# Map the World vs Play the States

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Map the World at none against Play the States's 9. Map the World also leads on update cadence (every 11 days vs monthly) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.0). Play the States's advantage is review sentiment (71% vs 62%) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Play the States sells 9 one-off in-app purchases. Map the World asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.1 for Map the World against 3.9 for Play the States. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 43 and 16 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 62% of Map the World's written reviews are positive against 71% of Play the States's.

Map the World ships an update every 11 days, Play the States monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Map the World | Play the States |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.1 (43 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/map-the-world/id732211547/reviews)** | [3.9 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/play-the-states/id6746367882/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **43** | 16 |
| Positive reviews | 61.9% of reviews | **71.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 11 days** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 68 MB | 200 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Travelzoo](https://appshunter.io/developer/451314287) | [Studio 7 Creative](https://appshunter.io/developer/1760209771) |

## What reviewers say

### Map the World

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/map-the-world/id732211547)

An interactive jigsaw puzzle app that helps users learn the names and locations of countries and regions worldwide. It offers a fun and engaging way to explore geography across various continents and oceans.

**Highlights:** Interactive world maps, Country and region learning, Jigsaw puzzle format, Suitable for all ages, Covers continents and oceans

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Play the States

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/play-the-states/id6746367882)

Engage in a variety of fun games to learn US states, capitals, and geography. Features puzzle-solving, trivia, and reaction-based challenges for all ages. Track progress and unlock achievements while building geographic knowledge.

**Highlights:** Multiple game modes (puzzle, battle, trivia), Drag and drop state puzzles, State trivia and fact challenges, Capitals matching game, Reaction-based delivery game, Progress tracking and achievements, Offline play

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

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Capitals Game | $0.99 | one-time |
| Delivery Game | $0.99 | one-time |
| Battle Game | $0.99 | one-time |
| Freestyle Game | $0.99 | one-time |
| Stick 'Em Game | $0.99 | one-time |
| Add up to 10 players | $0.99 | one-time |
| Trivia Game | $1.99 | one-time |
| Puzzle Game | $2.99 | one-time |
| All Games Forever Bundle | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Map the World free?

Map the World is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Play the States free?

Play the States is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Map the World or Play the States?

Map the World is rated higher. Map the World averages 4.1 out of 5 from 43 ratings, while Play the States averages 3.9 from 16 ratings.

### Do Map the World or Play the States have ads?

Neither Map the World nor Play the States shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Map the World or Play the States?

Map the World ships an update every 11 days, and Play the States monthly. Most recently, Map the World was updated on October 22, 2026 and Play the States on October 25, 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.*