# CalTopo vs iTAK

The clearest difference is rating: CalTopo at 4.8 against iTAK's 3.5. CalTopo also leads on ratings volume (7.6K vs 156) and review sentiment (56% vs 41%). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

CalTopo holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CalTopo has 7.6K ratings behind it against 156, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 56% of CalTopo's written reviews are positive against 41% of iTAK's.

CalTopo ships an update every 2 weeks, iTAK every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on November 11, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | CalTopo | iTAK |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (7.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/caltopo-backcountry-mapping/id1460038458/reviews)** | [3.5 (156 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/itak/id1561656396/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **7.6K** | 156 |
| Positive reviews | **56.5% of reviews** | 40.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#117** | #186 |
| Size | 165 MB | 278 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [CalTopo LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1460038457) | [United States Department of the Army, TAK Product Center](https://appshunter.io/developer/1561656398) |

## What reviewers say

### CalTopo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/caltopo-backcountry-mapping/id1460038458)

**Currently charting:** #117 Top Free · Navigation (US App Store)

Plan and navigate off-grid adventures with detailed offline maps and real-time weather forecasts. Trusted by professionals, this app offers seamless syncing and collaborative planning for backcountry pursuits.

**Highlights:** Offline map downloads, Satellite imagery, Route planning, GPS tracking, Weather forecasting, Collaborative map sharing, Slope angle shading

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Powerful mapping features
- 💡 Extensive data layers
- 👍 Detailed trail and terrain information
- 👍 Useful for SAR operations
- 👍 Great for planning outdoor adventures

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and unstable mobile app
- 🐛 Maps not always loading properly
- 🐛 Slow map rendering
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 👎 Difficult to use for casual users

**Reported bugs**

- Trails and tracks disappearing
- Coordinate display issues
- Frequent app crashes and freezes
- Incompatibility with older devices

**Requested features**

- Add 3D map view
- Implement route snapping to trails
- Improve offline map download capabilities
- Add photo geotagging functionality
- Implement course-up map orientation


### iTAK

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/itak/id1561656396)

**Currently charting:** #186 Top Free · Navigation (US App Store)

This app provides real-time collaborative mapping and team tracking. Share locations, sensor data, videos, and chat with your team. Supports online and offline mapping with various data formats.

**Highlights:** Real-time team tracking, Collaborative mapping, Online and offline mapping, KML/KMZ/GeoPDF overlay import, Chat and file sharing, Live video streaming, Navigation tools

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and intuitive user interface
- 🚀 Smooth performance when functioning properly
- 📍 Real-time location tracking works well
- 🔄 Good core TAK server connectivity
- 📦 Convenient data package sharing

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezes
- ❌ Significantly fewer features than ATAK Android version
- 🔌 Poor compatibility with ATAK ecosystem
- 🔋 Excessive battery drain
- 🗺️ Limited map options (Apple Maps only, outdated imagery)

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when exporting data packages
- App crashes when uploading files with local data
- App crashes when importing overlays
- App crashes when changing map types
- App crashes when creating missions

**Requested features**

- Meshtastic and LoRa device support
- GRG (Grid Reference Graphic) functionality
- Mesh network integration (GoTenna, Beartooth)
- Plugin support system
- Google Maps or alternative map providers


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CalTopo free?

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

### Is iTAK free?

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

### Which has better reviews, CalTopo or iTAK?

CalTopo is rated higher. CalTopo averages 4.8 out of 5 from 7.6K ratings, while iTAK averages 3.5 from 156 ratings.

### Do CalTopo or iTAK have ads?

Neither CalTopo nor iTAK shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, CalTopo or iTAK?

CalTopo ships an update every 2 weeks, and iTAK every 3 weeks. Most recently, CalTopo was updated on November 11, 2026 and iTAK on November 11, 2026.

### Which is more popular, CalTopo or iTAK?

CalTopo currently peaks at #117 in the App Store charts, and iTAK at #186. 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.*