Map Diary ships an update weekly, Mapzaar every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Map Diary | Mapzaar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/map-diary-location-journal/id6760814483/reviews) | [5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mapzaar/id6787455823/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **3** |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 22 MB | 88 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Can Bi](https://appshunter.io/developer/1631723329) | [Ammar Karim](https://appshunter.io/developer/6787455825) |

## What reviewers say

### Map Diary

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/map-diary-location-journal/id6760814483)

This app allows you to privately save and organize locations on an interactive map with photos and notes. It works completely offline, requiring no account or internet connection, making it ideal for travel and documenting personal memories.

**Highlights:** Save locations on interactive map, Add photos and timestamped notes, Organize locations into custom lists, Fully offline and private functionality, Personalize pins with icons and colors, Automatic address lookup, Multiple map styles

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

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Map Diary Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Map Diary Annual | $9.99 | per year |
| Support Tip - Map Pin | $1.99 | one-time |
| Support Tip - Trail Marker | $4.99 | one-time |
| Support Tip - Compass Rose | $12.99 | one-time |
| Map Diary Lifetime | $19.99 | one-time |
| Support Tip - World Explorer | $24.99 | one-time |


### Mapzaar

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mapzaar/id6787455823)

Create, share, and discover custom maps of real places like restaurants, trails, and hidden gems. Find guides built by locals and explore new areas through curated recommendations.

**Highlights:** Create custom place maps, Add places with photos and notes, Discover maps by category and tags, Find places using 'Near Me', Follow trusted creators, Save maps for later access

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Map Diary free?

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

### Is Mapzaar free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Map Diary or Mapzaar?

Map Diary and Mapzaar are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 3 ratings respectively.

### Do Map Diary or Mapzaar have ads?

Neither Map Diary nor Mapzaar shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Map Diary or Mapzaar?

Map Diary ships an update weekly, and Mapzaar every 3 weeks. Most recently, Map Diary was updated on October 31, 2026 and Mapzaar 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.*