CartoLake vs Topo Maps 2
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
CartoLake
Create and georeference maps with various file formats. Supports imagery, scanned maps, and export options. Ideal for generating custom mapping content.
- Georeference imagery and scanned maps
- Import Shapefile, KML, mbtiles, GeoJSON, PNG
- Create simple maps
- Export maps to various formats
- Create ForeFlight Content Packs
- Publish georeferenced imagery
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CartoLake is a general purpose mapping for creating maps and georeferencing files. Features include: * GeoReference imagery and scanned maps * Importing and viewing various file formats: Shapefile, KML, mbtiles, GeoJSON and PNG Images * Creation of simple maps * Maps can be exported to various formats * Ability to create ForeFlight Content Packs * Publish Georef imagery End User License Agreement: https://www.cartolake.com/about/terms
Topo Maps 2
Access detailed topographic maps and satellite imagery for the US and Canada, usable offline. Record and share tracks, plan routes with 2D/3D visualization, and view geolocated photos. Offers hybrid map modes and offline search capabilities.
- Offline topographic maps
- 2D and 3D map views
- Track recording and sharing
- Route planning and visualization
- Hybrid map mode
- Offline search
- Geolocated photo display
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Topographic maps and satellite imagery for the United States and Canada from the US Geological Survey, US Forest Service and Natural Resources Canada in 2D and 3D. No network connection needed once maps are installed. Record your track, and share GPX files with other apps and devices. Hybrid map mode combines topo with imagery. Panorama mode shows silhouette of what's visible from anywhere on the map. Draw routes on the map; plot graphs of speed and altitude. "Fly" along routes in 3D. Offline search. Show your geolocated photos on the map. If you have our original Topo Maps or Topo Maps for iPad app installed, its maps will be shared with this app. End User License Agreement: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: CartoLake at 5.0 against Topo Maps 2's 4.1. CartoLake also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 5 weeks) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 17.2). Topo Maps 2's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (35 vs 1). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model 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
Both are free to download. CartoLake sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and Topo Maps 2 sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
CartoLake holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Topo Maps 2 has 35 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
CartoLake ships an update weekly, Topo Maps 2 every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | CartoLake | Topo Maps 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | 4.1 (35 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | — | 37.5% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 35 — better |
| Update frequency | Weekly — better | Every 5 weeks |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 — better | 17.2 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 31 MB | 223 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | CartoLake, LLC | Mappendix Limited |
Customer experience
CartoLake
Topo Maps 2
In-app purchases
CartoLake
- FAA Sectionals7 Days trial$0.991 Month
- Basic Monthly7 Days trial$9.991 Month
- Topographic Base Map7 Days trial$9.991 Month
Topo Maps 2
- Detailed Maps - 1 year3 Days trial$4.991 Year
