planlauf/TERRAIN vs Detector Maps
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
planlauf/TERRAIN
This app displays 2D and 3D LiDAR maps created on a desktop. It can be used for hiking and exploring landscapes with your device's GPS. Regional 2D LiDAR maps are also available for purchase.
- 2D and 3D LiDAR map display
- GPS integration for navigation
- Hiking and landscape exploration
- Purchase regional maps
- Desktop map creation compatibility
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planlauf/TERRAIN's app for iOS displays 2D and 3D LiDAR maps that you can create with the desktop version of planlauf/TERRAIN. You can also purchase 2D LiDAR maps for some regions in Europe. Together with your device’s GPS, you can use the app for hiking or exploring landscapes.
Detector Maps
This app provides advanced geological data and GPS tools for gold prospecting in Australia, the US, and New Zealand. It offers offline map access, breadcrumb tracking, and waypoint marking to help users explore efficiently and locate potential gold-bearing areas.
- Advanced geological and gold-focused data
- Offline map and data layer downloads
- Breadcrumb trail tracking (background GPS)
- Waypoint marking with field notes
- Real-time GPS navigation
- Historic gold mines and workings layers
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Detector Maps is the field tool that keeps you on the gold - and on the relics. Built by geologists for prospectors, relic hunters and metal detectorists across the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, it pairs geological data and historical maps with rock-solid GPS so you spend your time on high-potential ground, not guessing. Whether you are swinging a detector for gold nuggets, coin shooting an old homestead, hunting Civil War relics or panning a creek, it puts serious research intelligence in your pocket - and it works offline, where the finds actually are. COIN & RELIC HUNTING - NATIONWIDE Research old towns, ghost towns, homesteads, schoolhouses and long-forgotten gathering places - the ground where old coins, buttons, buckles and relics are still waiting. - Historical map overlays: hunt the buildings, roads and fields the modern map forgot - Historic USGS Topo maps, coast to coast - LiDAR that reveals cellar holes, old roads and house sites hiding under the trees - Plan permissions with confidence before you knock GOLD PROSPECTING - 15 STATES Serious geology for nugget hunting, from California to the Carolinas. Detect where gold has already been found, then find what the old-timers missed. - Historic gold mines, diggings and workings - proven gold ground - Surface geochemistry with pathfinder-element filtering - Current and expired mining claims, updated every weekday - 1-metre LiDAR hillshade that reveals old workings worth a closer swing DETECTOR ACADEMY A built-in crash course: 34 short video lessons, most under a minute - layers, LiDAR, waypoints, trails, offline maps and Pro tools. DETECTOR GRIDS Plan complete, methodical coverage of a site with adjustable search lanes you follow while recording your trail - never grid the same ground twice. BREADCRUMB TRAIL TRACKING (BACKGROUND GPS) Record your exact trail even with the app in the background or the screen off. See where you have walked and save paths for the next trip. WHY WE REQUEST "ALLOW ALL THE TIME" LOCATION ACCESS Detector Maps only uses background location when you switch breadcrumb tracking ON, keeping an unbroken log while your phone is idle. Disable it anytime in the app or device settings. WAYPOINT MARKING AND FIND LOGGING Drop waypoints on coins, relics, gold finds and old workings. Add names, notes and photos, then sync securely between your phone and the web app so your finds are never lost. REAL-TIME GPS NAVIGATION Watch boundaries, geology, historical maps and terrain update around you as you move - a GPS built for prospecting, coin shooting and relic hunting. COVERAGE USA COIN & RELIC: Nationwide USA GOLD: CA, AL, NC, AZ, NV, ID, OR, UT, CO, MT, WA, SC, VA, GA, NM AUSTRALIA: QLD, NSW, VIC, WA, SA, TAS, NT NEW ZEALAND: historic goldfields, geology and offline maps CANADA: British Columbia SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION All plans include every map, standard data layers, offline downloads, and access to Australia, USA, New Zealand, Canada (BC) and the UK. USA Pricing - Explorer Monthly: $7.99 USD; Explorer Yearly: $59.99; Pro Monthly: $11.99 USD; Pro Yearly: $99.99 USD. Payment is charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel anytime in your App Store account settings. Pricing may vary by region. PRIVACY AND DATA Your location, trails and waypoints are used only for core app functionality. Delete your account anytime: Profile > Delete Account > type "confirm" > tap Delete. Privacy Policy: https://app.detectormaps.com/privacy-policy Terms of Use (EULA): https://app.detectormaps.com/license-agreement Whether you swing a GPX 6000, an Equinox, a Manticore, a Deus or a Gold Monster - or a sluice or a pan - Detector Maps helps you cover more ground, log your best finds, and read productive terrain like a professional.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Detector Maps at 4.7 against planlauf/TERRAIN's 2.5. Detector Maps also leads on update cadence (every 6 days vs every 6 weeks) and ratings volume (246 vs 2). planlauf/TERRAIN's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and ads (none vs shown). On price, review sentiment, in-app purchases and device support 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
Both are free to download. planlauf/TERRAIN sells 15 one-off in-app purchases and Detector Maps sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Detector Maps holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Detector Maps has 246 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 75% of planlauf/TERRAIN's written reviews are positive against 73% of Detector Maps's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
planlauf/TERRAIN ships an update every 6 weeks, Detector Maps every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on September 7, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | planlauf/TERRAIN | Detector Maps |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.5 (2 ratings) | 4.7 (246 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 75.0% of reviews — better | 73.2% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 2 | 246 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Every 6 days — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | — | #114 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 — better | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 30 MB | 129 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | planlauf GmbH | GOLD DISCOVERY SOLUTIONS PTY LTD |
Customer experience
planlauf/TERRAIN
Detector Maps
Bugs and requests
planlauf/TERRAIN
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Detector Maps
Reported bugs
2 issues- Issues with subscription and login
- LiDAR not working in certain areas
Requested features
2 requests- Expand coverage to more areas
- Improve data accuracy and consistency
In-app purchases
planlauf/TERRAIN
- Malta$0.99
- Steiermark$7.99
- Tirol$7.99
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- Sachsen-Anhalt$7.99
- Hessen$7.99
- Niederösterreich / Austria$7.99
- LiDAR map Mecklenburg-Vorpommern$7.99
- LiDAR map Schleswig-Holstein$7.99
- LiDAR map Saarland$7.99
- Switzerland$10.99
- Bayern / Germany$10.99
- LiDAR Map England$11.99
- LiDAR map Niedersachsen$11.99
- LiDAR Map Rheinland-Pfalz$11.99
- LiDAR map Baden-Württemberg$11.99
Detector Maps
- Monthly Explorer Plan$7.991 Month
- Monthly Plan$11.991 Month
- Yearly Explorer Plan$59.991 Year
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- Yearly Plan3 Days trial$99.991 Year
Questions
Is planlauf/TERRAIN free?
Is Detector Maps free?
Which has better reviews, planlauf/TERRAIN or Detector Maps?
Do planlauf/TERRAIN or Detector Maps have ads?
Which is updated more often, planlauf/TERRAIN or Detector Maps?
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