Comparison

Maps Treasure Hunt vs Detector Maps

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

Head to head
About

Maps Treasure Hunt

Explore historical locations with old maps overlaid on current views. Use your device's GPS to pinpoint your position on vintage maps, aiding in artifact hunting and locating historical structures.

Highlights
  • Historical map overlays
  • GPS location tracking
  • Street and satellite map integration
  • Artifact hunting aid
  • Locate historical structures
  • In-app map purchases
Features
Read full description

Maps Treasure Hunt displays old maps as overlays on top of current street or satellite maps. This is possible because we georeference old maps, and offer them as in-app purchases. Some of these maps are public domain Sanborn fire insurance maps. Others are public domain old atlases maps. By using your device GPS capabilities, you can now see where you are on the old map, on the current map, or a combination of both. This allows you to find where structures were located hundreds of years ago, and makes finding artifacts easier. Maps Treasure Hunt is especially useful in locating old buildings that were destroyed long ago. If you are a privy digger, finding the back of a properly is sometimes critical. The app, an old map, and your device GPS can get you where you might find those buried treasures. The maps are offered in three forms: mobile, browser, and Google Earth(TM) KML super overlay. We recommend purchasing the browser or Google Earth version to study the town of interest. Then, before you are ready to enter the areas of interest, purchase the mobile version. Some maps are extremely detailed and download times can take several hours. So we recommend you purchase and download the mobile version ahead of time.

About

Detector Maps

This app provides advanced geological data and GPS tools for gold prospecting in Australia, the US, and New Zealand. It offers offline map access, breadcrumb tracking, and waypoint marking to help users explore efficiently and locate potential gold-bearing areas.

Highlights
  • Advanced geological and gold-focused data
  • Offline map and data layer downloads
  • Breadcrumb trail tracking (background GPS)
  • Waypoint marking with field notes
  • Real-time GPS navigation
  • Historic gold mines and workings layers
Features
Read full description

Detector Maps is the field tool that keeps you on the gold - and on the relics. Built by geologists for prospectors, relic hunters and metal detectorists across the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, it pairs geological data and historical maps with rock-solid GPS so you spend your time on high-potential ground, not guessing. Whether you are swinging a detector for gold nuggets, coin shooting an old homestead, hunting Civil War relics or panning a creek, it puts serious research intelligence in your pocket - and it works offline, where the finds actually are. COIN & RELIC HUNTING - NATIONWIDE Research old towns, ghost towns, homesteads, schoolhouses and long-forgotten gathering places - the ground where old coins, buttons, buckles and relics are still waiting. - Historical map overlays: hunt the buildings, roads and fields the modern map forgot - Historic USGS Topo maps, coast to coast - LiDAR that reveals cellar holes, old roads and house sites hiding under the trees - Plan permissions with confidence before you knock GOLD PROSPECTING - 15 STATES Serious geology for nugget hunting, from California to the Carolinas. Detect where gold has already been found, then find what the old-timers missed. - Historic gold mines, diggings and workings - proven gold ground - Surface geochemistry with pathfinder-element filtering - Current and expired mining claims, updated every weekday - 1-metre LiDAR hillshade that reveals old workings worth a closer swing DETECTOR ACADEMY A built-in crash course: 34 short video lessons, most under a minute - layers, LiDAR, waypoints, trails, offline maps and Pro tools. DETECTOR GRIDS Plan complete, methodical coverage of a site with adjustable search lanes you follow while recording your trail - never grid the same ground twice. BREADCRUMB TRAIL TRACKING (BACKGROUND GPS) Record your exact trail even with the app in the background or the screen off. See where you have walked and save paths for the next trip. WHY WE REQUEST "ALLOW ALL THE TIME" LOCATION ACCESS Detector Maps only uses background location when you switch breadcrumb tracking ON, keeping an unbroken log while your phone is idle. Disable it anytime in the app or device settings. WAYPOINT MARKING AND FIND LOGGING Drop waypoints on coins, relics, gold finds and old workings. Add names, notes and photos, then sync securely between your phone and the web app so your finds are never lost. REAL-TIME GPS NAVIGATION Watch boundaries, geology, historical maps and terrain update around you as you move - a GPS built for prospecting, coin shooting and relic hunting. COVERAGE USA COIN & RELIC: Nationwide USA GOLD: CA, AL, NC, AZ, NV, ID, OR, UT, CO, MT, WA, SC, VA, GA, NM AUSTRALIA: QLD, NSW, VIC, WA, SA, TAS, NT NEW ZEALAND: historic goldfields, geology and offline maps CANADA: British Columbia SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION All plans include every map, standard data layers, offline downloads, and access to Australia, USA, New Zealand, Canada (BC) and the UK. USA Pricing - Explorer Monthly: $7.99 USD; Explorer Yearly: $59.99; Pro Monthly: $11.99 USD; Pro Yearly: $99.99 USD. Payment is charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel anytime in your App Store account settings. Pricing may vary by region. PRIVACY AND DATA Your location, trails and waypoints are used only for core app functionality. Delete your account anytime: Profile > Delete Account > type "confirm" > tap Delete. Privacy Policy: https://app.detectormaps.com/privacy-policy Terms of Use (EULA): https://app.detectormaps.com/license-agreement Whether you swing a GPX 6000, an Equinox, a Manticore, a Deus or a Gold Monster - or a sluice or a pan - Detector Maps helps you cover more ground, log your best finds, and read productive terrain like a professional.

