Topo Maps vs BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Topo Maps
Access detailed topographical maps for hiking and backcountry activities. Download maps for offline use and navigate with features like waypoints, current location tracking, and compass alignment. Search for millions of geographical features.
- Offline topographical map access
- USGS and Canadian map downloads
- Waypoint marking and GPX import/export
- Current location and compass alignment
- Search for geographical features
- Distance and bearing measurement
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* View over 70,000 Natural Resources Canada 1:50,000 and USGS 1:24,000 topographical maps on your iPhone or iPod touch. * Ideal for hiking and other backcountry activities. * Map downloads are FREE! * More than 16 million maps downloaded so far! - iPad owners, please see the app "Topo Maps for iPad". * Users write: " I've bought all the topo map apps and I like this the best " " Scans are gorgeous ... the interface is exceptionally clean " " Downloading maps is easy and fast ... Map displays beautifully and zooms flawlessly " * Includes Canada (at 1:50,000), the contiguous US (at 1:24,000), Alaska (at 1:24,000 and 1:63,360), Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. * Locate the maps you need on the satellite view. To install a map, touch for about half a second. Touch again to view it. * Search by name for over a million towns, peaks, lakes, parks and other features. * No network connection is needed once the maps have been installed. * Mark waypoints, and import and export waypoint files in GPX, KML and CSV formats. * Touch the "current location" button to see where you are, and the compass button to align the map with the ground. * See coordinates in NAD27 or WGS84 degrees, degrees minutes and seconds, UTM, or MGRS formats. * Measure distances (miles, feet and km) and bearings (true and magnetic). The Maps: This app uses high-quality scans of the traditional USGS and NRCan topographic maps which have been the definitive resource for hikers and other backcountry users for many years. You can make the terrain stand out with hill shading, using simulated sunlight from the direction of your choice. In the U.S., this app does not use the new "US Topo" maps because they do not show hiking trails and lack other details: please see the web site for more details. Downloading: US maps are around 8 MB in size and download in a few seconds on a typical home broadband connection. Canadian maps are larger. Both cellular data and WiFi can be used, though WiFi is likely to be more reliable in most cases. - Do please visit https://topomapsapp.com/ for complete instructions, so that you don't miss any features. We have many ideas for additional features to add to future versions of this app; if you have ideas or other questions or comments, contact details can be found on the website, https://topomapsapp.com/. The website also has more screenshots and other information.
BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps
Navigate Canada's backcountry with detailed topographic maps and extensive points of interest for outdoor activities. Plan, track, and explore trails, fishing spots, hunting areas, and more, with offline capabilities for remote adventures.
- Topographic GPS maps with relief shading and contour lines
- Current location tracking and real-time navigation
- Offline map downloads for remote areas
- Extensive points of interest for fishing, hunting, camping, and trails
- Trip recording and custom waypoint creation
- Cross-device access on smartphone, tablet, and desktop
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Canada’s #1 App for Hunting, Fishing, Camping & Outdoor Adventure Explore Canada’s outdoors with confidence using BRMB Maps, the most detailed and trusted GPS navigation app for the backcountry. Built from the award-winning Backroad Mapbooks series, BRMB Maps combines detailed topographic maps with over 900,000 searchable Points of Interest across every province and territory. Whether fishing, camping, hiking, hunting, paddling, ATVing, snowmobiling or wildlife viewing, BRMB Maps has everything you need to plan, navigate and explore – online or offline. Key Features -Topographic GPS Maps – View relief shading, contour lines, backroads, parks and geographic features -Current Location Tracking – Use your phone’s GPS to navigate in real time -Cross-Device Access – Use on smartphone, tablet and desktop with a single account -Canada-Wide Basemap – Includes a seamless Backroad Maps basemap across Canada -Custom Adventure Layers (PRO) – Enable fishing, hunting, trails, paddling, Crown land & more -Offline Maps (PRO) – Download maps and all POI details for off-grid navigation -Satellite Imagery (PRO) – Overlay roads, trails and features on high-res satellite maps -Trip Recording & Custom Waypoints – Track routes, mark campsites and save locations -Printable Custom Maps (PRO) – Create and print stunning maps from brmbmaps.com Explore Over 150,000 Adventures Fishing -22,000+ lakes, rivers, creeks & ocean fishing areas -Bathymetry (lake & ocean depths), fish species, stocked lakes, boat launches & marinas -Boundaries & regulations Hunting -3,500+ hunting areas (WMU, WMZ, species-specific zones) -Species