# GPSnote vs Big North

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Big North at 100% against GPSnote's 45%. Big North also leads on rating (5.0 vs 2.8) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 2 months). GPSnote's advantage is price (Free vs $4.99) and ratings volume (12 vs 3). On ads, in-app purchases and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

GPSnote is free to download; Big North costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Big North holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 12 and 3 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 45% of GPSnote's written reviews are positive against 100% of Big North's.

GPSnote ships an update every 2 months, Big North every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | GPSnote | Big North |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $4.99 |
| Rating | [2.8 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gpsnote/id335485024/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/big-north/id6758106277/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **12** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 44.7% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Size | 7 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | **26.0** | 26.2 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Vlad Alexa](https://appshunter.io/developer/947221329) | [Wild Tree Designs](https://appshunter.io/developer/1870908199) |

## What reviewers say

### GPSnote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gpsnote/id335485024)

Pinpoint locations on a map to add notes, descriptions, and details. Automatically capture location information and organize all your annotations in a searchable list. Sync across devices and easily export your data.

**Highlights:** Add notes by tapping, current location, or search, Reposition notes easily, Automatic country and city details, Organized list of all notes, Global search for locations, iCloud sync across devices, Export notes via File Sharing, Open notes directly in Maps for navigation

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 📍 Useful for tracking locations
- 🗺️ Good for planning trips
- 📝 Allows notes for pins
- 🌍 Worldwide map display

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes
- 🐛 App doesn't load/work
- 🐛 Search functionality issues
- 🐛 Data loss (pins disappear)
- 🐛 Inaccurate GPS/pin placement

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes every time trying to search a location
- Points (pins) get lost
- Cannot place any notes on iPhone
- App doesn't load properly
- App crashes upon search

**Requested features**

- Add different colors to pins
- Option to send all information to email at once
- Add ability to create backup files via email
- Optional inner country boundaries (states, provinces)
- Ability to place markers with GPS coordinates


### Big North

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/big-north/id6758106277)

This navigation app provides a large, color-coded compass for quick, clear readings. It also displays altitude and distance traveled in various units, designed for easy outdoor use.

**Highlights:** Large-font, color-coded compass headings, Altitude display (meters/feet), Distance traveled (steps, km, miles), Intuitive, easy-to-use interface, Designed for outdoor use

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is GPSnote free?

GPSnote is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Big North free?

Big North costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, GPSnote or Big North?

Big North is rated higher. GPSnote averages 2.8 out of 5 from 12 ratings, while Big North averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do GPSnote or Big North have ads?

Neither GPSnote nor Big North shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, GPSnote or Big North?

GPSnote ships an update every 2 months, and Big North every 9 days. Most recently, GPSnote was updated on November 1, 2026 and Big North on October 31, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*