# SW Maps — GIS and Data Collector

> Mobile GIS and data collection tool for geographic information. (iPhone/iPad app by Aviyaan Tech.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sw-maps/id6444248083 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Aviyaan Tech](https://appshunter.io/developer/1653343736)
- Category: Productivity, Business
- Price: Free
- Rating: 3.80/5 from 25 App Store ratings · 20 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 15.0 · 17 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2022-11-17
- Data updated: 2026-08-08
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sw-maps/id6444248083/reviews.md

## What is SW Maps?

SW Maps is a free GIS and mobile mapping app for collecting, presenting and sharing geographic information.

Whether you are conducting a full scale GNSS survey with high precision instruments, need to collect large amount of location based data using nothing but your phone, or just need to view a few shapefiles with labels over a background map on the go, SW Maps has it all covered.

Record points, lines, polygons and even photos and have them displayed over your choice of background map, and attach custom attribute data to any feature. Attribute types include text, numbers, an option from a predefined set of choices, photos, audio clips and videos.

Conduct high accuracy GPS surveys using external RTK capable receivers over Bluetooth LE.

Draw features on the map by adding markers, and measure distance and area.

Reuse the layers and attributes of a previous project for another survey, or create templates and share them with other users.

Share the collected data with other users as Geopackages, KMZ or shapefiles, or export them to your device storage. Also share and export recorded data as Spreadsheets  or CSV files.

All data is recorded and exported in the standard WGS84 Geographic coordinate system (EPSG:4326).

Features
-Online Base maps: Apple Maps or Open Street Map

-Support for multiple mbtiles and KML overlays

-Shapefile and Geopackage layers, with attribute categorized styling. View shapefiles in any coordinate system supported by the PROJ.4 library.

-Add multiple online WMTS, TMS, XYZ or WMS layers and cache tiles for offline use.

-Connect to external GPS receivers using Bluetooth for high accuracy surveying using RTK  with built-in NTRIP client. Also record data from external receiver for post processing.

-Define multiple number of feature layers, each with a set of custom attributes
 Feature Types: Point, Line, Polygon
 Attribute Types:Text, Numeric, Drop down Options, Photos, Audio, Video
 Save as Template for re-use or sharing

-Record GPS tracks, with distance measurement

-Label features based on attribute values.

-Import feature layers from templates or existing projects.

-Share or export collected data as KMZ (with embedded photographs) , shapefiles, GeoJSON, Geopackage (GPKG), XLS/ODS spreadsheets  or csv files.

-Share templates or projects with other users

-Supports use of GTX geoid files. To use custom geoids, prepare a GTX file with offsets in meters from WGS84.

This product is made in Nepal and is FREE (no Ads). If you find this useful, please let your friends know that you have used a product from Nepal. Spare sometime to visit this wonderful country and know the Nepali people.

## Key features

- Collect points, lines, and polygons
- Attach custom attributes (text, photo, audio, video)
- High-accuracy GPS surveys with external receivers
- Offline map support
- Export data in multiple formats (Shapefile, GeoPackage, CSV)
- Create and share project templates

## Recent user reviews (10 of 20)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sw-maps/id6444248083/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Love this app but needs a fix

*2026-07-28*

Unbelievable abilities with this app using Ardusimple RTK stick.  However, something has happened that we cannot export the shape files anymore. Just sends blank zip file. Please help.

### 4/5 — No layers on shapefiles after recent update

*2026-06-17*

When I share project using shapefiles, only photos appear but layers are missing after recent update. Please fix it!

### 3/5 — Direction!

*2026-06-07*

I can’t see the direction that I go! Just a small red circle that shows my position.
Please fix that.

### 3/5 — Non functioning external receiver

*2026-05-05*

No matter how I try to connect to an external gnss receiver (garmin glo 2 or sky pro). It will not connect and app developer does not respond.

### 3/5 — Fine on phone, bad on ipad

*2025-05-25*

can’t add layers on my ipad like I can on the phone, limiting usefulness of app. Something is messed up in the interface, there is no “cancel” or “add” buttons on the ipad to add the layer. Seems like it is because the ipad creates a square window the add layer interface pops up in, but the interface is copied from the phone version hence the buttons are never drawn (they are off screen bottom).

### 4/5 — Great but a suggestion

*2025-03-21*

The stake out function should show compass heading to 2. Decimal Places.  N20.15 is not equal to N20.2 it gets rounded too.  Surveys use two decimal places

### 3/5 — Works well with SparkFun RTK Torch over BLE

*2025-03-02*

Working well but needs a key surveyor tool

Need to be able to mark a point via GPS and use an application feature to draw a line and add a point a set distance and compass heading away from starting point (iron pin)

### 1/5 — NTRIP broken on version 1.2.1

*2025-02-23*

NTRIP is broken on latest version and without NTRIP this app has very little use.

### 4/5 — Fixed Feb 11th!! NTRIP in USA broke on Feb 7, 2025

*2025-02-12*

Very timely repair when NTRIP broke

Going to test on my SparkFun Torch soon (March 2025)

Works great on iPhone, but external GNSS appears latest release broke NTRIP for USA users

### 3/5 — NTrip in USA broke Feb 7, 2025

*2025-02-09*

Works great but appears latest release broke NTRIP for USA users

## Frequently asked questions about SW Maps

### What is SW Maps used for?

SW Maps is a free GIS and mobile mapping app designed for collecting, presenting, and sharing geographic information. It allows users to record various types of spatial data and their attributes.

### Can SW Maps be used for high-accuracy surveys?

Yes, SW Maps supports high-accuracy GPS surveys using external RTK-capable receivers via Bluetooth LE. It also allows recording data from external receivers for post-processing.

### What data formats can SW Maps export?

SW Maps can export collected data in multiple formats including Geopackages, KMZ, shapefiles, GeoJSON, spreadsheets (XLS/ODS), and CSV files.

### Does SW Maps support offline use?

Yes, SW Maps supports offline use by allowing users to add multiple online map layers (WMTS, TMS, XYZ, WMS) and cache tiles for offline access.

### How can I reuse data collection setups in SW Maps?

You can reuse layers and attributes from previous projects by creating templates within SW Maps. These templates can then be shared with other users.

### What is the age rating for SW Maps?

SW Maps has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of users.

### How often is SW Maps updated?

SW Maps was last updated on January 23, 2026, indicating a recent update. The current version is 1.3.0.

### What devices are compatible with SW Maps?

SW Maps is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.4.1 — 2026-08-05

- Bug fixes for layer exports

### 1.4.0 — 2026-05-25

Support for Geospatial PDF layers
Added option to change layer transparency for mbtiles, PDF, WMS and XYZ Layers
New "Import Layer" tool to import files to be added as layer
Dark/light mode switch in settings
User interface improvements

### 1.3.0 — 2026-01-23

UI fixes for iPad
Bug fixes for Bluetooth GNSS when data stream contains mixed NMEA and binary data

### 1.2.4 — 2025-07-07

Fixed location output to NTRIP Casters
Fixed KMZ export

### 1.2.3 — 2025-05-27

Minor fixes for NMEA GGA output to NTRIP casters

## Apps similar to SW Maps

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
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| [Touch GIS](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/touch-gis/id1469504766) | 4.0 (32) | Free | Productivity |
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## More apps by Aviyaan Tech

- [Bridge Site Monitoring](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bridge-site-monitoring/id1575127675)

All apps by Aviyaan Tech: https://appshunter.io/developer/1653343736

## Related topics

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*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 2026-08-08.*
