Comparison

BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps vs PermitNow

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

Head to head
About

BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps

Navigate Canada's backcountry with detailed topographic maps and extensive points of interest for outdoor activities. Plan, track, and explore trails, fishing spots, hunting areas, and more, with offline capabilities for remote adventures.

Highlights
  • Topographic GPS maps with relief shading and contour lines
  • Current location tracking and real-time navigation
  • Offline map downloads for remote areas
  • Extensive points of interest for fishing, hunting, camping, and trails
  • Trip recording and custom waypoint creation
  • Cross-device access on smartphone, tablet, and desktop
Features
Read full description

Canada’s #1 App for Hunting, Fishing, Camping & Outdoor Adventure Explore Canada’s outdoors with confidence using BRMB Maps, the most detailed and trusted GPS navigation app for the backcountry. Built from the award-winning Backroad Mapbooks series, BRMB Maps combines detailed topographic maps with over 900,000 searchable Points of Interest across every province and territory. Whether fishing, camping, hiking, hunting, paddling, ATVing, snowmobiling or wildlife viewing, BRMB Maps has everything you need to plan, navigate and explore – online or offline. Key Features -Topographic GPS Maps – View relief shading, contour lines, backroads, parks and geographic features -Current Location Tracking – Use your phone’s GPS to navigate in real time -Cross-Device Access – Use on smartphone, tablet and desktop with a single account -Canada-Wide Basemap – Includes a seamless Backroad Maps basemap across Canada -Custom Adventure Layers (PRO) – Enable fishing, hunting, trails, paddling, Crown land & more -Offline Maps (PRO) – Download maps and all POI details for off-grid navigation -Satellite Imagery (PRO) – Overlay roads, trails and features on high-res satellite maps -Trip Recording & Custom Waypoints – Track routes, mark campsites and save locations -Printable Custom Maps (PRO) – Create and print stunning maps from brmbmaps.com Explore Over 150,000 Adventures Fishing -22,000+ lakes, rivers, creeks & ocean fishing areas -Bathymetry (lake & ocean depths), fish species, stocked lakes, boat launches & marinas -Boundaries & regulations Hunting -3,500+ hunting areas (WMU, WMZ, species-specific zones) -Species details, boundaries & regulations -Crown land & private land layers Camping & Parks -20,000 national, provincial, regional, urban and natural parks -Campsites, picnic areas, backcountry campsites, huts & cabins -Private campgrounds, resorts & lodges, amenities & services Hiking, Biking & Horseback Trails -130,000+ km of multi-use trails with trailheads, difficulty, distance & elevation gain -Includes hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, backpacking and multi-use -Separate Trans-Canada Trail layer with trailheads, pavilions and alternate routes Paddling (Canoeing & Kayaking) -107,000+ km of routes with access points, difficulty, distance & grading -Features lake circuits, river and ocean paddling routes, whitewater & more -Paddling routes include portages with distances, campsites, put-ins & take-outs ATV, OHV, Off-Road and Overland Routes -160,000+ km of trails and routes with staging areas, difficulty & distance -Features ATV/OHV, dirt biking and overlanding routes -Plus 3,000,000+ km of Roads and 160,000+ km of Logging Roads to explore Snowmobiling -150,000+ km of trails and routes with staging areas, difficulty & distance -Features federation & club-maintained trails, plus backcountry routes -Clubhouses, warming huts & shelters, side trails and more Winter Recreation -9,500+ km of ski & snowshoe trails for cross-country, Nordic, backcountry & downhill skiing -2,100+ trailheads, Nordic areas & ski centres -Trails feature difficulty, distance, elevation gain & ski area amenities Wildlife Viewing & Nature -1,800+ sites for birdwatching & wildlife viewing -Features birding sites, fish hatcheries, marine life, small & large animals -Bird viewing & scenic lookouts, trailheads & wildlife centres Attractions & Unique Sites -20,000+ points, including roadside and backroad attractions -Features big trees, caves, waterfalls, hot springs, lighthouses, beaches, museums and scenic areas -Hours, location and contact information Why BRMB Maps? Unlike other GPS apps, BRMB Maps is built specifically for Canadian terrain and adventures, with unmatched detail, local insights and recreation-focused layers. Start exploring Canada’s wild spaces with BRMB Maps – your GPS trail map, hunting app, fishing tool and trip planner all in one. Download BRMB Maps today and experience Canada's most complete outdoor mapping app.

About

PermitNow

Features
Read full description

PermitNow is a revolutionary way to obtain your permits. Let us take the pressure off your permitting needs. We are taking the transportation industry permitting process by storm! We make mobility and transportation easily accessible and stress-free. We focus on transport permits & assist businesses and jurisdictions with all permit activities including overweight/oversize, temporary trip/fuel, and super loads across a variety of industries within Canada & The United States. DRIVER APP As a driver, you simply have to sign up to access the benefits of PermitNow App. No need to call in. Our app will save your company and customer profiles, as well as your vehicle profiles so you only have to enter this information once, saving you time in the long run. SIGN UP & FORGET Once you’ve started permitting with us - all your past permits are kept in your profile, along with your unit information. You can create new permits or copy from previous permits and if you run into an issue, one of our experienced team members is always there to help. This app makes obtaining and keeping permits organized a breeze. A comprehensive travel document package is included – which means having a summary of all permits, routes & costs. STAY CURRENT Push notifications will allow the driver to see when their permits have been approved, or if we require any additional information to process your application.For more information on who we are visit www.permitnow.ca.

