Maps · head to head
MAPS.ME vs SW Maps
MAPS.ME
Maps
Free, offline maps application based on OpenStreetMap data
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
SW Maps
Maps
Free Android GIS data collector that pairs with external RTK GNSS receivers
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: MAPS.ME mobile-only - no web or desktop navigation client; SW Maps android only. There is no iOS version and no sign of one, which rules it out for organisations that issue iPhones and iPads to field staff.
- They diverge on capability: MAPS.ME covers Core Functionality, SW Maps covers Custom feature layers.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which MAPS.ME and SW Maps actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Maps).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in MAPS.ME
- Core Functionality
- User Interface
Only in SW Maps
- Custom feature layers
- External GNSS support
- Offline basemaps
- Geospatial PDF layers
- Vector import
- Photo and media capture
- Export formats
- NTRIP client
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
MAPS.ME
- Downloading offline maps for travel without connectivitynot SW Maps
- Turn-by-turn driving, walking, and cycling navigation without datanot SW Maps
- Finding points of interest and hiking trailsnot SW Maps
- Following built-in travel guidesnot SW Maps
- Hotel booking via Booking.com integrationnot SW Maps
SW Maps
- An NGO or municipal utility mapping water points, pipe networks or road assets on a budget that cannot absorb per-user GIS subscriptionsnot MAPS.ME
- A survey team pairing a low-cost RTK receiver with Android tablets to collect centimetre-accurate attributed features without buying field software seatsnot MAPS.ME
- A university field course teaching GNSS data collection where every student needs the tool on their own devicenot MAPS.ME
- A consultant doing a one-off asset inventory who needs shapefile or GeoPackage output and does not want to start an annual subscription for a three-week jobnot MAPS.ME
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
MAPS.ME
- Mobile-only - no web or desktop navigation client
- Free tier limits offline map downloads and shows monetization prompts
- No native Windows, macOS, or Linux app
- Map data comes from the OpenStreetMap community rather than a commercial map provider
SW Maps
- Android only. There is no iOS version and no sign of one, which rules it out for organisations that issue iPhones and iPads to field staff.
- There is no back end: no user management, no central project sync, no audit trail. Data lives on the device until someone exports it, and a lost tablet is lost data.
- No commercial support contract exists, so an organisation with a compliance requirement for vendor support cannot use it for regulated work regardless of technical fit.
- It is maintained by a small consultancy as a side product of its own project work, so the roadmap follows Softwel’s needs and a feature you depend on may never be prioritised.
- Form logic is basic compared with dedicated survey platforms: no meaningful skip logic, validation or multi-user assignment, so complex questionnaires quickly outgrow it.
Pricing, plan by plan
MAPS.ME
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the MAPS.ME review.
SW Maps
Free- SW MapsFree
- All features included
- External RTK GNSS support
- Unlimited layers and exports
Which should you pick?
Choose MAPS.ME if
- You need core functionality.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on iOS, Android.
- You also want user interface.
Choose SW Maps if
- You need custom feature layers.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Android.
- You also want external gnss support.
Questions people ask
- Is MAPS.ME or SW Maps better?
- Neither clearly leads. MAPS.ME starts at Free and SW Maps at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, MAPS.ME or SW Maps?
- MAPS.ME starts at Free and SW Maps at Free.
- Does MAPS.ME or SW Maps run on more platforms?
- MAPS.ME runs on iOS, Android. SW Maps runs on Android.
- Can I use MAPS.ME for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is MAPS.ME best used for?
- MAPS.ME is most often used for downloading offline maps for travel without connectivity, turn-by-turn driving, walking, and cycling navigation without data, finding points of interest and hiking trails, following built-in travel guides. Of those, downloading offline maps for travel without connectivity and turn-by-turn driving, walking, and cycling navigation without data are not what SW Maps is typically brought in for.
- What can MAPS.ME do that SW Maps cannot?
- MAPS.ME covers Core Functionality, User Interface. SW Maps covers Custom feature layers, External GNSS support, Offline basemaps, Geospatial PDF layers.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
MAPS.ME: Is MAPS.ME free to download and use?
MAPS.ME is available as a free download for both iOS via App Store and Android via Google Play. No pricing information is published on the MAPS.ME website, suggesting a free service model.
SourceSW Maps: Is SW Maps really free?
Yes. It is free with no advertising and no paid tier. There is no subscription and no feature paywall.
MAPS.ME: What features are included in MAPS.ME?
MAPS.ME is marketed as 'not just an app but a friend in all your adventures.' Full feature details require downloading the app from App Store or Google Play. Specific limitations or premium features are not disclosed on the website.
SourceSW Maps: Does it support RTK receivers?
Yes, over Bluetooth or USB serial, with NTRIP correction support, antenna height and per-point fix quality recording.
MAPS.ME: How does MAPS.ME make money if the app is free?
MAPS.ME does not publish pricing or monetization details on its website. The app is available free on both iOS and Android platforms, but the business model for generating revenue is not disclosed publicly.
SourceSW Maps: Is there an iOS version?
No. Android only.
SW Maps: Who maintains it?
Softwel, an engineering consultancy in Kathmandu, Nepal, which built it for its own infrastructure projects.
SW Maps: Can we get support?
Not contractually. There is no commercial support agreement, which is the main reason organisations with compliance obligations choose a paid alternative.
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