CPW Mobile PDF vs MapLayers
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
CPW Mobile PDF
Navigate the backcountry with offline PDF maps that display your real-time location. Download maps from various sources, add custom waypoints, and organize your map library for hiking, hunting, or fishing adventures.
- Offline PDF map viewing
- Real-time location tracking
- Downloadable maps from multiple sources
- Customizable waypoints with labels
- Map library organization
- Proximity display to maps
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The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Mobile PDF app pinpoints your location on a map without the need for an internet or cell tower connection. Even in battery-saving airplane mode, CPW Mobile PDF makes use of your phone's E911 capability to display your location in real-time on downloaded georeferenced PDF maps. Get PDF maps from CPW online Map Library, personalize maps using the Colorado Hunting and Fishing Atlas, USFS, USGS, or your favorite site. Customized waypoints can be added and saved with each map. Build a mobile map library that can be sorted by proximity to each map and more. Go mobile! Whether you are hiking, hunting, or fishing this app will be your guide in the backcountry. CPW Mobile PDF Features: - Download topo or aerial photo maps from the CPW online Map Library, CPW HuntingAtlas, CPW FishingAtlas, USFS, USGS, or other sites. - Display current location and direction in real-time. - Zoom in on the details of your map. - Add waypoints in three different colors. - Customize your waypoint labels. - Display waypoint latitude, longitude, and creation date. - Build a PDF maps library with custom map names. - Display real-time proximity to each PDF map. - Sort PDF maps by: proximity, name, file size, or date added. - Lock map in portrait or landscape mode so bumpy roads do not cause unwanted screen rotations!
MapLayers
Access a wide variety of maps for outdoor activities, including USGS and Bureau of Land Management charts. Import custom GeoPDF maps and overlay them with different base layers. Track your GPS location and record your travels for review.
- GPS tracking and logging
- Multiple map types
- Custom GeoPDF import
- Map overlays
- Compass navigation
- View current location
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MapLayers is a collection of maps for outdoor activities and more! New in Version 1.4: Compass for navigating to any point on the map New in Version 1.2: App URLs to open individual charts either in app or on the web. New in Version 1.1: GPS Track Logging. You can now record and review your travels!. Discovering and downloading maps for your adventures is easy and fast. Multiple types of maps are available and multiple maps can be viewed at the same time. Custom maps can be imported as GeoPDF and we are adding more maps constantly. Featuring maps from the USGS, Bureau of Land Management and more! Each map is viewable on our custom, spherical based map engine and can be overlaid with various base maps. Your current location can also be shown on the map. SUPPORT We can help! Email team@cartolake.com LEGAL End User License Agreement: https://www.cartolake.com/about/terms Privacy Policy: https://www.cartolake.com/about/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: MapLayers at 5.0 against CPW Mobile PDF's 3.0. MapLayers also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 22 months). CPW Mobile PDF's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On price, ratings volume, 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
Both are free to download. MapLayers sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $24.99 per year. CPW Mobile PDF asks for nothing beyond the download.
MapLayers holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively.
CPW Mobile PDF ships an update every 22 months, MapLayers every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.
| Parameter | CPW Mobile PDF | MapLayers |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.0 (2 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 2 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 22 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 14.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 2 MB | 24 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | State of Colorado Governor's Office of Information Technology | CartoLake, LLC |
In-app purchases
CPW Mobile PDF
No in-app purchases
MapLayers
- Basic Yearly7 Days trial$24.991 Year
Questions
Is CPW Mobile PDF free?
Is MapLayers free?
Which has better reviews, CPW Mobile PDF or MapLayers?
Do CPW Mobile PDF or MapLayers have ads?
Which is updated more often, CPW Mobile PDF or MapLayers?
Other comparisons
