Comparison

Map Distance Measurement vs GIStance

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Manual GPS logging
  • Distance measurement on map
  • Line drawing tool
  • Share measurement results
  • Current location retrieval
  • Battery consumption reduction
Features
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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.

About

GIStance

Features
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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

Map Distance Measurement1 screens
GIStance4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Map Distance Measurement versus GIStance: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMap Distance MeasurementGIStance
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (61 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews71.4% of reviews—
Number of ratings61 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 16 monthsWeekly — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationAd-supported—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB48 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSHIGETO TAKAGINGN IT-Solutions GmbH

In-app purchases

None

Map Distance Measurement

No in-app purchases

None

GIStance

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Map Distance Measurement free?
Map Distance Measurement is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is GIStance free?
GIStance is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Map Distance Measurement or GIStance have ads?
Map Distance Measurement shows ads; GIStance does not.
Which is updated more often, Map Distance Measurement or GIStance?
Map Distance Measurement ships an update every 16 months, and GIStance weekly. Most recently, Map Distance Measurement was updated on October 29, 2026 and GIStance on October 24, 2026.

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