details, boundaries & regulations -Crown land & private land layers Camping & Parks -20,000 national, provincial, regional, urban and natural parks -Campsites, picnic areas, backcountry campsites, huts & cabins -Private campgrounds, resorts & lodges, amenities & services Hiking, Biking & Horseback Trails -130,000+ km of multi-use trails with trailheads, difficulty, distance & elevation gain -Includes hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, backpacking and multi-use -Separate Trans-Canada Trail layer with trailheads, pavilions and alternate routes Paddling (Canoeing & Kayaking) -107,000+ km of routes with access points, difficulty, distance & grading -Features lake circuits, river and ocean paddling routes, whitewater & more -Paddling routes include portages with distances, campsites, put-ins & take-outs ATV, OHV, Off-Road and Overland Routes -160,000+ km of trails and routes with staging areas, difficulty & distance -Features ATV/OHV, dirt biking and overlanding routes -Plus 3,000,000+ km of Roads and 160,000+ km of Logging Roads to explore Snowmobiling -150,000+ km of trails and routes with staging areas, difficulty & distance -Features federation & club-maintained trails, plus backcountry routes -Clubhouses, warming huts & shelters, side trails and more Winter Recreation -9,500+ km of ski & snowshoe trails for cross-country, Nordic, backcountry & downhill skiing -2,100+ trailheads, Nordic areas & ski centres -Trails feature difficulty, distance, elevation gain & ski area amenities Wildlife Viewing & Nature -1,800+ sites for birdwatching & wildlife viewing -Features birding sites, fish hatcheries, marine life, small & large animals -Bird viewing & scenic lookouts, trailheads & wildlife centres Attractions & Unique Sites -20,000+ points, including roadside and backroad attractions -Features big trees, caves, waterfalls, hot springs, lighthouses, beaches, museums and scenic areas -Hours, location and contact information Why BRMB Maps? Unlike other GPS apps, BRMB Maps is built specifically for Canadian terrain and adventures, with unmatched detail, local insights and recreation-focused layers. Start exploring Canada’s wild spaces with BRMB Maps – your GPS trail map, hunting app, fishing tool and trip planner all in one. Download BRMB Maps today and experience Canada's most complete outdoor mapping app.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps at Free against Topo Maps's $19.99. BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). Topo Maps's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and review sentiment (70% vs 35%). On rating, 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
BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps is free to download; Topo Maps costs $19.99 up front. BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Topo Maps asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.3 for Topo Maps against 4.2 for BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 128 and 26 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 70% of Topo Maps's written reviews are positive against 35% of BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps's.
Topo Maps ships an update every 2 months, BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Topo Maps | BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $19.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.3 (128 ratings) — better | 4.2 (26 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 69.6% of reviews — better | 35.1% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 128 — better | 26 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #161 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 15.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 112 MB | 339 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Mappendix Limited | Mussio Ventures Ltd. |
Customer experience
Topo Maps
BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps
User reviews
Topo Maps
From 128 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 📍 Accurate USGS topographic maps for navigation
- 📱 Offline functionality without cellular service
- 💰 One-time purchase with no subscription fees
- 🎯 Precise GPS positioning and waypoint marking
- 📥 Easy map downloading and management
Room to improve
- 🗺️ Outdated map data (10-30+ years old)
- 🔴 Alignment issues in some regions (Central Washington)
- ❌ No GPS tracking/breadcrumb trail feature
- 🚫 Limited geographic coverage (US/Canada only)
- ⚠️ Inconsistent elevation accuracy vs. actual GPS
BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps
From 26 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🗺️ Great maps and data
- 🇨🇦 Excellent for exploring Canada
- ⛰️ Detailed topos and satellite imaging
- 👍 User-friendly for some
- ✨ Recent improvements noted
Room to improve
- 💸 Expensive subscription
- 😠 Excessive and disruptive ads
- 🐛 Sync issues (hit or miss)
- 🚫 No waypoint management
- 📱 Poor CarPlay integration
Bugs and requests
Topo Maps
Reported bugs
8 issues- App fails to open on iOS 16.2 and later versions
- Map download errors with spotty connectivity prevent future downloads
- App freezes after recent updates
- GPS location inaccuracy on iPhone (works better on iPad)
- Maps misaligned in certain regions
