# Avenza Maps vs The Next Trail

Avenza Maps and The Next Trail both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 88% of The Next Trail's written reviews are positive against 51% of Avenza Maps's. The Next Trail also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). Avenza Maps's advantage is ratings volume (128K vs 43) and chart position (#17 vs #199). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Avenza Maps sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $32.99 per year and The Next Trail sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Avenza Maps against 4.8 for The Next Trail. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Avenza Maps has 128K ratings behind it against 43, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 51% of Avenza Maps's written reviews are positive against 88% of The Next Trail's.

Avenza Maps ships an update every 2 months, The Next Trail weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Avenza Maps | The Next Trail |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (128K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/avenza-maps-offline-mapping/id388424049/reviews) | **[4.8 (43 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-next-trail/id1553520088/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **128K** | 43 |
| Positive reviews | 51.2% of reviews | **87.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#17** | #199 |
| Size | 335 MB | 27 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Avenza Systems Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/387212805) | [BlabApps LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1534245734) |

## What reviewers say

### Avenza Maps

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

**Currently charting:** #17 Top Grossing · Navigation, #68 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 (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Avenza Maps Plus | $32.99 | per year |
| 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 |
| US Forest Service R2 Map Product | $4.99 | one-time |
| US Forest Service R4 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


### The Next Trail

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-next-trail/id1553520088)

**Currently charting:** #199 Top Grossing · Navigation (US App Store)

Navigate outdoor trails with detailed maps and routes for snowmobiling and off-road vehicles. Access local events, points of interest, and real-time trail updates from clubs. Download maps for offline use with GPS tracking.

**Highlights:** Offline trail maps and routes, GPS tracking for precise location, Points of interest and local events, Trail closure and opening updates, Record and save custom trails, Cloud backup for recorded trails

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $1.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $12.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Avenza Maps free?

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

### Is The Next Trail free?

The Next Trail is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Avenza Maps or The Next Trail?

The Next Trail is rated higher. Avenza Maps averages 4.8 out of 5 from 128K ratings, while The Next Trail averages 4.8 from 43 ratings.

### Do Avenza Maps or The Next Trail have ads?

Neither Avenza Maps nor The Next Trail shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Avenza Maps or The Next Trail?

Avenza Maps ships an update every 2 months, and The Next Trail weekly. Most recently, Avenza Maps was updated on October 29, 2026 and The Next Trail on October 25, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Avenza Maps or The Next Trail?

Avenza Maps currently peaks at #17 in the App Store charts, and The Next Trail at #199. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

---

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