Comparison

Topo Maps US vs NGS Benchmark Hunter

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

NGS Benchmark Hunter

Discover and locate National Geodetic Survey markers across the United States with this app. It displays hundreds of thousands of reference points on an interactive map, color-coded by difficulty. Log your finds, view official data, and explore benchmarks nationwide.

Highlights
  • Interactive map of survey markers
  • Color-coded difficulty markers
  • Official NGS datasheets and history
  • Log finds with notes and photos
  • Nationwide benchmark search
  • Satellite view for location aid
Features
Read full description

NGS Benchmark Hunter puts hundreds of thousands of National Geodetic Survey markers on a map so you can find them in the real world. Benchmarks are brass or aluminum disks set into rock, concrete, and structures across the United States. Placed by the National Geodetic Survey, they serve as precise reference points for surveying and mapping — and they're everywhere, hiding in plain sight. FEATURES • Browse nearby benchmarks on an interactive map • Color-coded markers show difficulty: green (easy), orange (moderate), red (hard) • View official NGS datasheets, recovery notes, and history for each marker • Log your finds with notes and photos • Search any location to explore benchmarks nationwide • Toggle satellite view to help locate markers in the field Whether you're a surveyor, geocacher, hiker, or just curious, benchmark hunting is a rewarding way to explore the outdoors and discover a hidden piece of America's nfrastructure.

Screenshots

Topo Maps US4 screens
NGS Benchmark Hunter4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: NGS Benchmark Hunter at 5.0 against Topo Maps US's 4.4. NGS Benchmark Hunter also leads on monetization model (free vs paid) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). Topo Maps US's advantage is ratings volume (213 vs 3) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

NGS Benchmark Hunter 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 3, 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 NGS Benchmark Hunter's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Topo Maps US ships an update every 2 months, NGS Benchmark Hunter every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Topo Maps US versus NGS Benchmark Hunter: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTopo Maps USNGS Benchmark Hunter
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (213 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews87.5% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings213 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDC Cloud Apps, LLCVincent Star

Customer experience

Topo Maps US

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

NGS Benchmark Hunter

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 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

NGS Benchmark Hunter

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Topo Maps US

No in-app purchases

None

NGS Benchmark Hunter

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Topo Maps US free?
Topo Maps US is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is NGS Benchmark Hunter free?
NGS Benchmark Hunter is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Topo Maps US or NGS Benchmark Hunter?
NGS Benchmark Hunter is rated higher. Topo Maps US averages 4.4 out of 5 from 213 ratings, while NGS Benchmark Hunter averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.
Do Topo Maps US or NGS Benchmark Hunter have ads?
Neither Topo Maps US nor NGS Benchmark Hunter shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Topo Maps US or NGS Benchmark Hunter?
Topo Maps US ships an update every 2 months, and NGS Benchmark Hunter every 2 weeks. Most recently, Topo Maps US was updated on October 15, 2026 and NGS Benchmark Hunter on October 6, 2026.

Other comparisons