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- Elevation readings significantly differ from actual GPS altitude
- App crashes when opening on newer iPhone models
- Blue location indicator too large and blocks map details
Requested features
15 requests- GPS tracking with automatic breadcrumb trails
- GPX and KML file import/export capabilities
- Cloud synchronization of waypoints across devices
- Satellite imagery download option
- Track recording and playback functionality
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- Elevation profile visualization
- Batch map downloading (multiple maps simultaneously)
- Waypoint timestamp automation
- Height map vs GPS elevation mode switching
- Line-of-sight calculation with fresnel zone visualization
- European and international map coverage
- 3D map rendering
- Distance measurement tools
- Route linking between waypoints
- Apple Watch integration
BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps
Reported bugs
53 issues- Unwanted push notifications for challenges
- Issues resetting password
- CarPlay useless (no tracking/waypoint access)
- Sync of data is hit or miss
- Waypoints are a jumble of names, no numbers, folders, filters
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- Waypoint list different on web
- No 7 day free trial as advertised
- Zoom doesn't work on MacOS app
- Scroll doesn't work in MacOS settings
- MacOS window size fixed, fullscreen not working
- Ads are relentless, can't exit
- Advertisement glitch: closing ad returns to location
- Sync in both directions is hit or miss
- CarPlay map only moves at one preset zoom level
- App runs like a BETA 1 version
- Free version doesn't make you want to use pay version
- Ads pop up full screen, annoying
- Closing ad puts user back to current location
- Paid for Pro subscription, no 7-day free trial
- Adding waypoint on cell service takes up to 10 min
- Touching screen by accident adds waypoint and menu
- Search function doesn't work
- Cannot change from meters to feet
- Recording a trail jumps massive lines when restarting
- Cannot edit or erase certain sections of trail
- Cannot re-edit waypoint location or move it
- Editing waypoint requires going through two menus
- Interface is poorly designed with too many levels
- Continually asks to drop a pin/waypoint when moving map
- Satellite images are out of date
- Updated roads are missing
- Cannot download maps for offline use without paying
- Ads appear every couple of minutes
- Advertising even when paying for subscription
- Requires restoring of purchase too often
- Caught out without offline maps due to purchase timeout
- Ads interrupt and are hard to close
- Advertising even when paying for the app
- PRO subscription not accessible after payment
- Excessive disruptive ads, each ad resets map
- Charged for subscription on 2nd day of free trial
- Unable to use pro upgrade after payment
- App asks to pay for subscription again on different device
- Version 3 broke 'Your trip' feature
- Cannot remove trails I've been on
- Maps on app do not match book maps
- Not easy to use, not as easy as Google Maps
- Cannot control manual off
- App crashes every time it's opened
- Nothing showed for the entire United States
- Downloads time out after 10 minutes
- No search function for specific locations
- Instructions on web are for previous version
Requested features
29 requests- Icon for mines/pins
- Crown land for BC
- Direction feature with distance and turn directions
- Waypoint management (numbers, folders, filters)
- CarPlay integration with tracking/waypoint access
Show 24 moreShow fewer
- Ability to plan routes
- Direction arrow showing icon facing
- Trace function to outline or create trails with finger
- Export KML or GPX files
- More waypoint icons and customization (color, outlines)
- Ability to edit/erase trail sections
- Ability to move waypoint location
- Description or notes section for waypoints
- Sort waypoints (closest, alphabetical, recent)
- Folders for waypoints
- CarPlay map with adjustable zoom
- Dark mode
- Advanced analytics dashboard
- Ability to add different colors to tracks
- Organize tracks into folders
- Full featured OSX version with offline map downloads
- Export file from OSX to iOS version offline
- URL for websites of points of interest
- More detailed options on iOS app (drill down for parks)
- Sync settings between iOS and browser
- Ability to plan excursions on PC and access on iOS app
- Edit track colors
- Organize tracks into folders
- CarPlay support
In-app purchases
Topo Maps
No in-app purchases
BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps
- BRMB Maps PRO7 Days trial$3.991 Month
- BRMB Monthly PRO Access7 Days trial$6.991 Month
- BRMB Yearly PRO Access7 Days trial$44.991 Year
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- Yearly PRO Promo1 Year trial$44.991 Year
Questions
Is Topo Maps free?
Is BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps free?
Which has better reviews, Topo Maps or BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps?
Do Topo Maps or BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps have ads?
Which is updated more often, Topo Maps or BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps?
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