Topo Maps Canada vs BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Topo Maps Canada
Access and download detailed topographic maps of Canada for offline use. Track your location, mark waypoints, and record your own routes for outdoor adventures. Navigate with direction arrows and measure distances on the map.
- Downloadable topographic maps
- Offline map access
- Location tracking and elevation
- Waypoint creation and import (GPX, LOC)
- Trail import and recording (GPX)
- Navigation to waypoints
- Distance measurement
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Download Natural Resources Canada topographic maps and use them offline, with no account and no subscription. Topo Maps Canada is built for people who go where cell service doesn't: hikers, backpackers, hunters, anglers, canoeists, snowmobilers, mountain bikers, geocachers, and anyone who wants a real topographic map in their pocket. MAPS Choose from three Natural Resources Canada map styles: Canada Base Map with hillshading, Canada Base Map unshaded, or classic Toporama topographic sheets. OFFLINE Tap the map squares you want and download them before you leave. Downloaded maps work with no Internet connection and use no cell data in the field. TRAILS AND POINTS OF INTEREST BUILT IN Every map download includes the trails, summits, lakes, campsites, and other named places in that area from OpenStreetMap, so you can search them by name while you're offline. TRAIL RECORDING Record where you go. Recorded trails show your path on the map with distance, elapsed time, and average speed. Recording stops automatically when you start driving, and any drive at the start or end of a trail is trimmed off. ELEVATION PROFILES Every recorded or imported trail gets an elevation profile with distance labels and color-coded grade shading. Drag along the chart to see the matching point on the map, its elevation, and the time you passed it. FLAGS Mark your current location or any spot on the map. Flags record coordinates and elevation, and you can add notes and organize them by color: geocaches, trailheads, summits, camps, and so on. NAVIGATION Pick a flag and follow the direction arrow, driven by your compass heading, with the distance remaining. Handy for geocaching and for finding your way back to camp or the car. LOCATION See where you are on the map, your elevation, speed, and the accuracy of the GPS fix. MEASURE Trace a route on the map to measure its distance, then save it as a trail to follow later. IMPORT AND SHARE Import trails and waypoints from GPX files and geocache LOC files. Share your flags and trails by email, Messages, or AirDrop as standard GPX files that work with any GPS unit or mapping software. Back up your maps, flags and trails to a computer over Wi-Fi, and restore them on a new phone. Designed for iPhone and iPad. Note: Continued use of GPS in the background can noticeably reduce battery life.
BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps
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.
- Topographic GPS maps
- Current location tracking
- Offline map downloads
- Custom adventure layers
- Trip recording and waypoints
- Satellite imagery overlay
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Canada’s #1 App for Hunting, Fishing, Camping & Outdoor Adventure Explore Canada’s outdoors with confidence using BRMB Maps, the most detailed and trusted GPS navigation app for the backcountry. Built from the award-winning Backroad Mapbooks series, BRMB Maps combines detailed topographic maps with over 900,000 searchable Points of Interest across every province and territory. Whether fishing, camping, hiking, hunting, paddling, ATVing, snowmobiling or wildlife viewing, BRMB Maps has everything you need to plan, navigate and explore – online or offline. Key Features -Topographic GPS Maps – View relief shading, contour lines, backroads, parks and geographic features -Current Location Tracking – Use your phone’s GPS to navigate in real time -Cross-Device Access – Use on smartphone, tablet and desktop with a single account -Canada-Wide Basemap – Includes a seamless Backroad Maps basemap across Canada -Custom Adventure Layers (PRO) – Enable fishing, hunting, trails, paddling, Crown land & more -Offline Maps (PRO) – Download maps and all POI details for off-grid navigation -Satellite Imagery (PRO) – Overlay roads, trails and features on high-res satellite maps -Trip Recording & Custom Waypoints – Track routes, mark campsites and save locations -Printable Custom Maps (PRO) – Create and print stunning maps from brmbmaps.com Explore Over 150,000 Adventures Fishing -22,000+ lakes, rivers, creeks & ocean fishing areas -Bathymetry (lake & ocean depths), fish species, stocked lakes, boat launches & marinas -Boundaries & regulations Hunting -3,500+ hunting areas (WMU, WMZ, species-specific zones) -Species details, boundaries & regulations -Crown land & private land layers Camping & Parks -20,000 national, provincial, regional, urban and natural parks -Campsites, picnic areas, backcountry campsites, huts & cabins -Private campgrounds, resorts & lodges, amenities & services Hiking, Biking & Horseback Trails -130,000+ km of multi-use trails with trailheads, difficulty, distance & elevation gain -Includes hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, backpacking and multi-use -Separate Trans-Canada Trail layer with trailheads, pavilions and alternate routes Paddling (Canoeing & Kayaking) -107,000+ km of routes with access points, difficulty, distance & grading -Features lake circuits, river and ocean paddling routes, whitewater & more -Paddling routes include portages with distances, campsites, put-ins & take-outs ATV, OHV, Off-Road and Overland Routes -160,000+ km of trails and routes with staging areas, difficulty & distance -Features ATV/OHV, dirt biking and overlanding routes -Plus 3,000,000+ km of Roads and 160,000+ km of Logging Roads to explore Snowmobiling -150,000+ km of trails and routes with staging areas, difficulty & distance -Features federation & club-maintained trails, plus backcountry routes -Clubhouses, warming huts & shelters, side trails and more Winter Recreation -9,500+ km of ski & snowshoe trails for cross-country, Nordic, backcountry & downhill skiing -2,100+ trailheads, Nordic areas & ski centres -Trails feature difficulty, distance, elevation gain & ski area amenities Wildlife Viewing & Nature -1,800+ sites for birdwatching & wildlife viewing -Features birding sites, fish hatcheries, marine life, small & large animals -Bird viewing & scenic lookouts, trailheads & wildlife centres Attractions & Unique Sites -20,000+ points, including roadside and backroad attractions -Features big trees, caves, waterfalls, hot springs, lighthouses, beaches, museums and scenic areas -Hours, location and contact information Why BRMB Maps? Unlike other GPS apps, BRMB Maps is built specifically for Canadian terrain and adventures, with unmatched detail, local insights and recreation-focused layers. Start exploring Canada’s wild spaces with BRMB Maps – your GPS trail map, hunting app, fishing tool and trip planner all in one. Download BRMB Maps today and experience Canada's most complete outdoor mapping app.
Screenshots
Verdict
Topo Maps Canada and BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps both sit at 4.3 stars, but that hides the real split: 74% of Topo Maps Canada's written reviews are positive against 35% of BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps's. Topo Maps Canada also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4). BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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
Both are free to download. BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Topo Maps Canada asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.3 for Topo Maps Canada against 4.2 for BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 16 and 27 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 74% of Topo Maps Canada's written reviews are positive against 35% of BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps's.
Topo Maps Canada ships an update every 4 months, BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Topo Maps Canada | BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.3 (16 ratings) — better | 4.2 (27 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 74.1% of reviews — better | 35.1% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 16 | 27 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 15.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 230 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | DC Cloud Apps, LLC | Mussio Ventures Ltd. |
Customer experience
Topo Maps Canada
BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps
User reviews
Topo Maps Canada
From 16 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🆓 Great free app
- 🗺️ Accurate topographic maps
- ✈️ Works offline
- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 📍 Reliable GPS tracking
Room to improve
- 🚩 Flags too big when zoomed
- 🐌 Slow map downloads
- 📉 Some map data is old
- 🪲 Inconsistent sharing
- 🪲 Flags not placing properly
BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps
From 27 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🗺️ Great maps and data
- 🇨🇦 Excellent for exploring Canada
- ⛰️ Detailed topos and satellite imaging
- 👍 User-friendly for some
- ✨ Recent improvements noted
Room to improve
- 💸 Expensive subscription
- 😠 Excessive and disruptive ads
- 🐛 Sync issues (hit or miss)
- 🚫 No waypoint management
- 📱 Poor CarPlay integration
Bugs and requests
Topo Maps Canada
Reported bugs
17 issues- App does not load maps (checkerboard)
- Maps not loading on screen
- Downloaded maps not loading in interface
- Cannot download new areas (internet connection issues)
- Download bar stalls and stops
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- App freezes when zooming/looking around
- Map downloads failing
- App not compatible with iPhone 13
