iTAK vs MagVar
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
iTAK
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.
- Real-time team tracking
- Collaborative mapping
- Online and offline mapping
- KML/KMZ/GeoPDF overlay import
- Chat and file sharing
- Live video streaming
- Navigation tools
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**Compatible with ALL TAK ecosystem (TAK server, WinTAK, ATAK, WebTAK)** The Team Awareness Kit (TAK) (known as the Tactical Assault Kit in the Department of Defense) application: iTAK is a collaborative geospatial application to see your teams’ locations, sensor information, videos, chat, and more in real-time. iTAK supports Department of Defense (DoD) and commercial sector standards for icons, sensor information, and communication. Data can be pre-loaded into iTAK or downloaded from the network (via TAK Server) when available. iTAK capabilities include: • Online and offline mapping (most standard formats), download the maps right in the app • Blue force / team tracking (BFT) • Collaborative mapping, including points, drawings, locations of interest • Import and display of KML, KMZ, GeoPDF overlays • Location marking, sharing, with photo tagging • Chat, file sharing, photo sharing • Live video streaming with the ability to share video links • Spotted map to mark and share multiple locations across your map • Digital pointer to rapidly mark and share items on the map with your team • Navigation-walking/hiking, driving, also useful flying and air-ground coordination • Center on self or other objects (e.g. another person in the network) • Range, bearing measurement tools • Team Emergency Beacons • Customizable toolbar • 3D perspective • All data is secured and fully compatibility with the TAK ecosystem (ATAK, TAK Server, WinTAK) • Useful for law enforcement, first responders, hunting, fishing, ornithology, wildlife site survey System Requirements Operating System: iOS version 17 and later.
MagVar
This navigation tool calculates magnetic variation, the difference between true and magnetic north, essential for plotting courses on maps. It's designed for pilots, sailors, cartographers, and anyone using maps and a compass.
- Magnetic variation calculation
- True vs. magnetic north difference
- Map overlay display
- Accurate for 2025-2029
- Declination and inclination calculation
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MagVar is targeted towards anyone interested in navigation. This includes, pilots of aircraft, captains of sea going vessels, cartographers, engineers and surveyors. Anyone who uses maps and a compass will find the declination calculation (also referred to magnetic variation) very useful. (Declination is the difference between true and magnetic north and used when plotting a course on a map.) MagVar calculates the magnetic flux density for any location on the Earth and then uses this data to calculate magnetic variation. The model is accurate for dates ranging from January 1, 2025 up through December 31, 2029. Using the model, the app calculates declination and inclination. As the user pans the map, the magnetic variation is calculated and graphically shown as a map overlay.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: MagVar at 100% against iTAK's 41%. MagVar also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.5) and chart position (#83 vs unranked). iTAK's advantage is price (Free vs $0.99) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 23 months). On ads, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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
iTAK is free to download; MagVar costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
MagVar holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iTAK has 156 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 41% of iTAK's written reviews are positive against 100% of MagVar's.
iTAK ships an update every 3 weeks, MagVar every 23 months. Both last shipped on October 16, 2026.
| Parameter | iTAK | MagVar |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $0.99 |
| Rating | 3.5 (156 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 40.6% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 156 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 23 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | #83 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 17.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 278 MB | 2 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | United States Department of the Army, TAK Product Center | Robert Walker |
Customer experience
iTAK
MagVar
Bugs and requests
iTAK
Reported bugs
23 issues- 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
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- App freezes when handling large numbers of objects (15+)
- Indoor mapping causes app shutdown
- Markers disappear on app reopening
- Markers don't sync deletion status with ATAK users
- HTTP video stream links don't work
- Mesh network mode not functioning properly
- Settings reset to defaults on restart
- Toolbar disappears randomly
- Notification badges don't clear properly
- Unable to rename points of interest
- Duplicate server entries appear
- Unexpected shutdowns and crashes
- Connection failures to TAK servers
- Message notifications not appearing on iPhone
- App won't launch after deletion/reinstallation
- Data Sync broken in version 2.10.1
- Overlay import causes instant crash
- Markers become invisible with ArcGIS updates
Requested features
23 requests- Meshtastic and LoRa device support
- GRG (Grid Reference Graphic) functionality
- Mesh network integration (GoTenna, Beartooth)
- Plugin support system
- Google Maps or alternative map providers
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- Offline map download capability
- Angular measurement unit conversion (degrees to mil)
- Nautical miles unit of measurement
- Video stream support (HTTP/RTSP)
- CASEVAC calling functionality
- Polar plot tool
- Data package import from Android ATAK
- Bluetooth radio integration
- Apple Watch companion app
- Ability to edit and delete toolbar items
- True/Magnetic bearing distinction
- Point dragging and repositioning
- Contact/team management system
- Mission creation and editing
- Windows TAK Server version
- Improved notification system
- Chinese language support
- Better documentation and tutorials
MagVar
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
iTAK
No in-app purchases
MagVar
No in-app purchases








