# ArcGIS Field Maps vs Transect

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Transect at 100% against ArcGIS Field Maps's 11%. Transect also leads on rating (5.0 vs 2.1). ArcGIS Field Maps's advantage is ratings volume (59 vs 2). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

Transect holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ArcGIS Field Maps has 59 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 11% of ArcGIS Field Maps's written reviews are positive against 100% of Transect's.

ArcGIS Field Maps ships an update monthly, Transect every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ArcGIS Field Maps | Transect |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.1 (59 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcgis-field-maps/id1515671684/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/transect/id6761794715/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **59** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 11.4% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 161 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.5 | **17.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ESRI](https://appshunter.io/developer/379687933) | [Playa Environmental](https://appshunter.io/developer/1891198097) |

## What reviewers say

### ArcGIS Field Maps

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcgis-field-maps/id1515671684)

This app provides mobile workers with interactive digital maps to understand their surroundings, locate assets, and collect data. It features smart forms for efficient data entry, offline capabilities, and location sharing for coordination and safety. Designed for organizational use, it supports fieldwork for various teams.

**Highlights:** Interactive digital maps, Smart forms for data collection, Offline map capabilities, Location sharing and tracking, Geofence alerts, Asset scanning and annotation, Data editing and syncing

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support, SharePlay

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🗺️ Comprehensive mapping capabilities when functioning
- 📊 Powerful data collection features for field work
- 🔄 Integration with ArcGIS ecosystem
- 📍 Useful for basic map information and POI lookup
- 🎯 Improved form calculations and contingent values

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- ⚠️ Unreliable offline map functionality
- 🔄 Constant need to delete and reinstall app
- 📥 Offline download failures and incomplete syncing
- ⏱️ Slow performance and lag

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on startup and during use
- Layers fail to load intermittently
- Offline map downloads fail or hang indefinitely
- Authentication errors and keyboard not appearing on login
- Maps load only 30% of the time

**Requested features**

- Stylus support for drawing features
- Landscape mode for iPhone devices
- Apple Watch integration and capabilities
- Export functionality (GPX, KMZ formats)
- Improved offline area size and quality selection


### Transect

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/transect/id6761794715)

This app guides you along a set survey line with real-time haptic and audio feedback, allowing you to focus on your surroundings. It offers configurable alerts, auto-pause, and seamless line advancement, with Apple Watch integration for hands-free operation. Data is stored locally and exportable as KML or CSV.

**Highlights:** Real-time offset tracking, Configurable haptic and audio alerts, Grace period for brief deviations, Auto-pause for extended stops, Apple Watch integration, KML/CSV data export, Live UTM coordinates

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ArcGIS Field Maps free?

ArcGIS Field Maps is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Transect free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ArcGIS Field Maps or Transect?

Transect is rated higher. ArcGIS Field Maps averages 2.1 out of 5 from 59 ratings, while Transect averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do ArcGIS Field Maps or Transect have ads?

Neither ArcGIS Field Maps nor Transect shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ArcGIS Field Maps or Transect?

ArcGIS Field Maps ships an update monthly, and Transect every 2 months. Most recently, ArcGIS Field Maps was updated on November 7, 2026 and Transect on October 31, 2026.

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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.*