# National Forest Explorer vs Below Me

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Below Me at 100% against National Forest Explorer's 30%. Below Me also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.5) and update cadence (daily vs every 3 months). National Forest Explorer's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ratings volume (736 vs 1). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Below Me sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. National Forest Explorer asks for nothing beyond the download.

Below Me holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: National Forest Explorer has 736 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 30% of National Forest Explorer's written reviews are positive against 100% of Below Me's.

National Forest Explorer ships an update every 3 months, Below Me daily. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | National Forest Explorer | Below Me |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (736 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/national-forest-explorer/id1207062438/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/below-me/id6813999006/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **736** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 30.2% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Daily** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 109 MB | 32 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Toby Bloom](https://appshunter.io/developer/1396540802) | [Marc Bachmann](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896278158) |

## What reviewers say

### National Forest Explorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/national-forest-explorer/id1207062438)

Discover U.S. Forest Service lands and heritage sites with this official exploration tool. Access detailed information, offline maps, and recreational opportunities for your next adventure. Stay updated on closures and events with push notifications.

**Highlights:** Discover nearby forests and grasslands, Explore points of interest, Access forest facts and heritage information, Offline and GPS maps, Information on recreational opportunities, Educational audio tours, Push notifications for alerts

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great information
- 🗺️ Helpful maps and GPS
- ⭐ Wonderful experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and freezes
- 🤔 Incomplete and inaccurate information
- 📥 Difficult to download and access content
- 🤯 Confusing and cumbersome user interface

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues
- Compatibility problems with older devices
- Broken links and missing content

**Requested features**

- More national forests and recreation areas
- Offline maps and content
- Better search and filtering options
- Integration with other outdoor apps


### Below Me

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/below-me/id6813999006)

This app uses your device's camera to show you countries and geographical features on the other side of the Earth. It provides a live augmented reality view of borders, sea names, and distances, allowing you to explore the planet from your current location or simulate others.

**Highlights:** Live AR view of country borders, Distance and direction readouts, Offline functionality, Simulate locations worldwide, Detailed geographical relief, Day-night line visualization

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Below Me Pro Version | $3.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is National Forest Explorer free?

National Forest Explorer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Below Me free?

Below Me is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, National Forest Explorer or Below Me?

Below Me is rated higher. National Forest Explorer averages 4.5 out of 5 from 736 ratings, while Below Me averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do National Forest Explorer or Below Me have ads?

Neither National Forest Explorer nor Below Me shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, National Forest Explorer or Below Me?

National Forest Explorer ships an update every 3 months, and Below Me daily. Most recently, National Forest Explorer was updated on November 2, 2026 and Below Me on November 4, 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.*