Screenshots

BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps4 screens
PermitNow4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PermitNow at none against BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps's 4. PermitNow also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.4). On price, update cadence, ads 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. BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. PermitNow asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps ships an update every 3 weeks, PermitNow fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps versus PermitNow: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBRMB Maps by Backroad MapsPermitNow
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (26 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews35.1% of reviews—
Number of ratings26 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.412.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size339 MB205 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMussio Ventures Ltd.PermitNow App Inc.

Bugs and requests

BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps

Reported bugs

53 issues
  • Unwanted push notifications for challenges
  • Issues resetting password
  • CarPlay useless (no tracking/waypoint access)
  • Sync of data is hit or miss
  • Waypoints are a jumble of names, no numbers, folders, filters
Show 48 more
  • Waypoint list different on web
  • No 7 day free trial as advertised
  • Zoom doesn't work on MacOS app
  • Scroll doesn't work in MacOS settings
  • MacOS window size fixed, fullscreen not working
  • Ads are relentless, can't exit
  • Advertisement glitch: closing ad returns to location
  • Sync in both directions is hit or miss
  • CarPlay map only moves at one preset zoom level
  • App runs like a BETA 1 version
  • Free version doesn't make you want to use pay version
  • Ads pop up full screen, annoying
  • Closing ad puts user back to current location
  • Paid for Pro subscription, no 7-day free trial
  • Adding waypoint on cell service takes up to 10 min
  • Touching screen by accident adds waypoint and menu
  • Search function doesn't work
  • Cannot change from meters to feet
  • Recording a trail jumps massive lines when restarting
  • Cannot edit or erase certain sections of trail
  • Cannot re-edit waypoint location or move it
  • Editing waypoint requires going through two menus
  • Interface is poorly designed with too many levels
  • Continually asks to drop a pin/waypoint when moving map
  • Satellite images are out of date
  • Updated roads are missing
  • Cannot download maps for offline use without paying
  • Ads appear every couple of minutes
  • Advertising even when paying for subscription
  • Requires restoring of purchase too often
  • Caught out without offline maps due to purchase timeout
  • Ads interrupt and are hard to close
  • Advertising even when paying for the app
  • PRO subscription not accessible after payment
  • Excessive disruptive ads, each ad resets map
  • Charged for subscription on 2nd day of free trial
  • Unable to use pro upgrade after payment
  • App asks to pay for subscription again on different device
  • Version 3 broke 'Your trip' feature
  • Cannot remove trails I've been on
  • Maps on app do not match book maps
  • Not easy to use, not as easy as Google Maps
  • Cannot control manual off
  • App crashes every time it's opened
  • Nothing showed for the entire United States
  • Downloads time out after 10 minutes
  • No search function for specific locations
  • Instructions on web are for previous version

Requested features

29 requests
  • Icon for mines/pins
  • Crown land for BC
  • Direction feature with distance and turn directions
  • Waypoint management (numbers, folders, filters)
  • CarPlay integration with tracking/waypoint access
Show 24 more
  • Ability to plan routes
  • Direction arrow showing icon facing
  • Trace function to outline or create trails with finger
  • Export KML or GPX files
  • More waypoint icons and customization (color, outlines)
  • Ability to edit/erase trail sections
  • Ability to move waypoint location
  • Description or notes section for waypoints
  • Sort waypoints (closest, alphabetical, recent)
  • Folders for waypoints
  • CarPlay map with adjustable zoom
  • Dark mode
  • Advanced analytics dashboard
  • Ability to add different colors to tracks
  • Organize tracks into folders
  • Full featured OSX version with offline map downloads
  • Export file from OSX to iOS version offline
  • URL for websites of points of interest
  • More detailed options on iOS app (drill down for parks)
  • Sync settings between iOS and browser
  • Ability to plan excursions on PC and access on iOS app
  • Edit track colors
  • Organize tracks into folders
  • CarPlay support

PermitNow

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

4 purchases

BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps

Subscriptions4
  • BRMB Maps PRO7 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • BRMB Monthly PRO Access7 Days trial$6.991 Month
  • BRMB Yearly PRO Access7 Days trial$44.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Yearly PRO Promo1 Year trial$44.991 Year
None

PermitNow

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps free?
BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PermitNow free?
PermitNow is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps or PermitNow have ads?
Neither BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps nor PermitNow shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps or PermitNow?
BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps ships an update every 3 weeks, and PermitNow fortnightly. Most recently, BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps was updated on October 19, 2026 and PermitNow on October 18, 2026.

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