topoXpress vs CartoLake
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
topoXpress
This application provides robust GIS and surveying tools for field data collection and analysis. It supports both online and offline operations with a wide range of spatial data formats and powerful visualization functions. Designed for professionals, it facilitates collaborative mapping and extensive GNSS receiver integration.
- Multiplatform GIS and surveying functionality
- Handles large spatial datasets (raster/vector)
- Online and offline data operation
- Powerful GIS visualization functions
- Productive data collection tools
- Collaborative mapping via cloud service
- Extensive GNSS receiver support
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topoXpress provides the following features: • Multiplatform design: the same software with the same rich functionality for both GIS data collectors and Surveyors on iOS & macOS. • Handling and displaying large spatial datasets (raster and vector). • Responsive and intuitive user interface: easy to learn and use, automatic adjustment to different screen sizes, orientations, and resolutions of mobile (iPhone, iPad) and desktop devices. • Online and offline operation: online data sources (Cloud storage, TMS, WMS, KML), offline raster datasets (jpeg, ecw, ers, tiff, png, lan, bil, ENVI bsq), offline vector datasets (shp, dxf, map, GeoJSON, mif, txt, crd, dat, dbf, tab, mid). • Powerful GIS visualization functions: thematic mapping, transparency, labeling, query, layer groups, vector symbols, line types, fill types, event mapping. • Productive data collection: templates, surveying, stakeout, CoGo (Coordinate Geometry), forms, lists, calculated fields, GIS editing functions, sampling tool, and more. • Collaborative mapping for professional users through the topoXpress cloud service. • Extensive support of GNSS receivers through TCP port & Bluetooth, projection systems, geoids, shift grids. Bluetooth Rangefinder support for CoGo tasks. The app can be used in many different sectors: • Field data collection and inspection • Land Surveying • Topographic mapping • Forestry • Farm mapping • Utility mapping and inspection • Archeology *** NOTE: topoXpress offers all specified GIS functions free of charge. However, loading more than 10.000 records, saving and exporting your job can be done through our cloud service. Please visit our website for further details: https://topoXpress.com **NOTE ON BATTERY USAGE: The app may dramatically decrease battery life during the use with large spatial datasets. The app supports optional background location services, which can may cause a faster battery drain than usual.
CartoLake
Create and georeference maps with various file formats. Supports imagery, scanned maps, and export options. Ideal for generating custom mapping content.
- Georeference imagery and scanned maps
- Import Shapefile, KML, mbtiles, GeoJSON, PNG
- Create simple maps
- Export maps to various formats
- Create ForeFlight Content Packs
- Publish georeferenced imagery
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CartoLake is a general purpose mapping for creating maps and georeferencing files. Features include: * GeoReference imagery and scanned maps * Importing and viewing various file formats: Shapefile, KML, mbtiles, GeoJSON and PNG Images * Creation of simple maps * Maps can be exported to various formats * Ability to create ForeFlight Content Packs * Publish Georef imagery End User License Agreement: https://www.cartolake.com/about/terms
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: CartoLake at 5.0 against topoXpress's 4.0. CartoLake also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 5 weeks) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 17.5). topoXpress's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ads (none vs shown). On price 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. CartoLake sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. topoXpress asks for nothing beyond the download.
CartoLake holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 1 respectively.
topoXpress ships an update every 5 weeks, CartoLake weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | topoXpress | CartoLake |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.0 (3 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Number of ratings | 3 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.5 | 14.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 27 MB | 31 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | TopoLynx GIS & Mapping Ltd | CartoLake, LLC |
Customer experience
topoXpress
CartoLake
In-app purchases
topoXpress
No in-app purchases
CartoLake
- FAA Sectionals7 Days trial$0.991 Month
- Basic Monthly7 Days trial$9.991 Month
- Topographic Base Map7 Days trial$9.991 Month









