# Topo Maps US vs Forest Maps 2

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 78%). 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.

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 — 213 and 588 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 88% of Topo Maps US's written reviews are positive against 78% 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 15, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Topo Maps US | Forest Maps 2 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (213 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/topo-maps-us/id1033846196/reviews) | **[4.7 (588 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forest-maps-2/id1261518983/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 213 | **588** |
| Positive reviews | **87.5% of reviews** | 78.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 5 MB | 95 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [DC Cloud Apps, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/353416960) | [Kinnaman Software LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/679806187) |

## 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


### Forest Maps 2

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forest-maps-2/id1261518983)

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:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Upgrade | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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- 🗺️ Maps can be outdated in some areas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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

- 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


## Frequently asked 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 213 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 15, 2026 and Forest Maps 2 on October 13, 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.*