# Avenza Maps vs You Need A Map

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.

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.

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.

Avenza Maps ships an update every 2 months, You Need A Map every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and August 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Avenza Maps | You Need A Map |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (127K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/avenza-maps-offline-mapping/id388424049/reviews)** | [4.4 (53 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/you-need-a-map/id415545903/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **127K** | 53 |
| Positive reviews | 52.3% of reviews | **72.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | **#14** | — |
| Size | 334 MB | 66 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 16.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Avenza Systems Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/387212805) | [GrangerFX](https://appshunter.io/developer/363698835) |

## What reviewers say

### Avenza Maps

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

**Currently charting:** #14 Top Grossing · Navigation, #63 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


### You Need A Map

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/you-need-a-map/id415545903)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 3D Mapping | Free | one-time |
| Scenic Map Features | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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- 📉 Outdated map data in some areas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

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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


## Frequently asked 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 25, 2026 and You Need A Map on August 28, 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.*