Topo Maps US vs TAK Tracker
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 USGS topographic maps of the United States and use them offline, with no account and no subscription. Topo Maps US is built for people who go where cell service doesn't: hikers, backpackers, hunters, anglers, paddlers, mountain bikers, geocachers, and anyone who wants a real topographic map in their pocket. MAPS Choose from three USGS map layers: standard topographic, aerial imagery with a topographic overlay, or plain aerial imagery. OFFLINE Tap the map squares you want and download them before you leave. Downloaded maps work with no Internet connection and use no cell data in the field. TRAILS AND POINTS OF INTEREST BUILT IN Every map download includes the trails, summits, lakes, campsites, and other named places in that area from OpenStreetMap, so you can search them by name while you're offline. TRAIL RECORDING Record where you go. Recorded trails show your path on the map with distance, elapsed time, and average speed. Recording stops automatically when you start driving, and any drive at the start or end of a trail is trimmed off. ELEVATION PROFILES Every recorded or imported trail gets an elevation profile with distance labels and color-coded grade shading. Drag along the chart to see the matching point on the map, its elevation, and the time you passed it. FLAGS Mark your current location or any spot on the map. Flags record coordinates and elevation, and you can add notes and organize them by color: geocaches, trailheads, summits, camps, and so on. NAVIGATION Pick a flag and follow the direction arrow, driven by your compass heading, with the distance remaining. Handy for geocaching and for finding your way back to camp or the car. LOCATION See where you are on the map, your elevation, speed, and the accuracy of the GPS fix. MEASURE Trace a route on the map to measure its distance, then save it as a trail to follow later. IMPORT AND SHARE Import trails and waypoints from GPX files and geocache LOC files. Share your flags and trails by email, Messages, or AirDrop as standard GPX files that work with any GPS unit or mapping software. Back up your maps and data to a computer over Wi-Fi. Designed for iPhone and iPad. Note: Continued use of GPS in the background can noticeably reduce battery life.
TAK Tracker
This navigation app allows users to integrate with existing Team Awareness Kit (TAK) servers for training and operations. It supports data packages, certificate enrollment, and broadcasts location information over UDP. The app is designed for low power consumption and continuous background operation.
- TAK server integration
- Data Packages and Certificate Enrollment
- Location/CoT broadcast over UDP
- Emergency Beacon support
- Standard, Hybrid, and 3D Maps
- Adjustable measurement types (MGRS)
- Continuous background operation
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The Team Awareness Kit (TAK) Tracker (also known as the Tactical Assault Kit in the Department of Defense) is a lightweight, send-only application designed to enable easy integrations into existing training and operational workflows. The application is designed from the ground-up in iOS and connects to your favorite TAK servers with either Data Packages or Certificate Enrollment. In addition, TAK Tracker can broadcast its information to the local network like you would expect from any TAK application. TAK Tracker contains with the following features: - Full support for Data Packages QR code, and Certificate Enrollment - Location / CoT broadcast over UDP - Emergency Beacon support - Support for Standard, Hybrid and 3D Maps - Ability to change all measurement types, including MGRS - Full support for continuously running in the background with low power draw System Requirements: - Supports iOS 15.4 and later versions
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: TAK Tracker at 5.0 against Topo Maps US's 4.4. TAK Tracker also leads on monetization model (free vs paid). Topo Maps US's advantage is review sentiment (88% vs 67%) and ratings volume (213 vs 7). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
TAK Tracker holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Topo Maps US has 213 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 88% of Topo Maps US's written reviews are positive against 67% of TAK Tracker'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, TAK Tracker every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Topo Maps US | TAK Tracker |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.4 (213 ratings) | 5.0 (7 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 87.5% of reviews — better | 66.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 213 — better | 7 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months — better | Every 3 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 5 MB | 15 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | DC Cloud Apps, LLC | Flight Tactics |
Customer experience
Topo Maps US
TAK Tracker
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
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- 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
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- 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
TAK Tracker
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Topo Maps US
No in-app purchases
TAK Tracker
No in-app purchases









