# Apple Maps vs Earth Maps

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Earth Maps at 79% against Apple Maps's 15%. Earth Maps also leads on rating (4.8 vs 2.2) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months). Apple Maps's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and ratings volume (63K vs 1.2K). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Earth Maps sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Apple Maps asks for nothing beyond the download.

Earth Maps holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Apple Maps has 63K ratings behind it against 1.2K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 15% of Apple Maps's written reviews are positive against 79% of Earth Maps's.

Apple Maps ships an update every 4 months, Earth Maps every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Apple Maps | Earth Maps |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.2 (63K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/apple-maps/id915056765/reviews) | **[4.8 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/earth-maps/id6444058891/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **63K** | 1.2K |
| Positive reviews | 14.6% of reviews | **78.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 12 MB | 78 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 14.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Apple](https://appshunter.io/developer/284417353) | [FOXPOI PTE. LTD.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1641489904) |

## What reviewers say

### Apple Maps

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/apple-maps/id915056765)

Navigate and explore the world with detailed maps, turn-by-turn directions for driving, cycling, and walking, and real-time traffic information. Discover places with photos, ratings, and curated guides, and access offline maps for uninterrupted exploration.

**Highlights:** Turn-by-turn navigation, Offline maps, Real-time traffic, Place discovery, Curated guides, Augmented reality walking directions, Topographic maps

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent navigation
- 🗺️ Beautiful and intuitive UI
- ⏱️ Accurate ETA and traffic updates
- 🔍 Helpful search and location features
- 🌐 Seamless integration with iOS ecosystem

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inaccurate or outdated map data
- 📍 Incorrect location pinpointing
- 🚦 Delayed or confusing turn instructions
- 🗺️ Lacking detailed information for some areas
- 🔍 Poor search and POI database

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent app crashes or freezes
- Inconsistent route recalculation
- Incorrect lane guidance information

**Requested features**

- Offline map downloads
- Customizable route preferences
- Integration with other navigation apps
- More detailed traffic and incident reporting
- Enhanced business information and reviews


### Earth Maps

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/earth-maps/id6444058891)

Explore Earth with high-definition satellite imagery and historical street views. This app offers a detailed 3D globe, allowing you to virtually travel the world and examine terrain, buildings, and roads with exceptional clarity. Discover places online without leaving your home.

**Highlights:** High-definition 3D globe, Historical street view, Latest satellite imagery, Measure area distance, Oriental compass function

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Week | $5.19 | one-time |
| month | $14.99 | one-time |
| year | $24.49 | one-time |
| Lifetime | $36.49 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great app
- 👍 Helpful for finding locations
- 👍 Useful for travel
- 👍 Excellent graphics
- 👍 Precise location information

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitchy performance
- 🐛 Crashes and freezes
- 💰 Paywall for historical imagery
- 💰 Too many ads
- 🤔 Not available in some countries

**Reported bugs**

- Historical imagery not loading
- Compatibility issues on older devices

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- More frequent updates
- Improved historical imagery access


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Apple Maps free?

Apple Maps is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Earth Maps free?

Earth Maps is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Apple Maps or Earth Maps?

Earth Maps is rated higher. Apple Maps averages 2.2 out of 5 from 63K ratings, while Earth Maps averages 4.8 from 1.2K ratings.

### Do Apple Maps or Earth Maps have ads?

Neither Apple Maps nor Earth Maps shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Apple Maps or Earth Maps?

Apple Maps ships an update every 4 months, and Earth Maps every 3 weeks. Most recently, Apple Maps was updated on September 24, 2026 and Earth Maps on September 24, 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.*