Comparison

Theodolite vs Trimble Mobile Manager

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

Trimble Mobile Manager

This application acts as a bridge, allowing other software to connect with Trimble GNSS receivers. It provides detailed information on position accuracy, quality control, and real-time correction data. Users can also access satellite tracking and constellation usage details.

Highlights
  • Interfacing with Trimble GNSS receivers
  • Position accuracy and quality control data
  • Real-time corrections
  • Satellite tracking information
  • Constellation usage details
Read full description

Trimble® Mobile Manager is a middleware and configuration application to enable third party applications to interface to Trimble GNSS receivers. This app is compatible with the Trimble Catalyst DA2 receiver and Trimble R Series receivers (R980, R580, R2, R12i etc.). Key features Provides access to position accuracy and quality control related information Allows use of real-time corrections with your GNSS receiver Access to satellite tracking and constellation usage information Technical Support Contact your Trimble partner in the first instance. If you have a technical issue, send a TMM log file using the “Share log file” feature inside the Help menu of the app.

Screenshots

Theodolite4 screens
Trimble Mobile Manager4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Theodolite at 88% against Trimble Mobile Manager's 9%. Theodolite also leads on rating (4.7 vs 1.9) and ratings volume (902 vs 40). Trimble Mobile Manager's advantage is price (Free vs $8.99) and in-app purchases (none vs 8). On 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

Trimble Mobile Manager is free to download; Theodolite costs $8.99 up front. Theodolite sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Trimble Mobile Manager asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Theodolite holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 1.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Theodolite has 902 ratings behind it against 40, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 88% of Theodolite's written reviews are positive against 9% of Trimble Mobile Manager's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Theodolite ships an update every 4 months, Trimble Mobile Manager monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 2 level
Theodolite versus Trimble Mobile Manager: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTheodoliteTrimble Mobile Manager
Price$8.99Free — better
Rating4.7 (902 ratings) — better1.9 (40 ratings)
Positive reviews87.8% of reviews — better9.1% of reviews
Number of ratings902 — better40
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank#7 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS15.613.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size30 MB226 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCraig HunterTrimble Inc.

Customer experience

Theodolite

All ratings902 ratings
Positive92.8%
Neutral2.9%
Negative4.3%
Written reviews475 reviews
Positive87.8%
Neutral4.8%
Negative7.4%

Trimble Mobile Manager

All ratings40 ratings
Positive20.0%
Neutral2.5%
Negative77.5%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive9.1%
Neutral9.1%
Negative81.8%

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

Trimble Mobile Manager

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Theodolite free?
Theodolite costs $8.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Trimble Mobile Manager free?
Trimble Mobile Manager is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Theodolite or Trimble Mobile Manager?
Theodolite is rated higher. Theodolite averages 4.7 out of 5 from 902 ratings, while Trimble Mobile Manager averages 1.9 from 40 ratings.
Do Theodolite or Trimble Mobile Manager have ads?
Neither Theodolite nor Trimble Mobile Manager shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Theodolite or Trimble Mobile Manager?
Theodolite ships an update every 4 months, and Trimble Mobile Manager monthly. Most recently, Theodolite was updated on September 24, 2026 and Trimble Mobile Manager on September 20, 2026.

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