# RouteBuddy Atlas - GPS Nav App for US and Worldwide Topo Maps — user reviews > 81 indexed App Store user reviews of RouteBuddy Atlas by RouteBuddy Ltd., rated 5.00/5 from 1 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/routebuddy-atlas-gps-nav-app-for-us-and-worldwide-topo-maps/id321361751/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/routebuddy-atlas-gps-nav-app-for-us-and-worldwide-topo-maps/id321361751.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 1 · 4★ 0 · 3★ 0 · 2★ 0 · 1★ 0 ## Newest reviews (11 of 81) ### 3/5 — Update? *2021-08-29, version 4.6* Great app BUT still needs regular updates. ### 3/5 — Great App - Needs an update *2020-05-08, version 4.6* This is a very useful app, facing significant competition from the OS app - but the offline capabilities are invaluable. However it needs an update, if only to make the most of new devices with larger screens. Great to hear an update is in the pipeline - can’t wait! ### 2/5 — Lost purchased map *2020-01-10, version 4.6* Was OK but cannot retrieve purchased map from itunes after changing phone. Restore purchases doesnt work. Since free OS mobile maps are now supplied with paper maps, would not use Route Buddy again ### 2/5 — Dated and tired now *2019-01-25, version 4.6* The fact that the last update was 3 years ago screams lack of development. Yes it was good (3 years ago) but other mapping apps - even OS maps - offer way more features and seamless cloud syncing of routes. ### 4/5 — Very Effective Mobile Mapping *2014-12-11, version 4.0* Routebuddy Atlas is a perfect companion to the desktop app of the same name. Screen display is very crisp and clear and I’ve always appreciated this when I have been out in the hills. I also like the design that keeps icons out of the way until you need them, presenting you with just a map filling up most of the screen. This version adds the ability to ‘stitch’ together two adjacent maps of the same scale. This feature works stunningly well and its good to see this feature of the desktop app beginning to make its way onto the mobile app. This version seems faster and more focussed to me. I like the Cross Hair feature for accurate pin dropping. And as ever the transfer of routes and waypoints is very simple on both OS X and Windows machine. A good and steady upgrade. ### 5/5 — My Go To Mapping App *2014-07-17, version 3.0* I have found that RouteBudy Atlas to be a very effective mapping app. It’s easy to use and the US National Park Map is one of the best both on-line and off-line. I’ve used their Mac Desktop Version for many years and have been very happy and it looks like their iPhone and iPad app is equally as good. I highly recommend this app. ### 5/5 — Route Buddy Mapping Software *2014-07-16, version 3.0* The RouteBuddy Software is extremely easy to use or the first time electronic map user. The ariel feature allows you to go back and forth between map view and a "goggle earth" style view that is very helpul in seeing exactly what is on the ground. The customer support is very responsive and helpul. A good piece of software and a nice company to do business with. ### 5/5 — Simply the best *2014-06-25, version 3.0* Offline OS maps which can be shared between mobile app and the only true native Mac OS mapping software. And they are reasonably priced. What more is there to say? ### 5/5 — Route Buddy rocks *2014-05-27, version 3.0* I use this all the time walking in the Lake District . Best app for walking I have used. Easy to find where I am but more importantly where to go next ! ### 5/5 — Fantastic Mapping! *2014-04-26, version 2.1.1* Have used this excellent app for about a year now and can't fault it. Easy to generate and import routes using the associated desktop app. Saved my bacon in the Scottish Highlands when the mist came down suddenly! ### 5/5 — Does what it says *2014-01-07, version 2.1.1* I like this as a simple way to show OSM maps. Have only purchased 1 OS map (Lakes National Park), but it worked really well on our walking holiday in the lakes - it does tracking and stuff too but I haven’t tried that side of things. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Does not work on my iPad *2023-12-17, version 4.6* Please fix. ### 1/5 — Gone out of business *2022-03-12, version 4.6* I’ve been wondering why the app hasn’t been updated in years. Well, it won’t be, because the website says they ceased trading on 31 Dec 2021. Shame, it was a good app but its really getting dated. ### 1/5 — Doesn’t work on PadOS *2019-10-17, version 4.6* Looks like this app doesn’t get updated anymore, it’s tired and dated. Still works on my iPhone not my IPad though. So what do I do with all my Routebuddy Maps .. don’t waste your money on buying the Mac version either as that is also tired and dated. Look for other map suppliers. ### 1/5 — Didn’t work *2018-04-11, version 4.6* I downloaded the app and paid £15.99 for a particular map but it kept saying that it couldn’t download but I was charged anyway. Have been refunded by App Store ### 1/5 — Beware GB update *2018-01-27, version 4.6* Having updated an already purchased OS map I was forced to purchase the same map again, which didn’t download. My iPad was then attacked and I was advised to close the page. Security from Route Buddy needs to be updated.. ### 1/5 — Rip off *2015-05-17, version 4.0* Yet another app that previously that has changed to