Comparison

Mapstr vs Bora Explorer

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

Head to head
About

Mapstr

Save and organize all your favorite places worldwide, from restaurants to hidden gems. Discover new spots through recommendations from friends and trusted sources, and easily share your own curated maps.

Highlights
  • One-tap place saving
  • Unlimited color and tag organization
  • Import existing map lists
  • Personal notes, ratings, and photos
  • Follow trusted users and influencers
  • Shareable map links
  • Private by default
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Never lose a place – always know where to go. Mapstr allows you to save every spot you love anywhere in the world and shows trusted recommendations from friends, pros and influencers, right when you need them. —— A STORY YOU KNOW —— You spot an incredible bakery, hear rave reviews about a hidden jazz bar, promise you’ll remember… and two weeks later it’s gone. Screenshots multiply, notes pile up, Google stars blur together, anonymous reviews feel useless. Mapstr ends the chaos: one tap to save, tag, colour-code and—when friends ask—share a link they can open in any browser, no app required. —— SAVE, ORGANISE, (RE)DISCOVER —— * One-tap pins for cafés, shops, hikes—whatever catches your eye * Unlimited colours & tags to surface “Sushi”, “Sunset spot”, “For a date”, etc. in seconds * Import Google Maps, CSV or KML lists - if you don’t want to start from zero * Personal notes, ratings and photos; mark places “To try” or “Tried” to track memories * Follow the voices you trust: friends, favourite chefs, magazines, local creators * Merge their maps with yours to uncover hidden gems in 190 + countries * Share your map with a simple link, viewable in any browser, no app needed * Full control: flip your entire map to private, or hide individual pins on your public map * Private by default: your notes, ratings and pictures are only visible to your followers * Custom places you create (like this cute secret beach) stay only on your map and never enter mapstr’s global database * 100 % EU servers, GDPR-first, zero ad-tracking —— MAPSTR PLUS — 7-DAY FREE TRIAL, CANCEL ANYTIME —— Unlock extra power for map addicts and frequent travellers: * Unlimited places * Bulk edits for lightning-fast management * Smart Search: AI suggestions by mood, budget or diet to find any spot you want in the world * Real-time table filter: see restaurants with free tables for your date, time and party size, then book in two taps * Visits journal to relive every trip or every meal * Proximity alerts so you never walk past a saved gem again * Multi-map overlay for instant recs from the maps you follow * AI matching algorithm to get 100% personalized recommendations tailored on your tastes * Desktop web version for big-screen planning * Invitations to soft openings and special events (Paris-only for now) —— WHY MAPSTR? —— * Memory saver: pins replace screenshots and scattered notes forever * Personal compass: maps mirror your unique taste, not algorithmic hype * Trusted network: no anonymous reviews—only voices you choose * Fair freemium: core features stay free; go even further with personalized recommendations and map management with mapstr plus * Built in Europe: GDPR compliant, EU servers, no ads, no data sales —— PRIVACY & SUPPORT —— We never sell your data. Ever. Need help or have an idea? Email hello@mapstr.com—real humans answer fast. Download Mapstr today and defeat address amnesia while discovering new places from the people who matter to you most.

About

Bora Explorer

Features
Read full description

**Bora Explorer is designed to use offline when you are in the island so you can degrade expensive roaming charges.** - Augmented Reality mode allows you to see where the interesting locations are in First Person view! -An overview map showing your current location and all the points of interests. -Frequently updated guide with all the good adresses like hotels, guesthouses, restaurants, shops, markets, gas stations, banks, beaches, hikes … -Click on any Point of interest (in both Augmented Reality and Map) to display additional informations like opening hours, phone number, website address and more. -For our customers currently renting a vehicle: Tips on good renting practices and how to use our vehicles.

Screenshots

Mapstr4 screens
Bora Explorer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Bora Explorer at none against Mapstr's 10. Mapstr's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 6 months) and chart position (#56 vs unranked). On price, ads 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. Mapstr sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Bora Explorer asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Mapstr ships an update monthly, Bora Explorer every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Mapstr versus Bora Explorer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMapstrBora Explorer
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (2.6K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews60.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings2.6K — better—
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 6 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemium—
Best chart rank#56 — better—
DevicesiPhone, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.0 — better26.4
Further details — not scored
Size190 MB11 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHulabGodefroy de La Bourdonnaye

Bugs and requests

Mapstr

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App crashes on launch for some users
  • Locations not showing up correctly on the map
  • Inability to access saved data after subscription change

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to add notes and photos for each location
  • Option to create multiple maps or organize by city
  • Offline access and map downloads
  • Integration with other services like Yelp
  • Ability to change icon colors

Bora Explorer

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Mapstr

Subscriptions9
  • mapstr plus$5.991 Month
  • mapstr plus - Monthly7 Days trial$5.991 Month
  • Mapstr plus monthly7 Days trial$8.991 Month
Show 6 more
  • Mapstr plus monthly$8.991 Month
  • Yearly membership7 Days trial$32.991 Year
  • mapstr plus - yearly$59.901 Year
  • mapstr plus - yearly7 Days trial$59.901 Year
  • mapstr plus - Yearly2 Months trial$59.991 Year
  • mapstr plus yearly$79.991 Year
One-time1
  • My Secret NYFree
None

Bora Explorer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Mapstr free?
Mapstr is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Bora Explorer free?
Bora Explorer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Mapstr or Bora Explorer have ads?
Neither Mapstr nor Bora Explorer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Mapstr or Bora Explorer?
Mapstr ships an update monthly, and Bora Explorer every 6 months. Most recently, Mapstr was updated on November 11, 2026 and Bora Explorer on November 3, 2026.

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