Comparison

topoXpress vs CartoLake

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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.

About

CartoLake

Create and georeference maps with various file formats. Supports imagery, scanned maps, and export options. Ideal for generating custom mapping content.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

topoXpress4 screens
CartoLake4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. CartoLake sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. topoXpress asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

topoXpress ships an update every 5 weeks, CartoLake weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 2 level
topoXpress versus CartoLake: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParametertopoXpressCartoLake
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (3 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings3 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.514.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size27 MB31 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTopoLynx GIS & Mapping LtdCartoLake, LLC

Customer experience

topoXpress

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral33.3%
Negative0.0%

CartoLake

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

topoXpress

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

CartoLake

Subscriptions3
  • FAA Sectionals7 Days trial$0.991 Month
  • Basic Monthly7 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Topographic Base Map7 Days trial$9.991 Month

Questions

Is topoXpress free?
topoXpress is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is CartoLake free?
CartoLake is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, topoXpress or CartoLake?
CartoLake is rated higher. topoXpress averages 4.0 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while CartoLake averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do topoXpress or CartoLake have ads?
CartoLake shows ads; topoXpress does not.
Which is updated more often, topoXpress or CartoLake?
topoXpress ships an update every 5 weeks, and CartoLake weekly. Most recently, topoXpress was updated on September 21, 2026 and CartoLake on October 13, 2026.

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