- Sharing via Airdrop inconsistent
- Flags not working properly
- Flags invisible and don't place properly
- Map orientation cannot be adjusted
- Cannot download maps on iPhone 13 Pro
- Page full of squares where map should be
- WebDAV server does not exist
- Downloaded maps can't be shown
- App glitches and freezes
Requested features
16 requests- Make flags shrink when zoomed in
- Option for dots instead of flags
- Apple Watch version
- Apple CarPlay integration
- Faster map downloading
Show 11 moreShow fewer
- Cursor centering arrow with look-ahead line
- Adjustable map orientation (track up)
- Ability to edit recorded tracks
- Pause function while recording tracks
- MGRS coordinate format
- French language version
- UTM grid overlay
- Better backup/sync for flags and trails
- Option for unlocking map orientation
- Zoom in and see larger lake names
- Download 1:10,000 maps for Northern Ontario
BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps
Reported bugs
53 issues- 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
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- Waypoint list different on web
- No 7 day free trial as advertised
- Zoom doesn't work on MacOS app
- Scroll doesn't work in MacOS settings
- MacOS window size fixed, fullscreen not working
- Ads are relentless, can't exit
- Advertisement glitch: closing ad returns to location
- Sync in both directions is hit or miss
- CarPlay map only moves at one preset zoom level
- App runs like a BETA 1 version
- Free version doesn't make you want to use pay version
- Ads pop up full screen, annoying
- Closing ad puts user back to current location
- Paid for Pro subscription, no 7-day free trial
- Adding waypoint on cell service takes up to 10 min
- Touching screen by accident adds waypoint and menu
- Search function doesn't work
- Cannot change from meters to feet
- Recording a trail jumps massive lines when restarting
- Cannot edit or erase certain sections of trail
- Cannot re-edit waypoint location or move it
- Editing waypoint requires going through two menus
- Interface is poorly designed with too many levels
- Continually asks to drop a pin/waypoint when moving map
- Satellite images are out of date
- Updated roads are missing
- Cannot download maps for offline use without paying
- Ads appear every couple of minutes
- Advertising even when paying for subscription
- Requires restoring of purchase too often
- Caught out without offline maps due to purchase timeout
- Ads interrupt and are hard to close
- Advertising even when paying for the app
- PRO subscription not accessible after payment
- Excessive disruptive ads, each ad resets map
- Charged for subscription on 2nd day of free trial
- Unable to use pro upgrade after payment
- App asks to pay for subscription again on different device
- Version 3 broke 'Your trip' feature
- Cannot remove trails I've been on
- Maps on app do not match book maps
- Not easy to use, not as easy as Google Maps
- Cannot control manual off
- App crashes every time it's opened
- Nothing showed for the entire United States
- Downloads time out after 10 minutes
- No search function for specific locations
- Instructions on web are for previous version
Requested features
29 requests- 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
Show 24 moreShow fewer
- Ability to plan routes
- Direction arrow showing icon facing
- Trace function to outline or create trails with finger
- Export KML or GPX files
- More waypoint icons and customization (color, outlines)
- Ability to edit/erase trail sections
- Ability to move waypoint location
- Description or notes section for waypoints
- Sort waypoints (closest, alphabetical, recent)
- Folders for waypoints
- CarPlay map with adjustable zoom
- Dark mode
- Advanced analytics dashboard
- Ability to add different colors to tracks
- Organize tracks into folders
- Full featured OSX version with offline map downloads
- Export file from OSX to iOS version offline
- URL for websites of points of interest
- More detailed options on iOS app (drill down for parks)
- Sync settings between iOS and browser
- Ability to plan excursions on PC and access on iOS app
- Edit track colors
- Organize tracks into folders
- CarPlay support
In-app purchases
Topo Maps Canada
No in-app purchases
BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps
- BRMB Maps PRO7 Days trial$3.991 Month
- BRMB Monthly PRO Access7 Days trial$6.991 Month
- BRMB Yearly PRO Access7 Days trial$44.991 Year
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- Yearly PRO Promo1 Year trial$44.991 Year
Questions
Is Topo Maps Canada free?
Is BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps free?
Which has better reviews, Topo Maps Canada or BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps?
Do Topo Maps Canada or BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps have ads?
Which is updated more often, Topo Maps Canada or BRMB Maps by Backroad Maps?
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