WorldGuessr vs Geotastic
Geotastic is a donation-funded geo quiz by a one-man company in Germany, since 2020. It unlocks features with one-time supporter levels. WorldGuessr is a free Street View game by one developer, since 2024, with nothing locked.
Short answer
Both are free to play. The difference is what money unlocks. On Geotastic, making maps, ranked leaderboards, bigger lobbies and private lobbies cost EUR 3 to EUR 100, one time. On WorldGuessr all of that is free. The ads are the other difference: Geotastic makes free players watch a video ad before every session and detects ad blockers; many players say it makes the free game hard to play.
Geotastic has more party games: Battle Arena, Rat Race, GeoBingo, a Twitch mode, satellite and photo maps. WorldGuessr has apps, five languages, recognition guides per country and public code.
Group night with variety: Geotastic. Free ranked, free maps, phones and readable code: WorldGuessr.
Side by side
| WorldGuessr | Geotastic | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free; features unlock at EUR 3 to 100 (one time) |
| Round limit | None | None today; terms allow limits for non-payers |
| Account needed | No | To host, yes. Guests join by link only |
| Multiplayer | Ranked 1v1, 2v2, unranked, parties up to 200. Free. | Lobbies of 12 to 100, sized by supporter level. Private lobby at EUR 100. |
| Road labels | Hidden in No Move games, which run on WorldGuessr's own renderer. Shown in moving games, which use the Google embed. | Hidden in every game, including moving. |
| Ranked play | ELO and leagues, free | Seasonal RP; leaderboard needs EUR 7 |
| Community maps | 71,121, free to play and create | Free to play; creating needs EUR 3 |
| Daily | 3 rounds, no account | Daily challenges |
| Apps | Native apps for Android and iOS | None, by policy |
| Languages | 5 | 9 |
| Ads | Banner ads only. Nothing to sit through before you play. | Heavy. Free players watch a video ad every session before they can play, banner ads run during the game, and ad blockers are detected. Many players say the ads make the free game hard to play. |
| Source code | Public | Closed, by policy |
| Made by | One developer (codergautam), since 2024 | Edutastic Games (one person), Germany, since 2020 |
| Imagery | Google Street View | Google Street View, satellite, photos |
Geotastic details checked 2026-08-27 on their own site. Prices and limits change.
Where WorldGuessr is better
- The ads. Geotastic makes free players watch a video ad every session before they can play, runs banner ads during the game, detects ad blockers and asks you to turn them off. Even supporters get ads again once their play costs more than they donated. Many players say it makes the free game hard to play. WorldGuessr shows banner ads only, and nothing stands between you and a round.
- Everything Geotastic sells is free here: map making, ranked leaderboards, big lobbies, private lobbies.
- Parties up to 200, free. Geotastic reaches 100 only at EUR 50.
- Android and iOS apps. Geotastic has none and says it will not build them.
- Five fully translated languages.
- No account to play or to host a party.
- Public source code.
Where Geotastic is better
- Road labels are hidden in every game, including moving. WorldGuessr hides them only in No Move.
- More party games: Battle Arena, Rat Race, GeoBingo, Time Battle, Twitch mode.
- Satellite, photo and detective maps.
- Running since 2020.
Source code: the only one you can inspect
WorldGuessr's code is public at github.com/codergautam/worldguessr (PolyForm Noncommercial). Anyone can read how rounds are picked, how scoring works and how ranked ratings move, and run their own copy for noncommercial use. Source-available, and free for anyone to inspect.
Geotastic's FAQ: 'There is no plan to go open-source as of now.'
Verdict
Geotastic charges for parts of itself to cover its Google bill; its developer says so openly. WorldGuessr gives those parts away.
Ranked, maps and big lobbies for free, on any device: WorldGuessr. The widest set of party modes, and you do not mind paying once: Geotastic.
Questions
Are Geotastic's ads that bad?
Free players sit through a video ad every session before playing, then banner ads during the game, and ad blockers are detected. Even supporters see ads again once their play costs exceed what they gave. Many players say it makes the free game hard to play. WorldGuessr has banner ads only.
Is Geotastic free?
Free to play. Map making, ranked leaderboards and bigger or private lobbies cost EUR 3 to 100, one time. WorldGuessr has no locks.
Does Geotastic have an app?
No, by policy. WorldGuessr has Android and iOS apps.
Can I make maps on Geotastic for free?
No, it costs EUR 3. On WorldGuessr it is free.
Is Geotastic open source?
No. WorldGuessr's code is public.