Comparison

Mapcha vs MapsON

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

Head to head
About

Mapcha

Overlay your paper maps onto your device's screen to see your current location, even offline. Simply calibrate by matching points on your paper map to digital maps.

Highlights
  • Overlay paper maps on digital maps
  • See current location on paper maps
  • Offline map usage
  • Calibrate maps using known points
  • Use device camera or photo library
Features
Read full description

Mapcha allows you to easily navigate paper based maps on your iOS device, even without an internet connection*. Perfect for walking, trekking or just navigating an unfamiliar city, Mapcha allows you to see your current location on your paper map. Mapcha uses an intuitive mechanism to overlay images of maps on to the standard Apple Maps: - Take a picture of your paper map using your device's camera or choose an image from your photo library - Choose two known points on the paper map and locate those points on Apple Maps - From those points Mapcha calculates the map's scale and positions your image on top of Apple Maps * An active internet connection may be required in order to load Apple Map data to assist in calibrating a map, however once a map has been calibrated it can be used offline. Note - Mapcha does not cache Apple Map data; however your map images will be available offline and you will still be able to see your current location. - Mapcha does not come with any preloaded maps.

About

MapsON

Read full description

MapsON: Open a new era of navigation with your own maps! Do you need a powerful and convenient tool for working with geodata? MapsON is your reliable assistant in any situation! The application allows you to easily open and use specialized maps in the .mbtiles format, displaying them as convenient overlays on top of satellite images. MapsON can: - Download and display .mbtiles overlays: Easily integrate custom maps for navigation and orientation. Ideal for foresters, cartographers, researchers, and anyone who needs specialized geographic data. - Mark important places: Add points to the map with custom names, descriptions, and types. Import large amounts of data from CSV files instantly! - Create and edit areas: Mark areas on the map, customize stroke color and fill. Easily delete individual points within a polygon. - Keep your data organized: All your points, areas, and overlays are stored in separate directories in the app for easy access and management. - Quick search: Find the points and polygons you need by name instantly. - Group point management: Show or hide all points of a certain type with one touch. Premium features of MapsON: Expand your capabilities in the premium version of the app! Import an unlimited number of your own .mbtiles overlays and enable/disable them according to your needs. Keep all the maps you need at your fingertips! MapsON is your personal geoinformation space. Regardless of your profession or hobby, if you need specialized maps and convenient work with geodata, MapsON will become an indispensable tool! By agreeing to use this application, you accept the standard Apple EULA terms: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://vnickua.github.io/mapson/privacy.html

Screenshots

Mapcha4 screens
MapsON4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Mapcha at none against MapsON's 1. Mapcha also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 17.0). MapsON's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 11 months). On price and ads 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. MapsON sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Mapcha asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Mapcha ships an update every 11 months, MapsON fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Mapcha versus MapsON: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMapchaMapsON
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 11 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS8.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size31 MB67 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMarc BaldwinMykola Vorobei

In-app purchases

None

Mapcha

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

MapsON

One-time1
  • Користувацькі шари$19.99

Questions

Is Mapcha free?
Mapcha is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is MapsON free?
MapsON is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Mapcha or MapsON have ads?
Neither Mapcha nor MapsON shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Mapcha or MapsON?
Mapcha ships an update every 11 months, and MapsON fortnightly. Most recently, Mapcha was updated on September 30, 2026 and MapsON on September 19, 2026.

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