Comparison

Paper Map GPS vs SteadyMap

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

Head to head
About

Paper Map GPS

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Your paper map, now with a live "you are here." Theme parks, zoos, campgrounds, ski resorts, sightseeing spots — the paper map you get at the entrance is beautifully illustrated and easy to read, but it never tells you the one thing you need: where you are right now. Paper Map GPS turns that paper map into a smartphone map with a moving current-location dot. ■ What makes it special - Maps that aren't on Google Maps — hand-drawn park guides and event maps — become fully working maps - Keep the charm of illustrated maps, with restrooms, shops, and attractions drawn large — and see your current location right on top - No internet needed to show your location. It works with GPS alone, even off the grid in the mountains - "Which way am I facing?" — solved, with a compass-linked heading indicator - Creating maps and showing your location is free (only sharing is paid) ■ Three simple steps 1. Take a photo of the paper map (importing photos and PDFs works too) 2. Tap the map where you're standing to register an alignment point (Move around and register 3 or more spread-out spots — the farther apart, the better the accuracy) 3. Just walk. Your "you are here" moves across the paper map ■ Great for places like - Theme parks, amusement parks, zoos - Campgrounds, hiking trails, ski resorts - Illustrated tourist maps, shrine and temple walking maps - Walking old towns with historical maps - University campuses, large event venues, festivals ■ With a Share Pass, see where family and friends are - Everyone's live location appears on the same paper map - Cut down on the "Where are you?" texts - Perfect for cheering at marathons — see exactly where your runner is on the course map - Share three kinds of markers with everyone: meeting point, favorite, and caution - Invite by showing a QR code or sending a link - Choose a pass that fits your outing: - 24-Hour Share Pass (one-time purchase, no auto-renewal) - Monthly Outing Pass (auto-renewing subscription) - First time? Try sharing free for 30 minutes - Only one person needs to buy a pass — invited family and friends join for free The Monthly Outing Pass is an auto-renewing subscription. It renews automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period, and is charged to your Apple ID. You can cancel anytime in your App Store account settings after purchase. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://kamidoko.github.io/privacy.html ■ Before you start - Location accuracy depends on your iPhone's GPS (roughly 5 m outdoors) and on how accurate the paper map itself is. Heavily stylized maps may show some offset. Not suited for indoor use or dense high-rise areas - Location and marker sharing requires signing in to iCloud, and works between iPhones - Using location in the background may increase battery usage For feedback or bug reports, use "Contact Us" in the app's Settings. We hope your family outings become even more fun.

About

SteadyMap

Features
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Find and save places, and check distance and direction on the map with SteadyMap. Record routes to revisit later, or set an alert for when you're near your destination. Features 1. Map - See your current location on Google Maps and switch between standard, satellite, hybrid, and terrain maps - Rotate the map with your device's heading in compass map mode 2. Search and save places - Tap the map to choose a point, or search by address or place name - Check the selected location's address, coordinates, and nearby places - Save places with titles and notes - View saved places in a list or as map pins, and edit or delete them 3. Measure distance, share locations, and get directions - Choose two points on the map or from search results to measure their straight-line distance - View the distance and a line connecting the points on the map - Share selected and saved places by link - Open directions in Google Maps 4. Destinations and alerts - Choose a destination on the map, from search results, or from saved places - Rename your destination and check the distance to it - Set an alert radius and get notified when you're near your destination - Use alerts without recording a route, even while using another app or with the screen off 5. Route recording - Record routes and check distance traveled, recording time, and stops along the way - Keep recording while using another app or with the screen off - View multiple saved routes together on the map Saved places and routes support automatic backups and can be saved to a file or imported. Things to know - Distance to your destination is straight-line distance, not a travel route or estimated travel time. - Each route supports up to 24 hours of recording, excluding pauses. - Location accuracy and device settings can affect recording and alerts. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://steadyseller.com/home/en/privacy-policy

Screenshots

Paper Map GPS3 screens
SteadyMap4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Paper Map GPS at none against SteadyMap's shown. Paper Map GPS also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). SteadyMap's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). 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

Paper Map GPS ships an update every 2 weeks, SteadyMap every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 3 level
Paper Map GPS versus SteadyMap: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPaper Map GPSSteadyMap
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size30 MB53 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperYOSHIHIRO USUIYeongsang Kim

In-app purchases

None

Paper Map GPS

No in-app purchases

None

SteadyMap

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Paper Map GPS free?
Paper Map GPS is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is SteadyMap free?
SteadyMap is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Paper Map GPS or SteadyMap have ads?
SteadyMap shows ads; Paper Map GPS does not.
Which is updated more often, Paper Map GPS or SteadyMap?
Paper Map GPS ships an update every 2 weeks, and SteadyMap every 2 months. Most recently, Paper Map GPS was updated on October 25, 2026 and SteadyMap on October 14, 2026.

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