Comparison

Topo Maps US vs NomadIQ

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 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.

About

NomadIQ

Navigate your world with custom map layers sourced from geospatial experts. Discover curated content for diverse needs, from outdoor adventures to urban living. Tailor your map experience to suit your journey.

Highlights
  • Curated map layers
  • Geospatial content
  • Customizable map experience
  • Offline navigation support
  • Subscription-based layers
Read full description

Digital nomads, weekend warriors, and hunters of all things from dinner in the backcountry to a house in the city. NomadIQ is a mobile app to help people navigate a changing world. It sources map content from top geospatial scientists and allows each user to subscribe to their own set of curated layers. Life is a journey, take only what you need.

Screenshots

Topo Maps US4 screens
NomadIQ4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: NomadIQ at 5.0 against Topo Maps US's 4.4. NomadIQ also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 88%). Topo Maps US's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 16) and ratings volume (213 vs 17). On price, update cadence, ads and device support 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. NomadIQ sells 16 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per year. Topo Maps US asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

NomadIQ 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 17, 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 100% of NomadIQ's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Topo Maps US ships an update every 2 months, NomadIQ every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Topo Maps US versus NomadIQ: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTopo Maps USNomadIQ
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (213 ratings)5.0 (17 ratings) — better
Positive reviews87.5% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings213 — better17
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB105 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDC Cloud Apps, LLCNomadIQ, LLC

Customer experience

Topo Maps US

All ratings213 ratings
Positive86.9%
Neutral1.4%
Negative11.7%
Written reviews80 reviews
Positive87.5%
Neutral2.5%
Negative10.0%

NomadIQ

All ratings17 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

NomadIQ

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Topo Maps US

No in-app purchases

16 purchases

NomadIQ

Subscriptions16
  • USGS Terrain Hillshade$0.991 Year
  • terraPulse Water Cover$1.991 Year
  • 3-7 Days Wildfire and Drought$1.991 Year
Show 13 more
  • USA Impervious Surface$1.991 Year
  • USA Trails$1.991 Year
  • NCLD Land Cover$1.991 Year
  • terraPulse Tree Cover$1.991 Year
  • terraPulse US Public Land$1.991 Year
  • USDA Cropland Data Layer 2021$1.991 Year
  • terraPulse Elevation (meters)$1.991 Year
  • USA Flood Hazard Areas$1.991 Year
  • LandScan Global$1.991 Year
  • USA Flooding Frequency$1.991 Year
  • terraPulse Biomass$2.991 Year
  • terraPulse Wildfire Hazard$2.991 Year
  • terraPulse Mule Deer Habitat$2.991 Year

Questions

Is Topo Maps US free?
Topo Maps US is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is NomadIQ free?
NomadIQ is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Topo Maps US or NomadIQ?
NomadIQ is rated higher. Topo Maps US averages 4.4 out of 5 from 213 ratings, while NomadIQ averages 5.0 from 17 ratings.
Do Topo Maps US or NomadIQ have ads?
Neither Topo Maps US nor NomadIQ shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Topo Maps US or NomadIQ?
Topo Maps US ships an update every 2 months, and NomadIQ every 5 weeks. Most recently, Topo Maps US was updated on October 15, 2026 and NomadIQ on October 7, 2026.

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