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.
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.
- 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
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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.
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.
- U.S. Forest Service maps
- Continuous map view
- Favorite spot markers
- iCloud synchronization
- Offline map downloads
- GPS location tracking
- Track recording and export
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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
Verdict
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
Both are free to download. Forest Maps 2 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Topo Maps US asks for nothing beyond the download.
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.
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.
| Parameter | Topo Maps US | Forest Maps 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.4 (211 ratings) | 4.7 (588 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 87.5% of reviews — better | 78.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 211 | 588 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 6 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 5 MB | 95 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | DC Cloud Apps, LLC | Kinnaman Software LLC |
Customer experience
Topo Maps US
Forest Maps 2
User reviews
Topo Maps US
From 211 App Store ratingsWhat 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 ratingsWhat 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 moreShow fewer
- 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 moreShow fewer
- 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
Topo Maps US
No in-app purchases
Forest Maps 2
- Pro Upgrade$2.99
Questions
Is Topo Maps US free?
Is Forest Maps 2 free?
Which has better reviews, Topo Maps US or Forest Maps 2?
Do Topo Maps US or Forest Maps 2 have ads?
Which is updated more often, Topo Maps US or Forest Maps 2?
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