MiniVAN Touch vs Turf Tools
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
MiniVAN Touch
This app digitizes political canvassing by allowing users to collect data directly on their mobile devices. It syncs with NGP VAN, streamlining the process of uploading and integrating canvass results into databases.
- Mobile data collection
- NGP VAN integration
- Offline data entry
- Real-time data upload
- Streamlined data management
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miniVAN Touch is a mobile canvassing application that integrates with websites provided by NGP VAN. The miniVAN system allows users to export canvassing lists from VAN onto an iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch. Canvassers can then enter data into their device as they talk to people on their list. When the canvassers connect their device to the Internet over a wireless or cellular network, they can upload their data back to the VAN with the touch of a button. Administrative users on the VAN can then review the data and apply it to the database in one quick step. Canvassing with miniVAN allows NGP VAN clients to spend more time and resources on actually contacting people instead of on data entry. What’s more, it virtually eliminates the lag time between collecting canvass results and putting that data to work.
Turf Tools
This app helps community and political organizations conduct door-to-door canvassing. Users can access assigned areas via a code, record survey responses, and sync data offline. The organization manages turf codes and stores results.
- Door-to-door canvassing
- Map view of assigned buildings
- Record outcomes and survey responses
- Offline data storage and syncing
- Organization-managed turf codes
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Turf Tools is canvassing software for community and political organizations. As a canvasser, you'll open a turf with an access code provided by an organization, and see your assigned buildings and doors on a map. You'll then record outcomes and survey responses as you go. If you lose connectivity, responses will be stored and synced when you're back online. The organization running the canvass provides you with a turf code and stores the results. Turf Tools is not affiliated with any individual campaign or organization.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Turf Tools at 5.0 against MiniVAN Touch's 3.3. Turf Tools also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). MiniVAN Touch's advantage is ratings volume (276 vs 1) and chart position (#182 vs unranked). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Turf Tools holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MiniVAN Touch has 276 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
MiniVAN Touch ships an update every 2 months, Turf Tools every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | MiniVAN Touch | Turf Tools |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.3 (276 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 25.5% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 276 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | #182 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | 15.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 23 MB | 49 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | NGP VAN | Jeremy Freeman |
Customer experience
MiniVAN Touch
Turf Tools
Bugs and requests
MiniVAN Touch
Reported bugs
19 issues- App crashes when downloading lists
- Login loops and authentication failures
- Two-factor authentication stuck or unresetable
- Data disappears after switching lists
- Synced data not visible the next day
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- App resets to top of list when screen locks
- Map zooms out unexpectedly when panning
- Inconsistent swipe gestures for marking status
- App freezes during extended use
- Password reset emails not arriving
- Training video stuck with no exit option
- Filters not functioning properly
- App incompatible with some older devices
- Turf sending only works for one campaign despite selection
- Data loss on Android devices
- Keyboard not accessible on iPad for authentication
- Sync button accidentally triggered during canvassing
- Randomly logs out without syncing data
- Cannot edit notes while person marked 'Not Home'
Requested features
18 requests- Ability to load and switch between multiple lists simultaneously
- Geographic sorting instead of alphabetical ordering
- Automatic route optimization that persists
- Bulk marking of inaccessible addresses
- Integrated navigation/directions from map
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- Progress indicators and motivational messages
- Spanish language version
- Ability to see all household members at once
- Settings to disable repeated training prompts
- Toggle between different canvass campaigns
- Mock/training lists for practice
- Customizable symbology and icons
- Filter by party affiliation and voter status
- Phonebanking integration
- Bulk operations for household management
- Dark mode toggle option
- Persistent app state in background
- Shared notes visible to all canvassers
Turf Tools
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
MiniVAN Touch
No in-app purchases
Turf Tools
No in-app purchases
