# Topo Maps US vs OwlsheadGPS Project

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Topo Maps US at 88% against OwlsheadGPS Project's 33%. Topo Maps US also leads on rating (4.4 vs 2.5) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 6 months). OwlsheadGPS Project's advantage is monetization model (free vs paid) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Topo Maps US holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 2.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Topo Maps US has 215 ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 88% of Topo Maps US's written reviews are positive against 33% of OwlsheadGPS Project's.

Topo Maps US ships an update every 2 months, OwlsheadGPS Project every 6 months. Both last shipped on November 2, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Topo Maps US | OwlsheadGPS Project |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (215 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/topo-maps-us/id1033846196/reviews)** | [2.5 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/owlsheadgps-project/id1224855662/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **215** | 13 |
| Positive reviews | **87.5% of reviews** | 33.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 5 MB | 190 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [DC Cloud Apps, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/353416960) | [Friends of Jawbone](https://appshunter.io/developer/649600931) |

## What reviewers say

### Topo Maps US

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/topo-maps-us/id1033846196)

Access and download detailed topographic maps of the United States for offline use. Track your location, mark waypoints, and record your routes for outdoor activities. Navigate with direction arrows and measure distances on the map.

**Highlights:** Download US topographic maps, Offline map viewing, GPS location tracking, Add and import waypoints (flags), Import and share GPX/LOC files, Record and share trails, Elevation profile charts

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Intuitive and simple user interface
- 📱 Works completely offline with downloaded maps
- 💰 Free app with no subscriptions or ads
- 🗺️ High-quality USGS topographic maps
- 📍 Accurate GPS location tracking

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 White/gray blocks appearing on offline maps
- 🔋 High battery drain during route recording
- ❌ Limited color options for flags (only red)
- ⚠️ Route recording stops unexpectedly
- 🔍 No search functionality for trails/landmarks

**Reported bugs**

- White and gray blocks appearing on downloaded offline maps
- Route recording stops unexpectedly mid-hike
- High battery drain during route tracking
- GPX file import issues in iOS 13+
- Map display issues near borders

**Requested features**

- Pause/resume tracking during hikes
- Search feature for trails and landmarks
- Apple Watch app support
- CarPlay integration
- Slope shading visualization


### OwlsheadGPS Project

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/owlsheadgps-project/id1224855662)

This app provides official OHV route data for California's public lands, ensuring you only drive on designated motorized trails. Explore over 37,000 routes across various agencies, with offline map downloads for areas without cell service. Track your rides and manage data layers for special status areas.

**Highlights:** Official OHV route data, Offline map downloads, 37,000+ motorized routes, Track recording (My Rides), Favorite trails sharing, Data layer management

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Topo Maps US free?

Topo Maps US is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is OwlsheadGPS Project free?

OwlsheadGPS Project is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Topo Maps US or OwlsheadGPS Project?

Topo Maps US is rated higher. Topo Maps US averages 4.4 out of 5 from 215 ratings, while OwlsheadGPS Project averages 2.5 from 13 ratings.

### Do Topo Maps US or OwlsheadGPS Project have ads?

Neither Topo Maps US nor OwlsheadGPS Project shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Topo Maps US or OwlsheadGPS Project?

Topo Maps US ships an update every 2 months, and OwlsheadGPS Project every 6 months. Most recently, Topo Maps US was updated on November 2, 2026 and OwlsheadGPS Project on November 2, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*