Theodolite vs MapNero
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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!
MapNero
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MapNero is a professional field-mapping app for anyone who needs accurate, offline maps — EOD operators, deminers, surveyors, foresters, rangers, search and rescue teams and more. Mark hazards, survey land and record your work directly on the map, then export a shareable georeferenced map sheet. Available on iOS and MacOS. KEY FEATURES Unlimited map import — load as many GeoPDF, GeoTIFF and KMZ maps as you want, no limits. IMAS land-release symbology (TNMA 07.11/01): SHA and CHA classification, contamination and activity icons, land-release products. MIL-STD-2525 military symbols. Pins, polygons, lines, tracks and area measurements with UTM and MGRS coordinates. Export to Shapefile, GeoPackage, GPX, KML, KMZ and CSV. Real-time team collaboration with encrypted layer sync and live positions. External GNSS/RTK receiver support (Trimble, Bad Elf, EOS). 12 languages including full right-to-left support. GEOREFERENCED PDF MAP EXPORT Export your map as a georeferenced PDF (GeoPDF) with UTM grid, legend, scale bar, north arrow and title block. Opens in Avenza Maps and QGIS with coordinates intact. Page sizes from A4 to A0. Also for: land surveyors, geologists, utilities, search and rescue, rangers and archaeologists. Developed by The Nero Labs. Not affiliated with Esri, ArcGIS or Avenza. LEGAL Privacy Policy: https://mapnero.com/privacy.html Terms of Use (EULA): https://mapnero.com/terms.html
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: MapNero at Free against Theodolite's $8.99. MapNero also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 4 months) and device support (4 vs 2). Theodolite's advantage is chart position (#7 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). On ads and in-app purchases 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
MapNero is free to download; Theodolite costs $8.99 up front. Theodolite sells 8 one-off in-app purchases and MapNero sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $34.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Theodolite ships an update every 4 months, MapNero every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Theodolite | MapNero |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $8.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.7 (902 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 87.8% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 902 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 5 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Best chart rank | #7 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — better |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 30 MB | 65 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Craig Hunter | Serhan UCAR |
In-app purchases
Theodolite
- 1,000 Outdoors Map Tiles$0.99
- Team Tracking$1.99
- World Datum Pack$2.99
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- 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
MapNero
- MapNero Core$34.991 Year
- MapNero Pro$79.991 Year
- MapNero Team Solo$99.991 Year









