Comparison

Avenza Maps vs You Need A Map

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Avenza Maps

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
Read full description

New Description: Avenza Maps is a powerful offline navigation app for professional field work. Use offline maps with GPS navigation to stay on track anywhere—no signal required, so you can navigate confidently with precise location awareness. Discover and download trail, topographic, land use, utility, nautical, and survey data from trusted publishers, or import your own maps. Avenza supports custom map import, letting you work with PDF maps, GeoPDF®, and GeoTIFF files for reliable navigation both on and off the grid. Explore trusted outdoor & professional data Access the largest mobile Map Stores featuring content from: National Geographic National Park Service US Forest Service (USFS) US Geological Survey (USGS) NOAA, FAA, BLM, and more Avenza is widely used by professionals worldwide for surveying, land management, environmental work, GIS field operations, and more. Make your own maps? Import your custom maps and never get lost off the grid. Maps are available for free or purchase from the in-app Map Store. Plus subscription is available for unlimited custom map imports. Pro subscription is available for professional users with full access to all features and mapping tools. ENHANCE YOUR MAPS WITH THESE FEATURES - Locate your realtime GPS position and find direction, even when offline - Record GPS tracks during your activities - Navigate to features using compass tools - Add photos and notes to any location - Add placemarks to your map and style them with recreational symbols - Measure distances and estimate times - Supports KML, GPX, and CSV Formats GET MORE WITH AVENZA MAPS PLUS For users who need more - Up to 20 custom PDF, GeoPDF®, and GeoTIFF imports - Create geofences for up to 50 individual features and up to four geofence layers GET EVEN MORE WITH AVENZA MAPS PRO For professionals and organizations who require an offline mapping solution with location awareness with more features and tools - Unlimited import of your own geospatial PDF, GeoPDF®, and GeoTIFF maps - GPS averaging, additional coordinate display formats, custom symbol sets - Connect high-accuracy GPS devices via Bluetooth - Created unlimited geofences and get global geofence notifications - Convert tracks to areas - Map orientation lock - Import and export Esri® Shapefiles - Import and manage custom symbology sets - Priority technical support Avenza Maps Pro subscription required for commercial, academic, government, and professional use. Avenza Maps Plus and Pro are available as annual subscriptions. You can subscribe and pay through your Apple ID. Subscriptions are 12 months in duration and will automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period at the rate of your selected plan. Auto-renewal can be turned off in your iTunes Account Settings. If you didn’t use iTunes to subscribe, you can manage your subscription through Avenza. SUPPORT We can help! Go to support.avenzamaps.com LEGAL Privacy Policy: avenzamaps.com/legal/privacy-policy.html Terms of Use: avenzamaps.com/legal/terms.html CONNECT WITH US avenzamaps.com facebook.com/avenzamaps twitter.com/avenzamaps instagram.com/avenzamaps

About

You Need A Map

This app provides detailed offline 3D topographic maps of the entire USA. It includes terrain, roads, water bodies, and landmarks, functioning even without a cell signal. It's ideal for navigation and emergency situations where connectivity is unreliable.

Highlights
  • Offline 3D topographic maps
  • Covers all 50 US states
  • Works without cell signal
  • Shows terrain, roads, and landmarks
  • GPS tracking and track replay
  • Detailed feature information display
  • Satellite image overlays
Features
Read full description

If you get lost or in an emergency, YOU NEED A MAP! A map that covers the entire USA, all 50 states. A map that works everywhere even without a cell phone signal. A map that shows not just roads but also terrain, streams, lakes and other landmarks. Note: If you would prefer a small app that caches online maps covering the entire world, please see the More by GrangerFX section below and try the free Scenic Map app. Get You Need A Map if you want an offline map the entire USA as a single large download. The paid apps have built in maps with full resolution terrain. Your iPhone has a great online map but all it takes is one wrong turn and you could find yourself lost with no cell phone signal. What is the fastest way back to the highway? Should you go forwards or back? Is there a better road just a short distance away? Is there a raging stream or an steep cliff between you and the road? YOU NEED A MAP! You Need A Map is a huge application. It has to be. It contains every mountain, hill, stream, lake, pond, freeway, highway, local road and track. In addition it contains many buildings, trails, railways, points of interest and polygon features. It has everything you need to find out where you are and what is around you anywhere in the USA. Most navigation apps on the iPhone and iPad must transfer all their maps from servers on the internet. This can be slow in areas with only 2G coverage or completely unavailable in wilderness areas where a map would be most useful. You Need A Map solves this problem by storing maps directly on your iPhone or iPad. This extremely fast high quality software renderer is the first of its kind for mobile devices. If you do have a cellular or WiFi internet connect, Satellite image overlays add breathtaking detail and realism to the maps (tap preset 2 or 4 when Online Map is enabled). You can use them as you travel to see what is hidden from view at ground level. This takes moving maps to a whole new level. Tap the arrow in the toolbar to enable GPS tracking. As you move, you will generate a track file which you can replay. You can also import GPX tracks generated in other programs and play them. While recording or playing a track, the map will be centered on the current location and rotated towards the direction of travel and rendered in 2D or 3D with silky smooth animation. When playing a track, you can speed up, slow down, pause, restart or skip to the end. Send your GPX tracks to other apps or email them. Want to learn more about a map feature? Click the target icon and center it under the compass rose to display its name, feature type, urban area, state, elevation and coordinates. You will also see a bearing line back to your current GPS location or from your location to a selected waypoint. The status will display the direction and distance along with the map and GPS elevation, the track length, and your current speed and direction of travel You Need A Map uses the same code as Scenic Map and has most of the same features. These include many map customization options, customizable waypoints, direction and bearing information, a smooth scrolling moving map display while driving or flying, city search and much more. You can also get the full feature set of Scenic Map with an in-app purchase including the new online maps of the entire world. Documentation, detailed coverage maps, installation guide and blog are available on ScenicMap.com You Need A Map covers the entire USA including all 50 states Map data © OpenStreetMap and contributors under the Open Database License You Need A Map supports GPS tracking while the app is in the background. Caution: Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life.

