Comparison

Theodolite vs IGNIS | Wildfire Operations

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

IGNIS | Wildfire Operations

This app provides essential fireline intelligence for wildland firefighters, centralizing critical data like GeoPDF maps, weather forecasts, and fire-specific symbology. It streamlines workflows by offering offline map access and team collaboration features, enhancing situational awareness and safety in the field.

Highlights
  • Overlay GeoPDF maps on dynamic base maps
  • Access curated wildland fire layers
  • Fire Weather Dashboard with detailed forecasts
  • Offline base map access
  • Team coordination via offline Bluetooth mesh
  • Record tracks, draw lines, and calculate areas
Features
Read full description

**Fireline Mapping Transformed with IGNIS** IGNIS redefines situational awareness, by centralizing essential fireline intelligence, offering unmatched capabilities: overlay GeoPDF maps on dynamic base maps, access curated wildland fire layers, utilize the Fire Weather Dashboard for detailed forecasts, and tap into fire-specific symbology and reference documents. Say goodbye to endless tabs and apps—IGNIS streamlines workflows, saving time and effort in the field. Step into the future of firefighting safety today. **IGNIS Core: FREE for Firefighters—Because the Right Tools Make a Difference** Access powerful fire intelligence tools right at your fingertips, so you can focus on what matters most: the task at hand. Key Features: - Store unlimited GeoPDF maps and layer them on dynamic base maps with 3D views. - Download sections of the base map for offline access. - Access fire-specific weather, including zone forecasts and location-based weather reports. - Build custom incident maps with fire-specific symbology. - Record tracks, draw lines, drop points, and calculate areas in acres. - Access essential reference documents directly in the app. - Curated map layers designed for wildland fire, including: - Severe Fire Danger Index - Fire Weather Advisories - Ground Medevac Transport Times - Current Incidents - Current & Historical Fire Perimeters - NOAA Weather Radar - ALERTCalifornia Cameras - Satellite Heat Detection - Wind Speed & Direction - And more! IGNIS CONNECT: OFFLINE TEAM COLLABORATION Take fireline coordination to the next level with IGNIS Connect. Everything in IGNIS Core, plus: - Team coordination through offline Bluetooth mesh networking. Share points, lines, and polygons—even without cell service. - A web app for centralized organization management, document and map sharing, and interactive mapping. - Unified coordination for field crews and office teams, keeping everyone aligned. Visit http://www.ignistech.io to learn more! Terms of Use: https://www.ignistech.io/terms-of-use Privacy Policy: https://www.ignistech.io/privacy-policy Get Help or Leave Feedback: https://help.ignistech.io/ Or email contact@ignistech.io

Screenshots

Theodolite4 screens
IGNIS | Wildfire Operations4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: IGNIS | Wildfire Operations at Free against Theodolite's $8.99. IGNIS | Wildfire Operations also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 8) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 4 months). Theodolite's advantage is ratings volume (906 vs 55) and chart position (#7 vs unranked). On rating, review sentiment, 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

IGNIS | Wildfire Operations is free to download; Theodolite costs $8.99 up front. Theodolite sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. IGNIS | Wildfire Operations asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Theodolite against 4.8 for IGNIS | Wildfire Operations. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Theodolite has 906 ratings behind it against 55, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 88% of Theodolite's written reviews are positive against 92% of IGNIS | Wildfire Operations's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Theodolite ships an update every 4 months, IGNIS | Wildfire Operations every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Theodolite versus IGNIS | Wildfire Operations: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTheodoliteIGNIS | Wildfire Operations
Price$8.99Free — better
Rating4.7 (906 ratings)4.8 (55 ratings) — better
Positive reviews87.8% of reviews91.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings906 — better55
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank#7 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size30 MB180 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperCraig HunterIgnis Technologies, Inc

Customer experience

Theodolite

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

IGNIS | Wildfire Operations

All ratings55 ratings
Positive94.5%
Neutral1.8%
Negative3.6%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive91.7%
Neutral8.3%
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

IGNIS | Wildfire Operations

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Theodolite free?
Theodolite costs $8.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is IGNIS | Wildfire Operations free?
IGNIS | Wildfire Operations is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Theodolite or IGNIS | Wildfire Operations?
IGNIS | Wildfire Operations is rated higher. Theodolite averages 4.7 out of 5 from 906 ratings, while IGNIS | Wildfire Operations averages 4.8 from 55 ratings.
Do Theodolite or IGNIS | Wildfire Operations have ads?
Neither Theodolite nor IGNIS | Wildfire Operations shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Theodolite or IGNIS | Wildfire Operations?
Theodolite ships an update every 4 months, and IGNIS | Wildfire Operations every 2 weeks. Most recently, Theodolite was updated on October 22, 2026 and IGNIS | Wildfire Operations on October 20, 2026.

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