Comparison

Bad Elf GPS vs PIX4Dcatch

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

Head to head
About

Bad Elf GPS

Manage your Bad Elf GPS accessory. Check hardware health, view GPS data, transfer trip logs, and update firmware. Enhances location services for iOS devices.

Highlights
  • Check hardware health
  • View GPS data
  • Transfer trip logs
  • Install firmware updates
  • Enhance iOS location services
Read full description

This utility app allows owners of any Bad Elf GPS accessory to check the health of the Bad Elf hardware, view the GPS data being received, transfer and view trip logs, and install firmware updates. Visit www.bad-elf.com to learn more about the Bad Elf GPS, GPS Pro/Pro+, and the GNSS Surveyor accessories, which add a high performance GPS receiver to the iPod touch, iPhone, and iPad via the 30-pin dock connector, Lighting connector, or Bluetooth. The GPS data is usable by ALL location-based iOS applications in the App Store. Note: Continued use of the GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life.

About

PIX4Dcatch

Transform your mobile device into a powerful 3D scanner. Capture images and LiDAR data to create accurate 3D models for professional use. Visualize, measure, and share your creations in AR.

Highlights
  • 3D model creation from images and LiDAR
  • RTK device compatibility for centimeter accuracy
  • Live feedback during capture
  • Augmented reality (AR) model visualization
  • Cloud processing and desktop export options
  • Measurement and geolocation capabilities
Read full description

Digitize Reality: Transform your mobile device into a powerful 3D scanner. Simply point and record to create professional-grade 3D models. Pair with a compatible RTK device for centimeter-level accuracy, precise measurements, and geolocated 3D reconstructions. Visualize the captured model in the app, upload and export, and view it in AR. New ArcGIS Workflow: PIX4Dcatch now streams ArcGIS data in realtime in AR to provide in-field operators full contextual information about the entire site including 3D reconstructions and attributes. Our capture feature generates complete and defensible georeferenced 3D reconstructions which can be communicated seamlessly back to ArcGIS. New Guide-To Feature: PIX4Dcatch has a guide-to feature directing users to specified geolocated assets for staking, boosting onsite efficiency and accuracy. Just select the point or reconstruction you would like to find and follow the arrows in AR. WORKFLOW 1 – Scan & Capture Walk around your site. The app automatically gathers data and provides live feedback using iOS LiDAR, ensuring you capture every detail. For enhanced accuracy, use an RTK device compatible with PIX4Dcatch, PIX4D Autotags with a fully automated workflow, or combine both. 2 – Process, Analyze & Share Process your data by uploading to PIX4Dcloud for online analysis and sharing, or export to PIX4Dmatic for desktop processing. Both platforms offer a 14-day free trial. Projects can also be exported to third-party photogrammetry software. Measure spaces, document results, and enjoy all the benefits of a detailed 2D/3D model of your surroundings. 3 – View in AR Experience an immersive augmented-reality view. Display 3D models and points directly in your phone camera in AR. ____________________ USE CASES • Digitize construction sites • Measure stockpiles and other objects • Document underground utilities • Digitize indoor and outdoor spaces with Autotags • Visualize and verify 3D models in AR in real time • Perform single-point measurements with RTK accuracy ____________________ COMPATIBILITY • Optimized for LiDAR-equipped devices (Pro series phones) • All ARKit-enabled devices • RTK devices: Emlid Reach RX and RX2, TopCon HiPer CR, Bad Elf Flex Mini, Bad Elf Flex, Trimble DA2, Leica Zeno FLX100 ____________________ TERMS OF USE https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Bad Elf GPS4 screens
PIX4Dcatch4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Bad Elf GPS at none against PIX4Dcatch's 1. Bad Elf GPS also leads on review sentiment (49% vs 33%) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 18.0). PIX4Dcatch's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 4.3) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, ads 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. PIX4Dcatch sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $159.00 per month. Bad Elf GPS asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PIX4Dcatch holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PIX4Dcatch has 264 ratings behind it against 20, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 49% of Bad Elf GPS's written reviews are positive against 33% of PIX4Dcatch's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Bad Elf GPS ships an update every 2 months, PIX4Dcatch every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Bad Elf GPS versus PIX4Dcatch: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBad Elf GPSPIX4Dcatch
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (20 ratings)4.7 (264 ratings) — better
Positive reviews49.0% of reviews — better32.5% of reviews
Number of ratings20264 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS9.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size82 MB239 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBad Elf, LLC.Pix4D

