Map Distance Measurement vs GIStance
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Map Distance Measurement
This app allows users to manually log GPS points and draw lines on a map to measure distances. It can share results on social media and offers battery-saving options by not using GPS continuously. The application does not operate in the background.
- Manual GPS logging
- Distance measurement on map
- Line drawing tool
- Share measurement results
- Current location retrieval
- Battery consumption reduction
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A free manual GPS logger distance measurement app that draws a line on a map to measure distance. You can share the measurement results on SNS. You can get the current location with GPS. You can reduce battery consumption without using GPS. The application does not run in the background.
GIStance
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GIStance turns an iPhone plus a connected GNSS receiver into a survey-grade field capture system for infrastructure, utility and construction crews. Centimeter-level positioning, georeferenced photo documentation, and 3D LiDAR scanning — captured on site, structured for the office. Built for FTTX rollout, utility networks and construction documentation, GIStance replaces the paper-notes-plus-consumer-camera workflow with a single tool that records where every asset is, what it looked like, and when it was captured. Precise positioning • Connect an external GNSS/RTK receiver for centimeter-level accuracy • Live fix status and accuracy readout before you record a point • Positions attached to every photo, measurement and scan Georeferenced photo documentation • Capture site photos with coordinates, timestamp and accuracy embedded • Tie documentation to project sections and construction phases • Consistent, auditable evidence for as-built records and billing 3D LiDAR scanning • Capture point clouds and meshes of trenches, structures and installations • Scans stored as measurement artifacts alongside points and photos Built for the field • Works with mapped basemaps for on-site orientation • Fast capture flow designed for gloved hands and daylight screens • Data queued and synced when connectivity allows Part of a documentation ecosystem Field captures sync to the FotoGIS asset hub and become available in the GISdoc office platform for project tracking, phase completion, plan-vs-actual comparison and report generation. What the crew captures on site is what the office works with — no manual re-entry. Who it's for • Field surveyors and rollout crews • Utility and network operators • Construction documentation and as-built teams Requirements GIStance requires a compatible external GNSS receiver for survey-grade accuracy and an active GISdoc/FotoGIS account. It is a professional B2B field tool, not a standalone consumer app.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: GIStance at none against Map Distance Measurement's shown. GIStance also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 16 months). Map Distance Measurement's advantage is iOS requirement (15 vs 17.6). On price, 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Map Distance Measurement ships an update every 16 months, GIStance weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Map Distance Measurement | GIStance |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.4 (61 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 71.4% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 61 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 16 months | Weekly — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15 — better | 17.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 12 MB | 48 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | SHIGETO TAKAGI | NGN IT-Solutions GmbH |
In-app purchases
Map Distance Measurement
No in-app purchases
GIStance
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Map Distance Measurement free?
Is GIStance free?
Do Map Distance Measurement or GIStance have ads?
Which is updated more often, Map Distance Measurement or GIStance?
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