Comparison

Theodolite vs MapNero

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
Currently charting
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

MapNero

Features
Read full description

Your maps belong in the field. MapNero brings your own maps, GPS tracks and field observations together on iPhone and iPad—even beyond network coverage. Use it for a site survey, a forest inspection, a trail walk, a bike ride or a mine-action mapping workflow. YOUR MAPS, OFFLINE Import GeoPDF and GeoTIFF maps with no map-count limit, including in Free. Follow your GPS position on the maps you already use and keep essential field information close at hand. Prepare your maps before heading into the field. Online searches, downloads and team synchronization require a connection. A WORKSPACE THAT FITS YOUR TASK Choose a mode to preset tools, symbols, units and coordinate formats. Change modes in Settings or create a Custom setup. • Surveyor / GIS: a focused workspace for coordinates, measurements and field mapping. • Forestry: a setup for forest and land-management fieldwork. • Hiker: maps, waypoints and tracks for time on the trail. • Cyclist: routes, position and track recording for your rides. • EOD / Mine Action: specialized mapping tools and professional symbology for operational documentation. • General / Custom: start simple or arrange the workspace around your own workflow. RECORD WHAT YOU FIND Create georeferenced points, lines and polygons. Record GPS tracks, measure distances and areas, and use structured field templates to keep observations consistent. BRING YOUR GIS DATA Work with KML, KMZ and GPX alongside professional formats including GeoJSON, Shapefile and GeoPackage. Move field information between MapNero and your desktop GIS workflow. COORDINATES FOR FIELDWORK Use UTM, MGRS and other coordinate formats. External GNSS support is available in Beta for Pro and Team. Compatibility depends on your receiver, device and connection method. START WITH YOUR OWN MAPS Download MapNero free and import your GeoPDF and GeoTIFF maps. Advanced tools and team features are available through paid plans; availability depends on your plan. 20 LANGUAGES English, Turkish, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Arabic, Urdu, Hindi, Ukrainian, Russian, Portuguese, Japanese, Greek, Indonesian, Malay, Afrikaans, Polish, Simplified Chinese and Korean. One map. Many ways.

Screenshots

Theodolite4 screens
MapNero4 screens

Verdict

The call

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 (#8 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Theodolite ships an update every 4 months, MapNero every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Theodolite versus MapNero: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTheodoliteMapNero
Price$8.99Free — better
Rating4.7 (906 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews87.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings906 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
Best chart rank#8 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS15.6 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size30 MB83 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperCraig HunterSerhan UCAR

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
3 purchases

MapNero

Subscriptions3
  • MapNero Core$34.991 Year
  • MapNero Pro$79.991 Year
  • MapNero Team Solo$99.991 Year

Questions

Is Theodolite free?
Theodolite costs $8.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is MapNero free?
MapNero is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Theodolite or MapNero have ads?
Neither Theodolite nor MapNero shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Theodolite or MapNero?
Theodolite ships an update every 4 months, and MapNero every 5 days. Most recently, Theodolite was updated on October 24, 2026 and MapNero on October 23, 2026.

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