Comparison

Topo Maps US vs Forest Maps 2

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Topo Maps US

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
Read full description

Download and view topographic maps covering the United States. Topographic maps are useful for recreational activities such as hiking, canoeing, camping, fishing, mountain biking, geocaching, and exploring. MAPS Choose from 2 map sources: USGS standard topographic or USGS hybrid topographic. OFFLINE Download maps for areas of interest to view them later when you don't have Internet access or you don't want to use cell data. TRACKING Use location tracking to show where you are on the map, your elevation, and the accuracy of the GPS signal. FLAGS Flags are included with map downloads. Add flags (waypoints) to the map to mark your current location or other locations. Import flags from other sources using GPX files and geocache LOC files. Share flags with others using email or AirDrop. Organize your flag types by color, for example, geocaches, trailheads, and summits. TRAILS Trails are included with map downloads. Import trails (tracks) using GPX files you find on the Internet or from your personal GPS track collection. Share trails with others using email or AirDrop. Organize your trail types by color, for example, mountain bike trails, hiking trails, and OHV trails. TRAIL RECORDING Record your own trails to show where you've been on the map, follow them later, and share with others. ELEVATION PROFILE Recorded trails include an elevation profile (distance/elevation chart). NAVIGATION Navigate to a flag by following the direction arrow that uses your compass heading. Useful for geocaching. MEASURE Measure the distance between points on the map. Note: Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life.

About

Forest Maps 2

Access detailed maps of all U.S. National Forests on your mobile device. Save favorite locations and synchronize them across devices. Offline map downloads and track recording are available with a Pro upgrade.

Highlights
  • U.S. Forest Service maps
  • Continuous map view
  • Favorite spot markers
  • iCloud synchronization
  • Offline map downloads
  • GPS location tracking
  • Track recording and export
Features
Read full description

Forest service maps on your iPhone or iPad! This app includes all areas mapped by the United States Forest Service. The map is a single, continuous map, so there's no need to search through menus to find the map you need. Save favorite spots with map markers that use iCloud to synchronize across your devices. Upgrade to Pro and get: • Map downloads. Going off the grid? Download entire forests for use when the Internet is unavailable. GPS-enabled devices such as the iPhone and the Wi-Fi + Cellular iPad show your current location on the map, even when you have no network connection. • Track recording. Record your track to see where you've been. Each track shows its distance, duration, average speed, and elevation profile. Share your tracks with other Forest Maps users, open them in Google Earth, or export to a GPX file. This app was not created by and is not affiliated with the United States National Forest Service.

Screenshots

Topo Maps US3 screens
Forest Maps 22 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Topo Maps US at none against Forest Maps 2's 1. Topo Maps US also leads on review sentiment (88% vs 79%). Forest Maps 2's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 4.4) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Forest Maps 2 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Topo Maps US asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Forest Maps 2 holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 211 and 588 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 88% of Topo Maps US's written reviews are positive against 79% of Forest Maps 2's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Topo Maps US ships an update every 2 months, Forest Maps 2 every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Topo Maps US versus Forest Maps 2: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTopo Maps USForest Maps 2
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (211 ratings)4.7 (588 ratings) — better
Positive reviews87.5% of reviews — better78.7% of reviews
Number of ratings211588 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB95 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDC Cloud Apps, LLCKinnaman Software LLC

Customer experience

Topo Maps US

All ratings211 ratings
Positive86.7%
Neutral1.4%
Negative11.8%
Written reviews80 reviews
Positive87.5%
Neutral2.5%
Negative10.0%

Forest Maps 2

All ratings588 ratings
Positive94.0%
Neutral2.4%
Negative3.6%
Written reviews61 reviews
Positive78.7%
Neutral8.2%
Negative13.1%

User reviews

Topo Maps US

From 211 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 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

Room to improve

  • 🐛 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

Forest Maps 2

From 588 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Excellent maps
  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 💯 Reliable and accurate
  • 🗺️ Detailed topographical maps
  • 📥 Ability to download entire forest maps

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes or freezing
  • 🗺️ Maps can be outdated in some areas
  • 💰 Paid upgrade required for full functionality
  • 📍 Difficulty in dropping precise pins or markers

Bugs and requests

Topo Maps US

Reported bugs

8 issues
  • 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
Show 3 more
  • Flags cluttering the view
  • Inconsistent zoom functionality
  • Route tracking drops without saving

Requested features

18 requests
  • Pause/resume tracking during hikes
  • Search feature for trails and landmarks
  • Apple Watch app support
  • CarPlay integration
  • Slope shading visualization
Show 13 more
  • Ability to select and download multiple tiles at once
  • Background map downloading
  • Map transfer between devices
  • iCloud backup for GPS tracks
  • Older USGS topographic map versions
  • Time stamps in GPX export for fitness tracking
  • Quadrangle identification display
  • Built-in compass with map orientation
  • Laptop map manager for easier updates
  • Community Q&A section
  • Multiple color options for waypoints
  • Auto-save feature for long recordings
  • Larger downloadable map areas

Forest Maps 2

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Incompatibility issues with iOS 13
  • Tracking feature not always working as expected

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to import/export waypoints and locations
  • Integration with other navigation apps
  • Overlays for MVUM (Motor Vehicle Use Map) data
  • Browser version for route planning
  • More customization options for pins and markers

In-app purchases

None

Topo Maps US

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Forest Maps 2

One-time1
  • Pro Upgrade$2.99

Questions

Is Topo Maps US free?
Topo Maps US is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Forest Maps 2 free?
Forest Maps 2 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Topo Maps US or Forest Maps 2?
Forest Maps 2 is rated higher. Topo Maps US averages 4.4 out of 5 from 211 ratings, while Forest Maps 2 averages 4.7 from 588 ratings.
Do Topo Maps US or Forest Maps 2 have ads?
Neither Topo Maps US nor Forest Maps 2 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Topo Maps US or Forest Maps 2?
Topo Maps US ships an update every 2 months, and Forest Maps 2 every 6 weeks. Most recently, Topo Maps US was updated on October 3, 2026 and Forest Maps 2 on September 30, 2026.

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