Screenshots

Maps Treasure Hunt1 screens
Detector Maps4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Detector Maps at 73% against Maps Treasure Hunt's 0%. Detector Maps also leads on rating (4.7 vs 1.0) and update cadence (every 6 days vs every 6 weeks). Maps Treasure Hunt's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and ads (none vs shown). On price, in-app purchases 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. Maps Treasure Hunt sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Detector Maps sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Detector Maps holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Detector Maps has 254 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of Maps Treasure Hunt's written reviews are positive against 73% of Detector Maps's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Maps Treasure Hunt ships an update every 6 weeks, Detector Maps every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
Maps Treasure Hunt versus Detector Maps: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMaps Treasure HuntDetector Maps
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.0 (2 ratings)4.7 (254 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews73.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2254 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 6 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterSubscription
Best chart rank—#96 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS9.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size126 MB115 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTodd GuionGOLD DISCOVERY SOLUTIONS PTY LTD

Customer experience

Maps Treasure Hunt

All ratings2 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Detector Maps

All ratings254 ratings
Positive92.9%
Neutral1.6%
Negative5.5%
Written reviews74 reviews
Positive73.0%
Neutral2.7%
Negative24.3%

Bugs and requests

Maps Treasure Hunt

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Detector Maps

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Issues with subscription and login
  • LiDAR not working in certain areas

Requested features

2 requests
  • Expand coverage to more areas
  • Improve data accuracy and consistency

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Maps Treasure Hunt

One-time10
  • Washingtonboro PA 1864Free
  • Suggs WY 1894$0.99
  • Marietta (East) PA 1864$0.99
Show 7 more
  • Lititz PA 1863$9.99
  • Marietta PA 1886 Sheet 4$9.99
  • Marietta PA 1886 sheet 5$9.99
  • Marietta PA 1886 Sheet 3$10.99
  • Columbia to Marietta 1864$19.99
  • Lebanon County 1860$19.99
  • Manor Township Lancaster County PA 1864$29.99
4 purchases

Detector Maps

Subscriptions4
  • Monthly Explorer Plan$7.991 Month
  • Monthly Plan$11.991 Month
  • Yearly Explorer Plan7 Days trial$59.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Yearly Plan7 Days trial$99.991 Year

Questions

Is Maps Treasure Hunt free?
Maps Treasure Hunt is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Detector Maps free?
Detector Maps is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Maps Treasure Hunt or Detector Maps?
Detector Maps is rated higher. Maps Treasure Hunt averages 1.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Detector Maps averages 4.7 from 254 ratings.
Do Maps Treasure Hunt or Detector Maps have ads?
Detector Maps shows ads; Maps Treasure Hunt does not.
Which is updated more often, Maps Treasure Hunt or Detector Maps?
Maps Treasure Hunt ships an update every 6 weeks, and Detector Maps every 6 days. Most recently, Maps Treasure Hunt was updated on September 26, 2026 and Detector Maps on October 16, 2026.

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