Comparison

Touch GIS vs Map Canvas

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

Head to head
About

Touch GIS

This professional tool simplifies field data collection and mapping. It allows users to create and customize data forms, collect various data types offline, and export them to standard GIS formats. Professionals across diverse fields utilize it to enhance their fieldwork.

Highlights
  • Create Points, Lines, Polygons, Circles
  • Customizable attribute forms
  • Offline map tile saving
  • Export to industry standard formats
  • Attach photos to locations
  • Clinometer tool for orientation
  • Add custom base maps and overlays
Read full description

Touch GIS is the most intuitive professional field data collection and mapping tool. It's a super-powered field notebook enabling you to collect any kind of data, in any environment, online or offline, and transfer it easily to your preferred desktop GIS. We believe your data collection tools should amplify your capabilities, not limit them, which is why we focus on keeping your forms and attributes totally customizable in the field. Join thousands of professionals utilizing Touch GIS as their mobile GIS app to enhance their field work in geologic mapping, ecological mapping, civil engineering, mineral exploration and mining, natural resource management, landscape architecture, and more. FEATURES - Easily capture new Points, Lines, Polygons, and Circles in the field. - Quickly and accurately draw new lines and polygons with free draw mode and vertex snapping. - Adjust feature class attribute forms in the field at any time. - Get multiple perspectives by switching between basemaps in the field. - Download basemaps for offline use. - Export to many industry standard formats. - Snap, mark up, and attach photos to locations. - Measure planar and linear feature orientation using our clinometer tool with strike/dip, dip/dip direction, or trend/plunge formats. - Add custom base maps with WMS/WMTS. - Add raster images like Geospatial PDFS or GeoTiffs and other overlays to your map to see your location in context. - Add team members so your whole team has access. Supported file types: - Shapefiles - KML and KMZ - Geospatial PDF / GeoPDF - GeoPackage (GPKG) - GeoJSON - GPX - CSV - World File - Geotiff - JPG - PNG Customizable attribute types: - Description - Date & Time - Photos - List Of Values - Checkbox - Address - Number - Website - Phone Number - Attitude / Orientation for Geologic features Pre-loaded feature classes supporting many different use-cases: - Forestry - Geology - Real Estate - Stream Surveys - Water Infrastructure - Wetlands management - Create your own fully customizable data attribute forms, and update them in the field as needed. Terms of Service: https://www.touchgis.app/terms-of-service Privacy Policy: https://www.touchgis.app/privacy

About

Map Canvas

This app allows users to sketch, annotate, and plan routes directly on a world map. It supports importing and exporting geographic data files and offers tools for drawing and pathfinding. Users can also share their map creations online.

Highlights
  • Draw and annotate on world maps
  • Pathfinding tools
  • Import GeoJSON and GPX files
  • Export data for sharing
  • Journaling and illustration on maps
Features
Read full description

Map Canvas is a tool for planning, journalling and illustration on Apple map. This app comes with a set of tools for drawing, annotating and pathfinding. Data can be imported as GeoJSON and GPX files.

Screenshots

Touch GIS4 screens
Map Canvas3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Map Canvas at 4.5 against Touch GIS's 4.0. Map Canvas also leads on review sentiment (79% vs 50%) and ratings volume (100 vs 32). Touch GIS's advantage is iOS requirement (15.6 vs 18.0). 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. Touch GIS sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $29.99 per month and Map Canvas sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Map Canvas holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 32 and 100 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Touch GIS's written reviews are positive against 79% of Map Canvas's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Touch GIS ships an update every 3 weeks, Map Canvas fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Touch GIS versus Map Canvas: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTouch GISMap Canvas
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (32 ratings)4.5 (100 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews78.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings32100 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS15.6 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size79 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTouchGISKa Chun Wong

Customer experience

Touch GIS

All ratings32 ratings
Positive68.8%
Neutral9.4%
Negative21.9%
Written reviews30 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral13.3%
Negative36.7%

Map Canvas

All ratings100 ratings
Positive88.0%
Neutral1.0%
Negative11.0%
Written reviews19 reviews
Positive78.9%
Neutral5.3%
Negative15.8%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Touch GIS

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Subscription (Monthly)$29.991 Month
  • Pro License (Annual)$299.991 Year
3 purchases

Map Canvas

One-time3
  • 3-Days Free TrialFree
  • Map Canvas Watch App$0.99
  • Donation$2.99

Questions

Is Touch GIS free?
Touch GIS is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Map Canvas free?
Map Canvas is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Touch GIS or Map Canvas?
Map Canvas is rated higher. Touch GIS averages 4.0 out of 5 from 32 ratings, while Map Canvas averages 4.5 from 100 ratings.
Do Touch GIS or Map Canvas have ads?
Neither Touch GIS nor Map Canvas shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Touch GIS or Map Canvas?
Touch GIS ships an update every 3 weeks, and Map Canvas fortnightly. Most recently, Touch GIS was updated on October 16, 2026 and Map Canvas on October 17, 2026.

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