Comparison

NPMS Public Viewer vs Buxus

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

NPMS Public Viewer

View maps of hazardous liquid and gas transmission pipelines. Discover pipeline operators, the materials they transport, and contact information. Locate pipelines by county, offshore area, or proximity to your current location.

Highlights
  • Hazardous pipeline maps
  • Operator identification
  • Material transported details
  • Contact information
  • Location-based search
  • County and offshore area selection
Read full description

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s (PHMSA) National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS) has developed the NPMS Public Viewer iPhone app to allow the public to view hazardous liquid and gas transmission pipeline maps. The user can see who operates a pipeline, what it transports, and who to contact for further information. To get started, a user may choose one county or offshore area (including state waters or federal waters) or choose to see pipelines closest to the user’s current location. For more information about the NPMS, or to access the full desktop browser version of the NPMS Public Map Viewer, go to the NPMS website at https://www.npms.phmsa.dot.gov/.

About

Buxus

Access critical pipeline operator information, including emergency contacts, products transported, and hazard identification. This app helps emergency responders and the public understand and interact with local pipeline infrastructure.

Highlights
  • Emergency contact information
  • Products transported details
  • Hazard identification
  • Response guidance
  • Information request from operators
  • User reporting of critical information
Features
Read full description

Buxus® is the essential tool that bridges the gap between pipeline operators and other facility operators and those who need critical information most: emergency responders, the public, and other important stakeholders. Access on-demand details about pipelines and critical infrastructure in your area, including emergency contacts, safety information, transported materials, and hazard identification. Key Features: - Instant access to operator-specific safety information. - Emergency preparedness and response training resources. - Direct communication channel to request and report vital information. - Tailored content for emergency responders, the public, excavators, public officials, and the community. Buxus® ensures everyone has the information they need, when they need it, to protect lives and infrastructure. Download Buxus® and be aware and prepared.

Screenshots

NPMS Public Viewer4 screens
Buxus4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: NPMS Public Viewer at 40% against Buxus's 20%. NPMS Public Viewer also leads on rating (4.0 vs 3.7). Buxus's advantage is ratings volume (19 vs 4). 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

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

NPMS Public Viewer holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 19 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 40% of NPMS Public Viewer's written reviews are positive against 20% of Buxus's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

NPMS Public Viewer ships an update every 2 months, Buxus every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
NPMS Public Viewer versus Buxus: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNPMS Public ViewerBuxus
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (4 ratings) — better3.7 (19 ratings)
Positive reviews40.0% of reviews — better20.0% of reviews
Number of ratings419 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS14.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB530 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety AdministrationSander Resources, L.L.C.

Customer experience

NPMS Public Viewer

All ratings4 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive40.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative60.0%

Buxus

All ratings19 ratings
Positive68.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative31.6%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive20.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative80.0%

In-app purchases

None

NPMS Public Viewer

No in-app purchases

None

Buxus

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is NPMS Public Viewer free?
NPMS Public Viewer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Buxus free?
Buxus is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, NPMS Public Viewer or Buxus?
NPMS Public Viewer is rated higher. NPMS Public Viewer averages 4.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Buxus averages 3.7 from 19 ratings.
Do NPMS Public Viewer or Buxus have ads?
Neither NPMS Public Viewer nor Buxus shows ads.
Which is updated more often, NPMS Public Viewer or Buxus?
NPMS Public Viewer ships an update every 2 months, and Buxus every 6 weeks. Most recently, NPMS Public Viewer was updated on October 16, 2026 and Buxus on October 24, 2026.

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