# iTAK vs MagVar

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 (#43 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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | iTAK | MagVar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $0.99 |
| Rating | [3.5 (156 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/itak/id1561656396/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/magvar/id1670958717/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **156** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 40.6% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 23 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | **#43** |
| Size | 278 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 17.6 |
| 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) | [Robert Walker](https://appshunter.io/developer/299475042) |

## What reviewers say

### iTAK

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

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


### MagVar

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/magvar/id1670958717)

**Currently charting:** #43 Top Paid · Navigation (US App Store)

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.

**Highlights:** Magnetic variation calculation, True vs. magnetic north difference, Map overlay display, Accurate for 2025-2029, Declination and inclination calculation

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iTAK free?

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

### Is MagVar free?

MagVar costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, iTAK or MagVar?

MagVar is rated higher. iTAK averages 3.5 out of 5 from 156 ratings, while MagVar averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do iTAK or MagVar have ads?

Neither iTAK nor MagVar shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, iTAK or MagVar?

iTAK ships an update every 3 weeks, and MagVar every 23 months. Most recently, iTAK was updated on October 16, 2026 and MagVar on October 16, 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.*