Comparison

Topo Maps vs Topo Maps+

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

* 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.

About

Topo Maps+

Plan and execute backcountry adventures with offline topographic maps and GPS navigation. Features include route building, waypoints, land boundaries, and on-trail tools. Integrates with Apple Watch and CarPlay for seamless outdoor exploration.

Highlights
  • Offline topographic maps
  • Smart route building
  • Waypoints and proximity alerts
  • Land boundary overlays
  • Track recording
  • Apple Watch and CarPlay integration
Features
Read full description

Designed and tested on real dirt, Topo Maps+ is packed with the maps & tools to plan and execute your backcountry adventure. ‣‣ MAPS FOR EVERY ACTIVITY ‣Setup your map based on your planned activity ‣‣ PLANNING TOOLS ‣ Compare and Download maps for use offline. ‣ Combine overlays to customize your map view ‣ Smart route-building tools ‣ Waypoints ‣ Print, email or share custom maps and routes ‣ Public, Private, and Hunting land boundaries ‣ Parcel Information ‣ Create teams and live-share members’ last known location ‣‣ ON-TRAIL TOOLS (Offline) ‣ View your current location ‣ All Maps and Overlays are downloadable ‣ Record your tracks - see where you’ve been ‣ Photo Waypoints - snap a pic and instantly shows on the map ‣ Progress on Trail - how much further on the trail ‣ Guide Me - to a waypoint ‣ Proximity Alerts - notify me when I’m close to a waypoint, trail, or region ‣ Line of Sight - what am I looking at? ‣ Downloaded elevation data for route-creation on the trail ‣‣ APPLE WATCH ‣ Integration with Apple HealthKit ‣Download maps directly to the watch ‣ Pan and zoom the map just like on the phone ‣ Drop a waypoint ‣ Record a track and see all of your stats ‣‣ CARPLAY ‣ Navigate to the trailhead ‣ Turn by Turn directions on USFS Roads ‣‣ NAVIGATIONAL MINDSET - helpful tips and tricks for keeping you safe in the backcountry! ‣‣ SUBSCRIPTION LEVELS: FREE level: view low resolution maps, record your tracks, and limited features Topo Maps+ Pro: high resolution maps, download maps, planning & on-trail tools, driving mode, import geospatial PDFs and TIFFS Topo Maps+ Elite: MapBox Satellite map, US public and private land overlays, parcel and ownership contact info, game management units. ‣‣ CLOUD Sync your routes, trips, subscriptions, and waypoints between all of your iOS and Mac devices. SUBSCRIPTION PAYMENT INFORMATION Topo Maps+ subscriptions will be charged to your Apple ID account at the confirmation of purchase and/or completion of free trial. Subscription automatically renews unless it is canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the free trial or current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage and cancel your subscriptions by going to your account settings on the App Store after purchase. Privacy Policy: https://topomaps.co/info/privacy Terms of Service: https://topomaps.co/info/tos Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life.

Screenshots

Topo Maps4 screens
Topo Maps+4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Topo Maps+ at Free against Topo Maps's $19.99. Topo Maps+ also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.3) and ratings volume (9.4K vs 128). Topo Maps's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 11) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). On review sentiment, ads and chart position 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

Topo Maps+ is free to download; Topo Maps costs $19.99 up front. Topo Maps+ sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per 3 months. Topo Maps asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Topo Maps+ holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Topo Maps+ has 9.4K ratings behind it against 128, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 70% of Topo Maps's written reviews are positive against 62% of Topo Maps+'s, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Topo Maps ships an update every 2 months, Topo Maps+ every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
Topo Maps versus Topo Maps+: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTopo MapsTopo Maps+
Price$19.99Free — better
Rating4.3 (128 ratings)4.7 (9.4K ratings) — better
Positive reviews69.6% of reviews — better62.2% of reviews
Number of ratings1289.4K — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
Best chart rank#113#61 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Vision Pro — better
Requires iOS13.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size112 MB252 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperMappendix LimitedGlacier Peak Studios LLC

Customer experience

Topo Maps

All ratings128 ratings
Positive81.3%
Neutral5.5%
Negative13.3%
Written reviews112 reviews
Positive69.6%
Neutral4.5%
Negative25.9%

Topo Maps+

All ratings9,395 ratings
Positive95.8%
Neutral1.7%
Negative2.5%
Written reviews238 reviews
Positive62.2%
Neutral8.4%
Negative29.4%

User reviews

Topo Maps

From 128 App Store ratings

What 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

Topo Maps+

From 9.4K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Accurate offline maps
  • 📍 Reliable GPS tracking
  • 🗺️ Variety of map options
  • 🔍 Detailed trail information
  • ⛰️ Useful for backcountry navigation

Room to improve

  • 🐢 Slow map downloads
  • 🤔 Confusing user interface
  • 🔒 Paywall for many features
  • 🗺️ Limited map coverage outside US
  • 🔋 High battery consumption

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
Show 3 more
  • 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
Show 10 more
  • 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

Topo Maps+

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Crashes during map downloads
  • GPS tracking issues in certain areas
  • Waypoint data loss after app updates

Requested features

5 requests
  • Improved route planning tools
  • Ability to import/export user data
  • Enhanced offline map caching
  • More detailed map legends
  • Integration with other outdoor apps

In-app purchases

None

Topo Maps

No in-app purchases

11 purchases

Topo Maps+

Subscriptions6
  • Topo Maps+ Essentials 3 Months$14.993 Months
  • Topo Maps+ Pro: 3 Months$29.993 Months
  • Topo Maps+ Essentials$29.991 Year
Show 3 more
  • Topo Maps+ Elite: 3 Months$39.993 Months
  • Topo Maps+ Pro7 Days trial$59.991 Year
  • Topo Maps+ Elite7 Days trial$79.991 Year
One-time5
  • 3 Month Map Pass$11.99
  • 6 Month Map Pass$14.99
  • 12 Month Map Pass$19.99
Show 2 more
  • 3 Months PRO$29.99
  • 12 Months PRO$59.99

Questions

Is Topo Maps free?
Topo Maps costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Topo Maps+ free?
Topo Maps+ is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Topo Maps or Topo Maps+?
Topo Maps+ is rated higher. Topo Maps averages 4.3 out of 5 from 128 ratings, while Topo Maps+ averages 4.7 from 9.4K ratings.
Do Topo Maps or Topo Maps+ have ads?
Neither Topo Maps nor Topo Maps+ shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Topo Maps or Topo Maps+?
Topo Maps ships an update every 2 months, and Topo Maps+ every 3 weeks. Most recently, Topo Maps was updated on October 24, 2026 and Topo Maps+ on October 24, 2026.
Which is more popular, Topo Maps or Topo Maps+?
Topo Maps currently peaks at #113 in the App Store charts, and Topo Maps+ at #61. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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