Comparison

GPS Kit vs Global Mapper Mobile

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

GPS Kit

This app provides a top-of-the-line GPS system for outdoor enthusiasts and professionals. It offers offline mapping, powerful waypoint management with photos and notes, and intelligent data collection for activities like hiking, hunting, and cycling anywhere in the world.

Highlights
  • Offline mapping with no data connection required
  • Waypoint management with photos and notes
  • Supports KML, KMZ, and GPX data import/export
  • Customizable dashboard with various parameters
  • Real-time navigation to waypoints
  • Weather stations for point forecasts (U.S. only)
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

- TIME Magazine’s 15 Fantastic Gadgets “Perfect for hiking or mountain biking.” - TUAW.com “The GPS Kit app... has a number of excellent outdoor uses, especially [for] hiking, biking or geocaching.” - NBC’s ‘The Browser’ Radio Show “Most beneficial for adventure-type guys.” _________________________________________________________ Top-of-the-line GPS system for adventurers and professionals in the great outdoors. Designed for outdoor activities such as: hiking, hunting, camping, skiing, cycling, geocaching, mountain biking, motorcycling, off-roading, fishing, and other romping in or out of the backcountry—ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. GPS Kit is a full-featured GPS system for the iPhone that combines all the functionality of expensive handheld units with the power of wireless technology. Using advanced technology optimized for the iPhone, GPS Kit offers a superbly easy-to-use system that puts data from a wide range of sensors at your fingertips. Highest Quality Mapping - Fastest maps in the App Store - Smooth, elegant interaction - Offline Mode enables use out of cell range - No data connection required if map is cached - Use your own map sources Simple, Powerful Data Handling - Mail links for Google Earth & map viewing - Full-color thumbnails of data sets - Group tracks and waypoints together - Most options for export and import of data - Open KML, KMZ, & GPX from Mail & Safari - Attach KML & GPX files to email - Export GPX & KML through iTunes - Share your adventures on Facebook and Twitter Powerful Waypoints - Add photos and notes to waypoints - Drag map to reposition as coordinates update - UTM, USNG, MGRS - Long-press to quickly drop a waypoint - Navigate to waypoints using compass - Magnetic compass (3GS, 4, iPad) - Option to use current travel direction on compass - See distance to waypoint update in real-time Weather Stations (U.S. Only) - Create "weather stations" to get point forecasts - Get data specific to your fishing hole, ski tour, etc. - Data provided by the National Weather Service - Unlimited stations Intelligent Data Collection - Uses maximum GPS accuracy - Real satellite positioning even without cell signal - Auto-segmentation of tracks for clean tracks Fully Customizable Dashboard - Gorgeous high contrast display - Huge variety of parameters and units - Time, Trip Time, Track Time - Elevation Change - Formatted Position (Lat/Lng, UTM, MGRS, USNG) - Accuracy, Speed, Odometer, Avg Speed - Max Speed, Pace, Avg. Pace - Moving Time, Stopped Time, Direction - 3-Axis Inclinometer and Glide Ratio - Customizable cell on map Loaded with Related Utilities - Elevation and speed graphs - On-map tracking controls and timer - On-map ruler - Multi-touch area measurements * Use of "Squawk!" requires an Internet connection and extended use may adversely impact battery life Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life

About

Global Mapper Mobile

This application allows users to view and collect GIS data in the field using their mobile device's GPS. It supports various data layers and offers tools for drawing, tracking, and form-based data collection, with advanced features available through an in-app purchase.

Highlights
  • Vector, raster, and terrain data display
  • GPS location display and feature creation
  • Drawing, tracking, and form-based data collection
  • Image capture and Picture Point creation
  • Advanced GPS support for GNSS devices
  • RTK correction via NTRIP client
  • Offline data access and custom online sources
Features
Read full description