in-app purchases without warning so that when you update you loose everything and have to pay to get it back. Severely unimpressed by both RouteBuddy and of course Apple for allowing such conduct and not devising an adequate warning system. ### 1/5 — Read and be warned. *2015-05-16, version 4.0* I don't usually write reviews but thought it necessary. Firstly, as a stand alone app its ok, just. I use it for researching locations for photography and then adding the location to an OS map in the app, storing the name, so I have a list I can just tap on and it shows me the location. OS explorer maps are essential, but thats nothing to do with the functionality of the app. You can use the app to search, or even better, use its big brother Desktop app “Route Buddy’ for searching by co-ordinate, name, or grid reference, and then syncing the store info to your device. Fantastic. Now the bad. You cant search. A road map must also be installed, which after paying £40 for the destop app, £20 for an OS map and then having to pay for a road map? Which are not even available from their store because they are out of date and have been removed. So, you try using an OS map to find a location, especially on a phone screen. No search. An email to support was met with “read the manual”. A reply stating I had, with a request for how I search a specific place was met with silence. It was after studying the manual yet again in depth I realised you need a road map. Ok, manually finding places, at least I can use my mac and sync to my iphone/ipad and be on my way. The sync process is easy and quick, just connect via wifi, click a couple of buttons and youre set. Wrong. Data does get transferred, but close the app or switch off the phone and its all gone. data isnt stored in memory and if you have any you have added on your phone they get duplicated, its a mess. Useless. Another two emails to support this time answered by someone else asking me to try exporting from the desktop a gpx file and manually transferring to the phone using itunes. Success, but who wants to mess about with itunes! They admitted there was a problem with using the built in sync, so why is it there? Its the only reason I laid down my £40. Here’s the email: “there does seem to be a problem with the Atlas App retaining kml file data copied in via third party software, (my note: their sync doesn't work so you have to use third party) or any waypoints transferred from RouteBuddy via RBSync so I will be reporting this to the engineers. I have found that if I export the waypoints from RouteBuddy as a gpx file and then place it into the Import/Points folder using either iExplorer, Diskaid or by accessing the Public folder via the iTunes method, the waypoints do get retained”. In other words you cant use the desktop app for what its supposed to do, and may as well just use google maps. And they just realised there is a problem? I realised, if I have to manually transfer files from the mac to the phone, what do I do if I add a location to the phone and want to copy to the mac? Can it be done and will there be duplicates? So another email to support, silence. A chaser email, silence. That’s a No then. Fed up with the amount of time and money wasted on this I emailed requesting a refund for the desktop app and map. Silence. Another email. You guessed…… Do yourself a favour, if you want an app that will allow you to use an OS map, store locations, and sync between devices, give this a wide berth. You will get stung for a useless desktop app, pay twice the price for OS maps and then get stuck with no road maps. Another point, the Routebuddy website looks slick, and those in the know will recognise its built with Rapidweaver for Mac. Its also based on the Carbon theme. No problems with that, I use it myself. But I am not a pro app developer and would have thought they would at least build their own website. Alarm bells as to tech knowledge. I am now happily using the Outdoors GPS iphone and ipad app which is superb. Store locations, create routes, sync to your FREE online account and access via a browser app. There are user routes you can also save, much more info available, such as if you create a hiking route it will even tell you distance, time and ELEVATIONS! Great if youre going over the Peak District. The app was £2 and the map £9, and whilst viewing an area you can switch between Google satellite, terrain, road, Open Street. It beats this rubbish into a cocked hat, so, look at the alternatives before you get sucked into something that is near useless. ### 1/5 — Ripoff - in App purchase don't download *2015-04-17, version 4.0* Downloaded this and purchased a map for the area I was about to walk. In app purchase cost £9.99 but failed to download. I've been charged £9.99 to my iTunes account but a week later I still can't get the map to appear in the app (even after doing the restore maps option several times). Been to the Route Buddy web site to contact them for help but the Contact us link doesn't work. A complete rip off. Now going to have to try the painful process of getting a refund via Apple iTunes Avoid if you actual want to see and use a map not in America ### 1/5 — WTH is that mystery button on the bottom right?? *2014-12-27, version 4.0* No help or description whatsoever. I click on the mystery button & it takes me to BC Canada then I press it again then it goes to Manitoba or somewhere in the Great White North. Then I press it again & I'm taken to 0 deg latitude/longitude. I'm nowhere near any of these places. Other users' complaints are also valid. You should pass on this app unless there is a major revamp. ### 1/5 — Painfully hard to get started *2013-08-11, version 2.0* Downloaded app, tried to buy maps. Read I had to buy them on my Desktop. Did that, downloaded them, but can't see where they are on my desktop. Synced my iPhone, but they're not on my iPhone. Message to RouteBuddy: redo development so Users can just download the App, buy and download maps, and they work. like every other app in the universe. