# Cartes IGN vs Sofia VAC

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Cartes IGN at 88% against Sofia VAC's 25%. Cartes IGN also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

Cartes IGN ships an update every 3 weeks, Sofia VAC every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Cartes IGN | Sofia VAC |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | **88.5% of reviews** | 25.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 34 MB | 25 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [IGN](https://appshunter.io/developer/748345891) | [DIR SERVICES DE NAVIGATION AERIENNE](https://appshunter.io/developer/1519391493) |

## What reviewers say

### Cartes IGN

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cartes-ign/id748345888)

Explore France with detailed maps and thematic layers. Discover points of interest, compare historical aerial views, and plan your routes privately. This free app offers practical tools for navigation and understanding your surroundings.

**Highlights:** Detailed IGN maps, Thematic layers, Interactive point details, Historical aerial view comparison, Discover nearby curiosities, Route calculation and tracking, Save and share waypoints

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Sofia VAC

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sofia-vac/id1519391491)

This app provides access to French aeronautical information, including airfield details and dynamic VAC maps. Users can search for airfields by name or code, filter by runway characteristics, and download maps for offline use. It offers personalized map views with various airspace and navigational point overlays.

**Highlights:** Search airfields by name, ICAO code, or map, Filter airfields by runway length and surface, Consult dynamic VAC maps, Personalize map views with airspaces and VFR points, Download maps for offline access, Receive update notifications

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Cartes IGN free?

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

### Is Sofia VAC free?

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

### Do Cartes IGN or Sofia VAC have ads?

Neither Cartes IGN nor Sofia VAC shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Cartes IGN or Sofia VAC?

Cartes IGN ships an update every 3 weeks, and Sofia VAC every 3 months. Most recently, Cartes IGN was updated on October 15, 2026 and Sofia VAC on October 8, 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.*