Bring your GIS workflow to the field. Global Mapper Mobile® is a powerful iOS application for viewing and collecting GIS data. It utilizes the GPS capabilities of mobile devices to provide situational awareness and locational intelligence for remote mapping projects. A perfect complement to the desktop version of Global Mapper, the mobile app provides maps-in-hand functionality for engineers, surveyors, wildlife managers, foresters, and anyone whose job requires access to spatial data in remote locations. Global Mapper Mobile can display vector, raster, and elevation data layers that have been transferred from the desktop version of the software. It also provides tools for drawing, tracking, and form-based data collection using pre-configured attributes and picklists. Global Mapper Mobile Base Version (Free) The base version of Global Mapper Mobile is free of charge and provides an array of features and functions, including: • Vector, raster, and terrain data display • GPS location display • Point, line, and polygon feature creation using GPS location • Editing of existing vector features • Capture of images in the field • Creation of Picture Points from geotagged images • Attribute and feature notation recording for new or existing vector features • Online access to Open Street Map data Global Mapper Mobile Pro The Pro version of Global Mapper Mobile, available as an in-app purchase, supplements the functionality of the base version with an array of professional-grade tools, including: • Advanced GPS support for connection to high-accuracy GNSS devices from vendors such as Bad Elf, EOS, Juniper, and others • RTK correction via built-in NTRIP client • GPS Averaging • Terrain shader and water level display options • Custom online source options and online data saving for offline use • Simultaneous feature creation • Viewshed creation • Volume calculation • Data reprojection • Address searching • Geopackage and GeoPDF format support Global Mapper Mobile Pro is available as an in-app purchase. The license is based on an annual subscription from the date of purchase that can be renewed each year. Note: Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life. Privacy Policy: https://www.bluemarblegeo.com/privacy-policy/ Terms of Use: https://www.bluemarblegeo.com/licensing-policy/

Screenshots

GPS Kit4 screens
Global Mapper Mobile4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Global Mapper Mobile at Free against GPS Kit's $9.99. GPS Kit's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and rating (4.2 vs 3.7). On ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Global Mapper Mobile is free to download; GPS Kit costs $9.99 up front. Global Mapper Mobile sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $49.99 per year. GPS Kit asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

GPS Kit holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: GPS Kit has 367 ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 58% of GPS Kit's written reviews are positive against 29% of Global Mapper Mobile's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

GPS Kit ships an update every 2 months, Global Mapper Mobile every 4 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard9 real differences · 2 level
GPS Kit versus Global Mapper Mobile: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGPS KitGlobal Mapper Mobile
Price$9.99Free — better
Rating4.2 (367 ratings) — better3.7 (15 ratings)
Positive reviews58.3% of reviews — better28.6% of reviews
Number of ratings367 — better15
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank#138 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS9.0 — better12.2
Further details — not scored
Size19 MB126 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGarafa, LLCBlue Marble Geographics

Customer experience

GPS Kit

All ratings362 ratings
Positive81.2%
Neutral6.1%
Negative12.7%
Written reviews542 reviews
Positive58.3%
Neutral11.8%
Negative29.9%

Global Mapper Mobile

All ratings15 ratings
Positive73.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative26.7%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive28.6%
Neutral14.3%
Negative57.1%

Bugs and requests

GPS Kit

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Crashes when importing/exporting data
  • Inaccurate speed and distance tracking
  • Disappearing waypoints and tracks
  • Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions

Requested features

5 requests
  • Improved map rendering and zooming
  • Customizable dashboard and data fields
  • Ability to import/export GPX files
  • Waypoint and route sharing features
  • Altitude profile and elevation data

Global Mapper Mobile

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

GPS Kit

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Global Mapper Mobile

Subscriptions1
  • Pro Module$49.991 Year

Questions

Is GPS Kit free?
GPS Kit costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Global Mapper Mobile free?
Global Mapper Mobile is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, GPS Kit or Global Mapper Mobile?
GPS Kit is rated higher. GPS Kit averages 4.2 out of 5 from 367 ratings, while Global Mapper Mobile averages 3.7 from 15 ratings.
Do GPS Kit or Global Mapper Mobile have ads?
Neither GPS Kit nor Global Mapper Mobile shows ads.
Which is updated more often, GPS Kit or Global Mapper Mobile?
GPS Kit ships an update every 2 months, and Global Mapper Mobile every 4 months. Most recently, GPS Kit was updated on October 24, 2026 and Global Mapper Mobile on October 24, 2026.

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