# Avenza Maps vs BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps

The clearest difference is rating: Avenza Maps at 4.8 against BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps's 4.2. Avenza Maps also leads on ratings volume (128K vs 27) and review sentiment (51% vs 35%). BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (15.4 vs 18.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Avenza Maps sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $34.99 per year and BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Avenza Maps holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Avenza Maps has 128K ratings behind it against 27, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 51% of Avenza Maps's written reviews are positive against 35% of BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps's.

Avenza Maps ships an update every 2 months, BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Avenza Maps | BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (128K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/avenza-maps-offline-mapping/id388424049/reviews)** | [4.2 (27 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brmb-maps-by-backroad-maps/id1528015531/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **128K** | 27 |
| Positive reviews | **51.2% of reviews** | 35.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#18** | — |
| Size | 335 MB | 230 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.4** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Avenza Systems Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/387212805) | [Mussio Ventures Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/991230796) |

## What reviewers say

### Avenza Maps

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/avenza-maps-offline-mapping/id388424049)

**Currently charting:** #18 Top Grossing · Navigation, #70 Top Free · Navigation (US App Store)

Navigate any terrain with offline GPS maps, even without cell service. Explore a vast Map Store for hiking, biking, and travel, or import your own custom maps. Record tracks, add notes, and identify your location precisely.

**Highlights:** Offline GPS navigation, Real-time GPS position and direction, Record GPS tracks, Add photos and notes to locations, Import custom maps, Map Store with professional maps

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Avenza Maps Plus | $34.99 | per year |
| Avenza Maps Pro | $169.99 | per year |
| Forest Service Topo Product | $0.99 | one-time |
| Garmin Tier 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| BaseImage, LLC Map Product | $0.99 | one-time |
| Western Michigan University Map Product | $2.99 | one-time |
| US Forest Service R5 Map Product | $4.99 | one-time |
| US Forest Service R6 Product | $4.99 | one-time |
| Map the Xperience Map Product | $4.99 | one-time |
| National Geographic Map Product | $11.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 🗺️ Accurate GPS tracking
- 📥 Offline maps
- 💾 Ability to download maps
- 🗺️ Detailed topographic maps

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Poor search functionality
- 🗺️ Inaccurate map placement
- 💰 Expensive maps
- 🔋 Battery drain
- 🤔 Confusing interface

**Reported bugs**

- Maps disappearing after updates
- Airdrop functionality issues
- Compatibility problems with newer devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to stitch/overlay multiple maps
- Apple CarPlay integration
- Improved map search and discovery
- Easier map management and organization
- Ability to export/share recorded tracks


### BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brmb-maps-by-backroad-maps/id1528015531)

Navigate Canada's backcountry with detailed topographic maps and over 900,000 points of interest. Plan, track, and explore offline for hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, and more.

**Highlights:** Topographic GPS maps, Current location tracking, Offline map downloads, Custom adventure layers, Trip recording and waypoints, Satellite imagery overlay

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| BRMB Maps PRO | $3.99 | per month |
| BRMB Monthly PRO Access | $6.99 | per month |
| BRMB Yearly PRO Access | $44.99 | per year |
| Yearly PRO Promo | $44.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🗺️ Great maps and data
- 🇨🇦 Excellent for exploring Canada
- ⛰️ Detailed topos and satellite imaging
- 👍 User-friendly for some
- ✨ Recent improvements noted

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💸 Expensive subscription
- 😠 Excessive and disruptive ads
- 🐛 Sync issues (hit or miss)
- 🚫 No waypoint management
- 📱 Poor CarPlay integration

**Reported bugs**

- Unwanted push notifications for challenges
- Issues resetting password
- CarPlay useless (no tracking/waypoint access)
- Sync of data is hit or miss
- Waypoints are a jumble of names, no numbers, folders, filters

**Requested features**

- Icon for mines/pins
- Crown land for BC
- Direction feature with distance and turn directions
- Waypoint management (numbers, folders, filters)
- CarPlay integration with tracking/waypoint access


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Avenza Maps free?

Avenza Maps is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps free?

BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Avenza Maps or BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps?

Avenza Maps is rated higher. Avenza Maps averages 4.8 out of 5 from 128K ratings, while BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps averages 4.2 from 27 ratings.

### Do Avenza Maps or BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps have ads?

Neither Avenza Maps nor BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Avenza Maps or BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps?

Avenza Maps ships an update every 2 months, and BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps every 3 weeks. Most recently, Avenza Maps was updated on November 5, 2026 and BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps on November 3, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*