# iTAK vs Spartan Forge

The clearest difference is rating: Spartan Forge at 4.3 against iTAK's 3.5. Spartan Forge also leads on review sentiment (82% vs 41%) and chart position (#15 vs #183). iTAK's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 7). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Spartan Forge sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. iTAK asks for nothing beyond the download.

Spartan Forge holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 156 and 645 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 41% of iTAK's written reviews are positive against 82% of Spartan Forge's.

iTAK ships an update every 3 weeks, Spartan Forge every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | iTAK | Spartan Forge |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.5 (156 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/itak/id1561656396/reviews) | **[4.3 (645 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spartan-forge-hunt/id1562873100/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 156 | **645** |
| Positive reviews | 40.6% of reviews | **81.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #183 | **#15** |
| Size | 278 MB | 177 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **16.6** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [United States Department of the Army, TAK Product Center](https://appshunter.io/developer/1561656398) | [Spartan Forge LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1562873102) |

## What reviewers say

### iTAK

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/itak/id1561656396)

**Currently charting:** #183 Top Free · Navigation (US App Store)

This app provides real-time collaborative mapping and team tracking. Share locations, sensor data, videos, and chat with your team. Supports online and offline mapping with various data formats.

**Highlights:** Real-time team tracking, Collaborative mapping, Online and offline mapping, KML/KMZ/GeoPDF overlay import, Chat and file sharing, Live video streaming, Navigation tools

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and intuitive user interface
- 🚀 Smooth performance when functioning properly
- 📍 Real-time location tracking works well
- 🔄 Good core TAK server connectivity
- 📦 Convenient data package sharing

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezes
- ❌ Significantly fewer features than ATAK Android version
- 🔌 Poor compatibility with ATAK ecosystem
- 🔋 Excessive battery drain
- 🗺️ Limited map options (Apple Maps only, outdated imagery)

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when exporting data packages
- App crashes when uploading files with local data
- App crashes when importing overlays
- App crashes when changing map types
- App crashes when creating missions

**Requested features**

- Meshtastic and LoRa device support
- GRG (Grid Reference Graphic) functionality
- Mesh network integration (GoTenna, Beartooth)
- Plugin support system
- Google Maps or alternative map providers


### Spartan Forge

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spartan-forge-hunt/id1562873100)

**Currently charting:** #15 Top Grossing · Navigation, #63 Top Free · Navigation (US App Store)

Navigate hunts with advanced deer movement predictions, LiDAR maps, and satellite imagery. Access land ownership details, historical weather, and AI-powered scouting insights. Plan and share your hunts with customizable maps and offline capabilities.

**Highlights:** Deer movement predictions, LiDAR and satellite imagery, Private and public land boundaries, Offline map downloads, AI-powered scouting assistant, Historical wind and weather data, Pin sharing and team tracking

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Spartan Forge Monthly | $7.99 | per month |
| Spartan Forge Monthly | $8.99 | per month |
| Spartan Forge Monthly | $12.99 | per month |
| Outfitter Subscription | $29.99 | per year |
| Spartan Forge Yearly | $39.99 | per year |
| Spartan Forge Yearly | $59.99 | per year |
| Spartan Forge Yearly | $79.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Best mapping app
- 🔍 Detailed imagery and terrain features
- 💡 Innovative AI-powered deer movement predictions
- 👍 Veteran-owned company with great customer service
- 🗺️ Comprehensive mapping and scouting tools

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional app crashes and login issues
- 🗺️ Outdated property ownership data in some areas
- 👤 Requires paid subscription to access full features
- 🤔 Steep learning curve for some users

**Reported bugs**

- Pins disappearing faster than expected
- Property lines not accurately mapped in some areas
- Occasional map layer glitches and rendering issues

**Requested features**

- Ability to edit/delete tracked routes
- Topo filtering similar to competitor apps
- Automatic photo saving to device camera roll
- Algorithm layer for predicting oak tree locations


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iTAK free?

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

### Is Spartan Forge free?

Spartan Forge is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, iTAK or Spartan Forge?

Spartan Forge is rated higher. iTAK averages 3.5 out of 5 from 156 ratings, while Spartan Forge averages 4.3 from 645 ratings.

### Do iTAK or Spartan Forge have ads?

Neither iTAK nor Spartan Forge shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, iTAK or Spartan Forge?

iTAK ships an update every 3 weeks, and Spartan Forge every 5 weeks. Most recently, iTAK was updated on November 3, 2026 and Spartan Forge on November 3, 2026.

### Which is more popular, iTAK or Spartan Forge?

iTAK currently peaks at #183 in the App Store charts, and Spartan Forge at #15. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*