You Need A Map vs Terra Map
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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.
Terra Map
Navigate the outdoors with detailed worldwide maps, offline access, and route sharing. Track your adventures, view elevation profiles, and stay connected with a community of explorers. Optimized for extended use and battery efficiency.
- Offline worldwide maps
- Route and marker sharing
- Elevation and speed profiles
- Geo-referenced photos
- Optimized battery usage
- Live community sharing
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Enjoy every adventure safely with the best technology for outdoor navigation. Developed with the help of experienced hikers and bikers, Terra Map can meet all your needs. ►► FEATURES: • Optimized for use on both iPhone and iPad • Incredibly accurate and easy-to-read worldwide maps • Maps download for offline usage • Weather forecasts for any point on the map (Terra Map PRO users only) • Live Sharing-Terra Map community • Satellite imagery • Icons and text customization for better map readability • Easy sharing for markers and routes in various formats • Geo-referenced photos • Optimized battery usage for up to 14 hours of continuous track recording • Ability to store an unlimited amount of data by activating PRO mode via inApp purchase • Elevation and speed profile ► MAPS Terra Map allows you to download maps of the entire world for free with contour lines, trails, shelters and everything you need for your next hike. Once downloaded, the maps can be used even without an internet connection. ► LOADING AND SHARING MARKERS AND ROUTES You can easily export and import tracks and markers created with Terra Map or with other third-party applications/navigators. Manage any route available on the internet or shared by a friend (GPX or KMZ formats). ► WEATHER FORECASTS Select any point on the map in the world and get the weather forecast for the next 7 days (only for Terra Map PRO users). ► ELEVATION AND SPEED Elevation profile and speed graphs will be available for each recorded track. ► OPTIMIZED BATTERY USAGE Designed to work for an entire day, Terra Map also includes a battery monitoring system that, in case of active recording, will automatically stop the track to prevent the device from running out of power. NOTE: The effective battery duration depends by the battery condition, by the temperature and the device usage. ► LIVE SHARING Enable Live Sharing to share your data with the Terra Map community and see all active users around you. You can chat with them and send (and receive) your markers/tracks without leaving the app. ► TYPE OF PURCHASES Subscription: Payment will be made through your account (Apple ID). The annual subscription will be automatically renewed unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the expiration date. The user can manage their subscription and turn off automatic renewal in the account Settings section after purchase. Unlimited: You can download and update maps forever. Terra Map is available in a free version with some limitations. Terms and conditions: https://www.terramap.app/terms-and-conditions Privacy Policy: https://www.terramap.app/privacy-policy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Terra Map at every 3 weeks against You Need A Map's every 4 months. Terra Map also leads on ratings volume (540 vs 53) and monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs paid). On price, rating, review sentiment 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. You Need A Map sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Terra Map sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Terra Map holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Terra Map has 540 ratings behind it against 53, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 72% of You Need A Map's written reviews are positive against 74% of Terra Map's.
You Need A Map ships an update every 4 months, Terra Map every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | You Need A Map | Terra Map |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.4 (53 ratings) | 4.6 (540 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 71.9% of reviews | 73.8% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 53 | 540 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.1 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 66 MB | 189 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | GrangerFX | GEC s.r.l. |
Customer experience
You Need A Map
Terra Map
User reviews
You Need A Map
From 53 App Store ratingsWhat 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
Terra Map
From 540 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🗺️ Excellent offline map functionality
- 👍 User-friendly and intuitive interface
- 🚀 Fast map download speeds
- 💰 Great value for money (affordable pricing)
- 📍 Accurate GPS tracking and route recording
Room to improve
- 📏 Mileage/distance tracking is inaccurate
- 🐛 Map download bugs and incomplete downloads
- 💳 Purchase restoration issues after app updates
- 🗺️ Outdated maps in some regions (Canada)
- ⚠️ Map accuracy issues in certain areas
Bugs and requests
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 moreShow fewer
- 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
Terra Map
Reported bugs
12 issues- Mileage tracking significantly inaccurate
- Map tiles fail to download or download incompletely
- Download counter goes backwards during tile downloads
- Cannot restore previous purchases after updates
- Saved routes and downloads deleted unexpectedly
Show 7 moreShow fewer
- Satellite imagery slider not functioning
- Track recording stops registering without notification
- Maps display as plain white after download
- App opens to 0000:0000 coordinates instead of last position
- Login/email confirmation not received for pro accounts
- Map accuracy issues with colorful map option
- Slow map loading performance on some devices
Requested features
6 requests- Satellite imagery offline download capability
- Improved route planning that considers existing trails
- Ability to input geographic coordinates for navigation
- Distance calculation that follows paths with multiple segments
- Enhanced waypoint icon options
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- More map layer choices
In-app purchases
You Need A Map
- 3D MappingFree
- Scenic Map Features$4.99
Terra Map
- Pro Version$3.991 Year
- Pro Version$19.99
Questions
Is You Need A Map free?
Is Terra Map free?
Which has better reviews, You Need A Map or Terra Map?
Do You Need A Map or Terra Map have ads?
Which is updated more often, You Need A Map or Terra Map?
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