Comparison

MapChat vs Vicinity

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

Head to head
About

MapChat

Share your experiences globally on an interactive map. Post messages, voice notes, photos, or videos at your location for others to see and respond to. Features instant translation to connect with users worldwide.

Highlights
  • Interactive map interface
  • Location-based message markers
  • Voice and photo sharing
  • Video sharing
  • Instant translation
  • Global user base
Features
Read full description

MapChat - What You See, What I Feel ! MapChat fully adopts the interactive effect of map to allow users from different countries in world on a dynamic map to apply a variety of real-time communication tools to share the joys and feelings under their current locations, such as to create a variety of specific markers including: messages markers, voice markers, photo markers, and movie markers. Users could choose their positions, and insert the markers directly into the live map, in order to allow other users to view, and even interactively reply by text messages, or voice messages. MapChat also provides instant translation function for users from different countries to communicate in order to break the language barrier. Moreover, MapChat also equipps with more than +10 languages of versions​​, and has registered users from over 120 countries. It is delivered for free to use!

About

Vicinity

Connect with people in your immediate vicinity through real-time chat and live multiplayer games. Discover local communities and engage in topic-based conversations, all tied to your physical location.

Highlights
  • Real-time proximity chat
  • Live multiplayer games
  • Location-based landmark rooms
  • Private messaging
  • Interest-based profiles
  • Apple Watch integration
  • In-app economy for extras
Features
Read full description

Vicinity is the spatial network: the digital third space where you chat in real time with everyone around you. Meet people nearby, make friends in your neighborhood, and play live games together — tied to where you are, not who you follow. No followers, no algorithms — just your local world, live. Third places — the coffee shop, the barbershop, the park bench — are where neighbors used to become friends, and they're quietly disappearing. Vicinity brings that sense of community back, right where you are: open the app and you're in the room with everyone nearby, across multiple topic channels. Send message requests, create group chats, or join landmark rooms at iconic locations worldwide — but only if you're physically there. The internet you walk through, not the one you scroll. Potential uses • Meet new people nearby • Organize meetups by topic • Chat with others at a sports game, bar, or concert • Coordinate a class study group • Get help from a neighbor • Invite others to a block party • Recommend shows, restaurants, or events to people nearby • Ask locals for tips when traveling • Coordinate group activities • Host a game night with people nearby — trivia, chess, poker, and more Core features • Vicinity chat: multiple topic channels for your radius • Live Games: host or join real-time multiplayer games with people nearby — trivia, chess, poker, blackjack, werewolf, mahjong, and more • Landmark rooms: audio and text chat at iconic locations worldwide — only if you're physically there • Private messaging: send message requests to anyone you meet in the chatroom • Interests: add up to 5 interest chips to your profile so people nearby know what you're into • Avatars: upload a photo or make one from any emoji or interest — free for everyone • Apple Watch: glance at the chat around you and switch channels right from your wrist • Premium: group chats, photos in DMs, voice & video calls, ad-free, and more Stars — the fun economy • Earn stars FREE by winning Live Games or inviting friends • Spend stars on fun extras: chat colors, profile borders, badges, hosting events, and promoting posts • Gift stars or cosmetics to friends right in your DMs — chat colors, borders, and badges they keep • Trophy badges: climb the ladder from Bronze to the ultra-rare Diamond — the ultimate status flex Dark Mode Vicinity supports both light and dark mode. Privacy and security All location-based rooms are fully moderated. Distance sharing is optional — you control what you share. Download Vicinity. Community restored. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

MapChat3 screens
Vicinity4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Vicinity at 91% against MapChat's 33%. Vicinity also leads on rating (4.6 vs 3.0) and update cadence (every 4 days vs every 3 weeks). MapChat's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and ads (none vs shown). On price 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. Vicinity sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $10.99 per year. MapChat asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Vicinity holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Vicinity has 37 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of MapChat's written reviews are positive against 91% of Vicinity's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MapChat ships an update every 3 weeks, Vicinity every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
MapChat versus Vicinity: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMapChatVicinity
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (2 ratings)4.6 (37 ratings) — better
Positive reviews33.3% of reviews90.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings237 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 4 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS13.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB85 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperSkynet Technology International LimitedEsketit LLC

Customer experience

MapChat

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative66.7%

Vicinity

All ratings37 ratings
Positive91.9%
Neutral2.7%
Negative5.4%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive90.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative9.1%

In-app purchases

None

MapChat

No in-app purchases

5 purchases

Vicinity

Subscriptions1
  • Subscription Features$10.991 Year
One-time4
  • 60 Star Tokens$0.99
  • Create Advertisement$1.99
  • 180 Star Tokens$2.99
Show 1 more
  • 600 Star Tokens$7.99

Questions

Is MapChat free?
MapChat is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Vicinity free?
Vicinity is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, MapChat or Vicinity?
Vicinity is rated higher. MapChat averages 3.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Vicinity averages 4.6 from 37 ratings.
Do MapChat or Vicinity have ads?
Vicinity shows ads; MapChat does not.
Which is updated more often, MapChat or Vicinity?
MapChat ships an update every 3 weeks, and Vicinity every 4 days. Most recently, MapChat was updated on October 18, 2026 and Vicinity on October 29, 2026.

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