Screenshots

Avenza Maps4 screens
You Need A Map4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Avenza Maps at 4.8 against You Need A Map's 4.4. Avenza Maps also leads on ratings volume (127K vs 53) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 4 months). You Need A Map's advantage is review sentiment (73% vs 52%). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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

Both are free to download. Avenza Maps sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $32.99 per year and You Need A Map sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Avenza Maps holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Avenza Maps has 127K ratings behind it against 53, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 52% of Avenza Maps's written reviews are positive against 73% of You Need A Map's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Avenza Maps ships an update every 2 months, You Need A Map every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and August 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Avenza Maps versus You Need A Map: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAvenza MapsYou Need A Map
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (127K ratings) — better4.4 (53 ratings)
Positive reviews52.3% of reviews72.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings127K — better53
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
Best chart rank#14 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.0 — better16.1
Further details — not scored
Size334 MB66 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAvenza Systems Inc.GrangerFX

Customer experience

Avenza Maps

All ratings127,094 ratings
Positive96.4%
Neutral2.9%
Negative0.8%
Written reviews862 reviews
Positive52.3%
Neutral6.7%
Negative41.0%

You Need A Map

All ratings53 ratings
Positive86.8%
Neutral1.9%
Negative11.3%
Written reviews88 reviews
Positive72.7%
Neutral11.4%
Negative15.9%

User reviews

Avenza Maps

From 127K App Store ratings

What we love

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

Room to improve

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

You Need A Map

From 53 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🗺️ Excellent offline maps
  • ⛰️ Detailed terrain and 3D view
  • 📸 Useful for photography planning
  • ✈️ Great for pilots and aviation
  • 🌲 Ideal for backcountry/remote areas

Room to improve

  • 💾 Large file size
  • 🔋 High battery consumption
  • 🗺️ Missing specific locations (e.g., Isle Royale)
  • 📉 Outdated map data in some areas
  • ❓ Unintuitive at times

Bugs and requests

Avenza Maps

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

5 requests
  • 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

You Need A Map

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Dark mode alphanumeric display issue
  • App crashes when touching GPS icon
  • App won't open after update
  • Download issues
  • 3D feature purchase unavailable

Requested features

9 requests
  • Prioritize favorite waypoints
  • Update satellite imagery
  • Improve search functionality for towns/streets
  • Add BLM and state trust land overlays
  • Add Retina display graphics for new iPads
Show 4 more
  • Provide a user guide within the app
  • Add status icon for GPS signal acquisition
  • Make maps selectable by region to reduce download size
  • Improve street name alignment/readability

In-app purchases

13 purchases

Avenza Maps

Subscriptions3
  • Avenza Maps Plus$32.991 Year
  • Avenza Maps Plus1 Month trial$34.991 Year
  • Avenza Maps Pro1 Month trial$169.991 Year
One-time10
  • Forest Service Topo Product$0.99
  • Garmin Tier 1$0.99
  • BaseImage, LLC Map Product$0.99
Show 7 more
  • Western Michigan University Map Product$2.99
  • US Forest Service R5 Map Product$4.99
  • US Forest Service R6 Product$4.99
  • Map the Xperience Map Product$4.99
  • US Forest Service R2 Map Product$4.99
  • US Forest Service R4 Product$4.99
  • National Geographic Map Product$11.99
2 purchases

You Need A Map

One-time2
  • 3D MappingFree
  • Scenic Map Features$4.99

Questions

Is Avenza Maps free?
Avenza Maps is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is You Need A Map free?
You Need A Map is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Avenza Maps or You Need A Map?
Avenza Maps is rated higher. Avenza Maps averages 4.8 out of 5 from 127K ratings, while You Need A Map averages 4.4 from 53 ratings.
Do Avenza Maps or You Need A Map have ads?
Neither Avenza Maps nor You Need A Map shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Avenza Maps or You Need A Map?
Avenza Maps ships an update every 2 months, and You Need A Map every 4 months. Most recently, Avenza Maps was updated on September 24, 2026 and You Need A Map on August 28, 2026.

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