# HeliPlates vs Topo Fire

The clearest difference is rating: HeliPlates at 5.0 against Topo Fire's 4.5. HeliPlates also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1). Topo Fire's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 17 months) and device support (5 vs 2). On price and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Topo Fire sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $59.99 per year. HeliPlates asks for nothing beyond the download.

HeliPlates holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 11 respectively.

HeliPlates ships an update every 17 months, Topo Fire weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HeliPlates | Topo Fire |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heliplates/id1262922778/reviews)** | [4.5 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/topo-fire/id6446780541/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **11** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 17 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 0 MB | 185 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | **15** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [California Department of Transportation](https://appshunter.io/developer/1193696576) | [Glacier Peak Studios LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/672246356) |

## What reviewers say

### HeliPlates

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heliplates/id1262922778)

This app provides detailed information on hospital heliports across California, including navigation coordinates, dimensions, and facility details. Users can view heliports on an interactive map or by hospital name, with aerial photos and approach paths included. Data can be saved for offline access.

**Highlights:** Interactive map of California hospital heliports, Detailed heliport information, Navigational coordinates, Aerial photos with approach paths, Offline data saving, Search by region, county, or hospital name

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Topo Fire

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/topo-fire/id6446780541)

This app provides wildland firefighters with essential mapping tools and resources for incident response. It offers shared incident maps, various map layers, and navigation aids, all accessible on mobile devices and Apple Watch.

**Highlights:** Shared incident maps with live location, Multiple map layers (USGS, Forest Service, etc.), Drawing and waypoint tools, Proximity alerts, Apple Watch integration, Cloud sync across devices

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Topo Fire Pro | $59.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HeliPlates free?

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

### Is Topo Fire free?

Topo Fire is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, HeliPlates or Topo Fire?

HeliPlates is rated higher. HeliPlates averages 5.0 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Topo Fire averages 4.5 from 11 ratings.

### Do HeliPlates or Topo Fire have ads?

Neither HeliPlates nor Topo Fire shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, HeliPlates or Topo Fire?

HeliPlates ships an update every 17 months, and Topo Fire weekly. Most recently, HeliPlates was updated on October 31, 2026 and Topo Fire on October 24, 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.*