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Fantastic App *2016-02-29, version 4.6* This app is fantastic! The maps are high quality and the offline viewing works a treat when out and about with no internet. I do also have the Mac companion app (RouteBuddy) in order to manage purchased maps, route creation and upload to my mobile devices. Sadly, though, the current version (4.2.1) on my Mac crashes constantly. If you're happy just using the iOS app on iPad/iPhone then no worries! BUT be aware that maps purchased and downloaded via the iOS app will NOT transfer back to the PC/Mac app at a later date if you decide you want to use them there too. It can also be quite time-consuming trying to create a route on a 4" iPhone screen! One minor request I would have is to be able to show/hide crosshairs - I don't always want these filling up the centre of my screen. ### 5/5 — 5 Stars ! out a tight spot on occasion *2016-02-20, version 4.6* Works Well- easy to use - got me out a tight spot on occasion - falling low cloud on mountain . gave very accurate location. I mainly use Routebuddy for Mountain biking planning and ride use- I have tried others - this one works best. ### 5/5 — Remains the best *2016-02-02, version 4.6* Routebuddy Atlas just continues to go from strength to strength with this update building on the already excellent app yet again - love the cross hair feature so accurate without obscuring exactly where you need to see. In-app purchases are now available - you may need a WiFi connection though as some maps are quite large files - the new range of maps are mind boggling - including American National Park and UK trail maps - none of that 'you have to buy five maps to cover that trail’ - the whole trail as one coherent file. All this plus a superb tech response that backs it all up. Well done again. This is my 'Go To’ offline map app! ### 5/5 — Best map app & fantastic tach support *2015-07-28, version 4.5* I've had this app & its desktop version for a few years, & they just keep getting better. I suspect I don't use the phone app to its maximum potential (I haven't used it for routing yet) but it has got me out of trouble on more than one occasion. When I'm in the middle of nowhere, either walking or cycling, it has shown me where I am & where I need to be when an online map was useless as no signal. It might lose a star for the difficulty in finding answers to problems but they easily regain it for their fantastic email support, which is incredibly quick & always helpful. Well done & keep it up! ### 5/5 — Great Map App! *2015-07-24, version 4.5* I love Routebuddy, it works amazingly with the GPS on my iPhone. Map reading is a central part of my job and Routebuddy allows me to do this with no effort, letting me focus all my attention on my clients. On buying a second map I needed some support from the tech team - they were great. Really helpful and got me sorted in no time! ### 5/5 — Keep getting better *2015-07-10, version 4.5* The joy of this App and it’s sister Mac based Routebuddy App is that once you’ve bought a map for it, you can use it all your devices. I’ve used Atlas on my phone and iPad since it first came out for teaching and my own personal use and with every revision it just gets better especially now with the addition of the excellent Harvey maps in various guises and the route planning option. Excellent responsive company to deal with if there are issues too. ### 5/5 — High quality OS maps, very good support *2015-07-02, version 4.5* Very happy with this app, I've been using it for a while now. The maps are not as expensive as buying them for my Garmin (I appreciate the majority of the cost is licensing costs from the map creators not the app / hw vendor) and I can use the same maps on the iPhone as on my mac with the Route Buddy app. The email support I have received has been very good. ### 5/5 — Great service *2015-02-28, version 4.0* Contacted by email this Saturday morning because I wanted to know how to migrate my previous purchases on to my new phone. Response within half an hour on a weekend ! All sorted, great app, great service. ### 5/5 — Why I stick with iOS *2014-12-11, version 4.0* Have used RouteBuddy on Mac and iOS for some years now. The v4 update of Atlas brings the ability to seamlessly view separate maps of the same type. It even fixed a couple of minor visual bugs that latterly happened in iOS 5. The email support has always been very good. ### 5/5 — Best OS app *2014-08-13, version 1.5.1* Now a very easy to use app, much streamlined in its accessibility. Rendering is sharp, and the tools useful. When advice was sought it was forthcoming and effective. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-11.*