# Caltrans QuickMap vs CAT Scale Locator

The clearest difference is rating: CAT Scale Locator at 4.1 against Caltrans QuickMap's 3.2. CAT Scale Locator also leads on iOS requirement (15.6 vs 18.6). Caltrans QuickMap's advantage is review sentiment (30% vs 6%) and ratings volume (206 vs 12). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

CAT Scale Locator holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Caltrans QuickMap has 206 ratings behind it against 12, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 30% of Caltrans QuickMap's written reviews are positive against 6% of CAT Scale Locator's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Caltrans QuickMap ships an update every 2 months, CAT Scale Locator every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Caltrans QuickMap | CAT Scale Locator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.2 (206 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/caltrans-quickmap/id1193696577/reviews) | **[4.1 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cat-scale-locator/id1444140745/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **206** | 12 |
| Positive reviews | **29.6% of reviews** | 6.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#190** | #210 |
| Size | 28 MB | 43 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [California Department of Transportation](https://appshunter.io/developer/1193696576) | [BoomerCo](https://appshunter.io/developer/403656051) |

## What reviewers say

### Caltrans QuickMap

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/caltrans-quickmap/id1193696577)

**Currently charting:** #190 Top Free · Navigation (US App Store)

Access real-time California traffic conditions, including speeds, camera snapshots, and lane closures. Receive alerts for road closures near your location. Customize your map view to display various highway information and points of interest.

**Highlights:** Real-time freeway speeds, Traffic camera snapshots, Lane closure alerts, CHP incident reports, Highway information display, Geotargeted notifications, Customizable map preferences

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🗺️ Comprehensive real-time road condition information
- 📹 Live traffic camera views for visual verification
- ⛓️ Accurate chain control location tracking
- 🚔 CHP incident and activity updates
- ❄️ Essential for winter mountain driving safety

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes on launch
- 📹 Camera feeds non-functional or display only still images
- ⏰ Information updates lag significantly behind actual conditions
- 🔍 Search functionality completely non-functional
- 📍 Inaccurate or missing road closure information

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes immediately upon opening
- App closes itself even when not driving
- Camera feeds display error (play button with slash)
- Search feature completely non-functional
- Location and refresh buttons stack on iPhone XR

**Requested features**

- CarPlay compatibility
- Live video streaming for cameras instead of still images
- Terrain and satellite map view options
- Ability to zoom and pinch camera images
- Larger, more visible map icons


### CAT Scale Locator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cat-scale-locator/id1444140745)

**Currently charting:** #210 Top Free · Navigation (US App Store)

Easily find the closest CAT Scale locations using your current GPS or by custom search. Save your favorite locations for quick access. This app helps truckers and drivers locate essential weighing stations on the go.

**Highlights:** Locate nearest CAT Scales, GPS-based search, Custom location search, Save favorite locations, Access from iOS devices

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Caltrans QuickMap free?

Caltrans QuickMap is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is CAT Scale Locator free?

CAT Scale Locator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Caltrans QuickMap or CAT Scale Locator?

CAT Scale Locator is rated higher. Caltrans QuickMap averages 3.2 out of 5 from 206 ratings, while CAT Scale Locator averages 4.1 from 12 ratings.

### Do Caltrans QuickMap or CAT Scale Locator have ads?

Neither Caltrans QuickMap nor CAT Scale Locator shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Caltrans QuickMap or CAT Scale Locator?

Caltrans QuickMap ships an update every 2 months, and CAT Scale Locator every 4 months. Most recently, Caltrans QuickMap was updated on September 25, 2026 and CAT Scale Locator on September 18, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Caltrans QuickMap or CAT Scale Locator?

Caltrans QuickMap currently peaks at #190 in the App Store charts, and CAT Scale Locator at #210. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*