# Theodolite vs NRDS Mobile Mapping ('Āina)

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Theodolite | NRDS Mobile Mapping ('Āina) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $8.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.7 (906 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/theodolite/id339393884/reviews) | **[4.9 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nrds-mobile-mapping-aina/id1359548145/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **906** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | 87.8% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#7** | — |
| Size | 30 MB | 44 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **13.4** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Craig Hunter](https://appshunter.io/developer/286743884) | [Natural Resource Data Solutions Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1217760150) |

## What reviewers say

### Theodolite

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/theodolite/id339393884)

**Currently charting:** #7 Top Paid · Navigation, #125 Top Paid, #180 Top Grossing · Navigation (US App Store)

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

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1,000 Outdoors Map Tiles | $0.99 | one-time |
| Team Tracking | $1.99 | one-time |
| World Datum Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| US Mountain Summits AR Layer | $2.99 | one-time |
| 5,000 Outdoors Map Tiles | $4.99 | one-time |
| 10,000 Outdoors Map Tiles | $8.99 | one-time |
| 20,000 Outdoors Map Tiles | $17.99 | one-time |
| US State Plane Coordinates | $24.99 | one-time |


### NRDS Mobile Mapping ('Āina)

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nrds-mobile-mapping-aina/id1359548145)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked 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.

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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.*