Comparison

BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps vs TraiLink

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 over 900,000 points of interest. Plan, track, and explore offline for hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, and more.

Highlights
  • Topographic GPS maps
  • Current location tracking
  • Offline map downloads
  • Custom adventure layers
  • Trip recording and waypoints
  • Satellite imagery overlay
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

TraiLink

Stay connected with your group even when you're off the grid. This app allows you to see friends' locations on a map and send messages without needing a cellular signal. It's designed to work with compatible tracking devices.

Highlights
  • Real-time group member location tracking
  • Offline messaging
  • Group creation and management
  • Device settings modification
  • Disconnection notifications
Read full description

Keep your group connected off grid. TraiLink shows everyone in your group on the map and lets you message and send SOS alerts with no cell service, no satellite plan and no subscription. TraiLink devices talk directly to each other over long-range radio. Pair your phone with your TraiLink over Bluetooth, and the app does the rest. Built for snowmobiling, ATVing, hunting, fishing, backcountry trips and anywhere your phone shows "No Service." Don't have a TraiLink yet? Get one at trailink.ca See Your Group • Live positions of everyone in your group on the map, with no cellular connection • Speed, heading, distance and time since last update for each person • Group radar on the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island during an adventure, showing how far away everyone is • Save multiple groups and switch between them. Each keeps its own members, chat and waypoints • Share a group and require a join code so only the people you invite can join Stay Safe • Send an SOS to alert your group if you need help • Receive an SOS from any TraiLink user in range, even if they aren't in your group • Off-grid messaging with your group • Low battery and reconnect alerts so you know your TraiLink is working Track Your Trips • Record your route, save it and overlay past routes on the map • Replay a trip as the trail draws, see your speed along the way and switch to a satellite map Control Your TraiLink • Update your TraiLink's firmware right from the app • Change device settings, name and colour, with most changes saving instantly • Choose Long range for maximum distance or Short range for more frequent updates when your group is close together • Standalone mode: clip a TraiLink on a person or machine and track it from your phone. The wearer doesn't need the app • Use repeaters to extend your coverage, and see nearby repeaters in their own list • Check your TraiLink's GPS signal strength at a glance • Dim at Night lowers LED brightness after sunset, worked out on your phone so it works offline Built For No Signal • Help guides and an app tour that work with no signal • Tips point out features as you go

Screenshots

BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps4 screens
TraiLink4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: TraiLink at 100% against BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps's 35%. TraiLink also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4). BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps's advantage is iOS requirement (15.4 vs 17.0). 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. TraiLink asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps ships an update every 3 weeks, TraiLink fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps versus TraiLink: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBRMB Maps by Backroad MapsTraiLink
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (27 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews35.1% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings27 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.4 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size230 MB56 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMussio Ventures Ltd.AppPlusPlus Inc.

Customer experience

BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps

All ratings26 ratings
Positive73.1%
Neutral11.5%
Negative15.4%
Written reviews77 reviews
Positive35.1%
Neutral3.9%
Negative61.0%

TraiLink

Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

TraiLink

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

TraiLink

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 TraiLink free?
TraiLink is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps or TraiLink have ads?
Neither BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps nor TraiLink shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps or TraiLink?
BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps ships an update every 3 weeks, and TraiLink fortnightly. Most recently, BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps was updated on November 7, 2026 and TraiLink on October 30, 2026.

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