Customer experience

Bad Elf GPS

All ratings19 ratings
Positive84.2%
Neutral0.0%
Negative15.8%
Written reviews147 reviews
Positive49.0%
Neutral12.2%
Negative38.8%

PIX4Dcatch

All ratings264 ratings
Positive92.0%
Neutral1.5%
Negative6.4%
Written reviews40 reviews
Positive32.5%
Neutral7.5%
Negative60.0%

User reviews

Bad Elf GPS

From 20 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🎯 Accurate GPS positioning without cellular dependency
  • ⚡ Fast satellite acquisition and lock
  • 🔧 Reliable hardware that lasts years
  • 📱 Works seamlessly with compatible mapping apps
  • 🛰️ Excellent satellite visibility display

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent app crashes across iOS versions
  • 📶 Stale data display in app interface
  • 🔄 Unreliable Bluetooth connectivity
  • ⚠️ No offline base maps in app
  • 🗺️ Limited map functionality without third-party apps

PIX4Dcatch

From 264 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Great idea for photogrammetry
  • 🚀 Works well for professional use
  • 👍 Consistently gets survey grade results
  • 👍 Useful as an additional survey tool
  • 👍 Amazing, game changer

Room to improve

  • 💰 Very expensive subscription
  • 💰 High monthly subscription cost
  • 💰 Way too expensive for small objects
  • 💰 Unclear cost structure
  • 💰 Credits add up unexpectedly

Bugs and requests

Bad Elf GPS

Reported bugs

13 issues
  • App crashes on startup with iOS 8.3+
  • Firmware update hangs indefinitely
  • Stale cached data prevents control functionality
  • Track logging fails to activate despite appearing to work
  • Barometer readings not displayed correctly
Show 8 more
  • WAAS/SBAS toggle has no effect
  • Satellite count discrepancies between device and app
  • App forces re-download of all trips when deleting individual trips
  • Map views show no overlay in trip detail
  • Intermittent position data sharing with third-party apps
  • App crashes when naming recorded tracks
  • Recording at rates above 1Hz with POI causes download failure
  • Landscape mode not functioning in GPS screen

Requested features

10 requests
  • Offline base map display
  • UTM coordinate display option
  • Improved Bluetooth reliability
  • Modern USB-C connector
  • Satellite status information in main app view
Show 5 more
  • Better trip organization and sorting
  • POI saving without track recording
  • Dark mode support
  • Integrated GoBackPro functionality
  • Firmware update progress indicator

PIX4Dcatch

Reported bugs

18 issues
  • App crashes or shows SDK error with Emlid RX
  • Upload doesn't work for Dropbox or OneDrive
  • Mesh doesn't display like past versions
  • Cannot build an accurate model
  • App locks out
Show 13 more
  • Outputs contradict (geo tags vs GCP coordinates)
  • Cannot log into Pix account inside the app (keyboard issue)
  • Does not recognize license
  • Stopped uploading
  • Photos stored in app, impossible to get if not uploading
  • Create account impossible
  • Cannot register
  • Cannot get contact without registration
  • App unbrauchbar (unusable)
  • Trial cannot be cancelled
  • Scan took 4 days to process
  • Fatal results
  • Slow and annoying

Requested features

6 requests
  • Make it possible to work with any GNSS through NMEA Protocol
  • Export GCP's in GPS coordinates as well
  • Add instructions or tips
  • Allow export to local device instead of cloud
  • Allow export of images to PC for free
Show 1 more
  • Allow testing of 3D generation with a limit of pictures or generated 3Ds for free

In-app purchases

None

Bad Elf GPS

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

PIX4Dcatch

Subscriptions1
  • PIX4Dcatch Professional14 Days trial$159.001 Month

Questions

Is Bad Elf GPS free?
Bad Elf GPS is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is PIX4Dcatch free?
PIX4Dcatch is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Bad Elf GPS or PIX4Dcatch?
PIX4Dcatch is rated higher. Bad Elf GPS averages 4.3 out of 5 from 20 ratings, while PIX4Dcatch averages 4.7 from 264 ratings.
Do Bad Elf GPS or PIX4Dcatch have ads?
Neither Bad Elf GPS nor PIX4Dcatch shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Bad Elf GPS or PIX4Dcatch?
Bad Elf GPS ships an update every 2 months, and PIX4Dcatch every 2 weeks. Most recently, Bad Elf GPS was updated on October 21, 2026 and PIX4Dcatch on October 20, 2026.

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