Comparison

Theodolite vs NRDS Mobile Mapping ('Āina)

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

Head to head
About

Theodolite

This app combines a compass, inclinometer, rangefinder, GPS, and map with augmented reality features. Capture photos and videos with overlaid geographical data, and navigate using detailed offline maps. Share locations and collaborate with others for various outdoor and professional uses.

Highlights
  • Augmented reality viewfinder
  • Compass and inclinometer
  • GPS and map navigation
  • Data-overlay photo/video camera
  • Offline map support
  • Rangefinder and nav calculator
  • Coordinate system support
Read full description

Theodolite is a multi-function viewfinder that combines a compass, two-axis inclinometer, rangefinder, GPS, map, nav calculator, and geo-overlay photo/movie camera into one indispensable app. Theodolite was one of the very first augmented reality (AR) apps when it was released in 2009, and it’s been downloaded and used by millions of customers since then. Uses are endless, and the app is great for land measurements, outdoor sports, sightseeing, navigation, and finding your way around. Theodolite is a pro grade app and is used extensively by surveyors, geologists, architects, engineers, competitive sportsmen, first responders, military personnel, and search and rescue workers around the world. Theodolite lets you take data-overlay photos and movies with 2X-8X zoom. Overlay geographical data, angle markings, date/time, author/company info, and project notes directly on photos and movies for later reference. The same data is written into the metadata record of images, making image files self-contained data records. Third-party apps can tap into Theodolite's advanced camera functions with a camera sharing feature. View current position on the built-in map with optional offline Outdoors maps that include topo contours, roads, trails, landmarks, campgrounds, ski lifts, and more. Live map markers continually update distance/heading relative to the current location and also show wayfinding info in the main viewfinder. Draw polygons on the map to mark things like property boundaries and trails, and import/export polygon data via KML. Share map markers and nav calculator points with other users of Theodolite via text messages or e-mail. This powerful capability opens up a wide range of collaborative uses including team land surveying, accident investigations, spotting wild fires, triangulation of landmarks, and advanced tactical observation and targeting. With an optional in-app purchase to enable team tracking, you can share location with up to 20 people on Theodolite's map. Theodolite includes features for serious users like a reference angle mode, nav calculator, map marker import/export, manual and automatic data logging with CSV and KML export, clipboard integration, %grade display, mil compass readout, optical rangefinders (including a mil-based reticle, sniper-style stadiametric graphs, and a variable 4X-24X scope), and night filters to improve use in dark conditions. Theodolite can provide location in military grid reference system (MGRS) coordinates, Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) coordinates, British/Irish National Grids, US National Grid, Maidenhead locator system, Map Grid of Australia, and six latitude/longitude formats. Optional US State Plane coordinates include SPCS27 and SPCS83 zones covering all US States. The optional Datum Pack adds over 230 geodetic datums to the app to improve position computation from GPS data, covering regions and countries on all continents around the world. AR Layers include navigational aids like the sun, moon, planets, and Polaris (North star), and the optional US Mountain Summits layer that shows over 70,000 US mountain summits in the viewfinder. Theodolite has been shown in Apple Keynotes, featured on the App Store, and has been a #1 selling Navigation app in App Stores around the world. Since its introduction in 2009, Theodolite has defined augmented reality navigation. The app continually introduces new technologies, pushing the limits of iOS app development and taking advantage of new hardware capabilities. Find out why Apple named Theodolite one of the most amazing apps available and showed it being used to explore the Great Wall of China. Where will you take it on your next adventure? Note: Theodolite is an iPhone app -- see “Theodolite HD” for use on an iPad. And be sure to check out the all-new "Theodolite for Watch" and put Theodolite on your wrist!

About

NRDS Mobile Mapping ('Āina)

This mapping and data collection tool allows users to geotag photos, record tracks, save waypoints, and draw various shapes. It functions both online and offline, making it ideal for fieldwork in conservation, agriculture, surveying, and hiking.

Highlights
  • Geotag photos
  • Record tracks
  • Save waypoints
  • Draw polygons
  • Offline functionality
  • Data synchronization
  • Report generation
Features
Read full description

Mapping and data collection has never been more easy, accurate, and efficient. Geotag photos, record tracks, save waypoints, trace lines, draw polygons, and so much more with the NRDS app. Utilizing your device’s GPS, this mapping and data collection tool works both on and offline. Working in conservation or agriculture? Doing some surveying or hiking? This dependable app is designed for you. ENHANCE YOUR NRDS CAPABILITIES With credentials you can sync data to the nrds.io web platform and access features including but not limited to: • Develop comprehensive reports • Track work hours • Share data between partners • Bulk data uploads and exports • Design downloadable surveys • Organize your GIS features • Manage users, teams, and contact lists • Browse your photo gallery • Build projections

Screenshots

Theodolite4 screens
NRDS Mobile Mapping ('Āina)4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: NRDS Mobile Mapping ('Āina) at Free against Theodolite's $8.99. NRDS Mobile Mapping ('Āina) also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 8) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 4 months). Theodolite's advantage is ratings volume (906 vs 7) and chart position (#7 vs unranked). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

NRDS Mobile Mapping ('Āina) is free to download; Theodolite costs $8.99 up front. Theodolite sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. NRDS Mobile Mapping ('Āina) asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

NRDS Mobile Mapping ('Āina) holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Theodolite has 906 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Theodolite ships an update every 4 months, NRDS Mobile Mapping ('Āina) every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Theodolite versus NRDS Mobile Mapping ('Āina): the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTheodoliteNRDS Mobile Mapping ('Āina)
Price$8.99Free — better
Rating4.7 (906 ratings)4.9 (7 ratings) — better
Positive reviews87.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings906 — better7
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank#7 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS15.613.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size30 MB44 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCraig HunterNatural Resource Data Solutions Inc.

Customer experience

Theodolite

All ratings902 ratings
Positive92.8%
Neutral2.9%
Negative4.3%
Written reviews476 reviews
Positive87.8%
Neutral4.8%
Negative7.4%

NRDS Mobile Mapping ('Āina)

All ratings7 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

8 purchases

Theodolite

One-time8
  • 1,000 Outdoors Map Tiles$0.99
  • Team Tracking$1.99
  • World Datum Pack$2.99
Show 5 more
  • US Mountain Summits AR Layer$2.99
  • 5,000 Outdoors Map Tiles$4.99
  • 10,000 Outdoors Map Tiles$8.99
  • 20,000 Outdoors Map Tiles$17.99
  • US State Plane Coordinates$24.99
None

NRDS Mobile Mapping ('Āina)

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Theodolite free?
Theodolite costs $8.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is NRDS Mobile Mapping ('Āina) free?
NRDS Mobile Mapping ('Āina) is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Theodolite or NRDS Mobile Mapping ('Āina)?
NRDS Mobile Mapping ('Āina) is rated higher. Theodolite averages 4.7 out of 5 from 906 ratings, while NRDS Mobile Mapping ('Āina) averages 4.9 from 7 ratings.
Do Theodolite or NRDS Mobile Mapping ('Āina) have ads?
Neither Theodolite nor NRDS Mobile Mapping ('Āina) shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Theodolite or NRDS Mobile Mapping ('Āina)?
Theodolite ships an update every 4 months, and NRDS Mobile Mapping ('Āina) every 2 months. Most recently, Theodolite was updated on October 22, 2026 and NRDS Mobile Mapping ('Āina) on October 11, 2026.

Other comparisons