Comparison

Theodolite HD vs Geo Elevation

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

Head to head
About

Theodolite HD

This app combines a compass, inclinometer, rangefinder, GPS, and map for augmented reality navigation. It allows users to capture data-overlay photos and videos, view positions on a map with offline options, and share location data with others. It's designed for professional use and outdoor activities.

Highlights
  • Augmented reality viewfinder
  • Compass and inclinometer
  • GPS and map with offline options
  • Data-overlay photo/video camera
  • Rangefinder and nav calculator
  • Location sharing and team tracking
Read full description

Theodolite HD is a multi-function viewfinder that combines a compass, two-axis inclinometer, rangefinder, GPS, map, nav calculator, and geo-overlay photo/movie camera into one indispensable app. Theodolite was one of the very first augmented reality (AR) apps when it was released in 2009, and it’s been downloaded and used by millions of customers since then. Uses are endless, and the app is great for land measurements, outdoor sports, sightseeing, navigation, and finding your way around. Theodolite is a pro grade app and is used extensively by surveyors, geologists, architects, engineers, competitive sportsmen, first responders, military personnel, and search and rescue workers around the world. Theodolite lets you take data-overlay photos and movies with 2X-8X zoom. Overlay geographical data, angle markings, date/time, author/company info, and project notes directly on photos and movies for later reference. The same data is written into the metadata record of images, making image files self-contained data records. Third-party apps can tap into Theodolite's advanced camera functions with a camera sharing feature. View current position on the built-in map with optional offline Outdoors maps that include topo contours, roads, trails, landmarks, campgrounds, ski lifts, and more. Live map markers continually update distance/heading relative to the current location and also show wayfinding info in the main viewfinder. Draw polygons on the map to mark things like property boundaries and trails, and import/export polygon data via KML. Share map markers and nav calculator points with other users of Theodolite via text messages or e-mail. This powerful capability opens up a wide range of collaborative uses including team land surveying, accident investigations, spotting wild fires, triangulation of landmarks, and advanced tactical observation and targeting. With an optional in-app purchase to enable team tracking, you can share location with up to 20 people on Theodolite's map. Theodolite includes features for serious users like a reference angle mode, nav calculator, map marker import/export, manual and automatic data logging with CSV and KML export, clipboard integration, %grade display, mil compass readout, optical rangefinders (including a mil-based reticle, sniper-style stadiametric graphs, and a variable 4X-24X scope), and night filters to improve use in dark conditions. Theodolite can provide location in military grid reference system (MGRS) coordinates, Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) coordinates, British/Irish National Grids, US National Grid, Maidenhead locator system, Map Grid of Australia, and six latitude/longitude formats. Optional US State Plane coordinates include SPCS27 and SPCS83 zones covering all US States. The optional Datum Pack adds over 230 geodetic datums to the app to improve position computation from GPS data, covering regions and countries on all continents around the world. AR Layers include navigational aids like the sun, moon, planets, and Polaris (North star), and the optional US Mountain Summits layer that shows over 70,000 US mountain summits in the viewfinder. Theodolite has been shown in Apple Keynotes, featured on the App Store, and has been a #1 selling Navigation app in App Stores around the world. Since its introduction in 2009, Theodolite has defined augmented reality navigation. The app continually introduces new technologies, pushing the limits of iOS app development and taking advantage of new hardware capabilities. Find out why Apple named Theodolite one of the most amazing apps available and showed it being used to explore the Great Wall of China. Where will you take it on your next adventure? Note: Theodolite HD is an iPad app -- see the regular “Theodolite” app for use on an iPhone or iPod Touch. And be sure to check out the all-new "Theodolite for Watch" and put Theodolite on your wrist!

About

Geo Elevation

Create detailed elevation profiles by drawing paths on a map. Visualize terrain changes, including mountains and coastlines, with interactive charts that sync to your map view. Ideal for planning outdoor activities or exploring topography.

Highlights
  • Draw paths on map for elevation profiles
  • Interactive map and chart sync
  • Multiple elevation data sources
  • Comprehensive statistics (min/max elevation, gain)
  • Flexible unit configuration
  • Location search and current location support
Read full description

Tap a few points along a route and Geo Elevation draws the terrain under them: the elevation profile of any path, anywhere on Earth, with the numbers a planner needs. Then see the ground itself, in 3D. The profile draws itself. Add a point, move a pin, drop a point on an edge: a second later the chart is back, with one sample every 30 metres along your path, up to a thousand of them. The profile passes through every pin you placed. A chart that tells the truth. Sea level is a line; water shows as water. Distance, lowest and highest point, total climb and descent, average grade and the steepest hundred metres. Move along the chart and a ring on the map shows where you are. Drag to zoom into a climb; double-tap to see it all. The terrain in 3D. One press samples the ground around your path, thousands of points, and shows it as a real surface with the map imagery on it and your path on top. Turn it, zoom in, raise the exaggeration to see a gentle hill. Or draw an area of your own and see just that. Spot heights. Tap anywhere for the elevation of that one point. Edit like a native app. Drag a pin with a loupe. Tap a pin for its coordinate and height, and delete it there. Undo and redo every step; on the Mac, ⌘Z. Add a point by typing coordinates, or from where you stand. In and out. Import a GPX track, a KML route or GeoJSON, and older Geo Elevation files. Export the profile as GPX with elevations, as CSV, as GeoJSON, as an image, or as a PDF report; print it on the Mac and on iPhone. Your units, your map. Kilometres or miles, metres or feet, each document remembers its own. Standard, satellite, hybrid and 3D map styles. Documents are plain GeoJSON, saved in iCloud Drive if you want them on every device. One purchase for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Vision Pro. No account, no subscription. Elevation data comes from our own server, ASTER and Mapzen at 30 m, worldwide; the app needs an internet connection to fetch it. In English, German, French, Spanish and Japanese.

Screenshots

Geo Elevation4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Theodolite HD at 4.7 against Geo Elevation's 3.1. Theodolite HD also leads on review sentiment (91% vs 57%) and ratings volume (136 vs 10). Geo Elevation's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 8) and update cadence (monthly vs every 4 months). On 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Theodolite HD costs $8.99 and Geo Elevation $4.99 up front. Theodolite HD sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Geo Elevation asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Theodolite HD holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Theodolite HD has 136 ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 91% of Theodolite HD's written reviews are positive against 57% of Geo Elevation's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Theodolite HD ships an update every 4 months, Geo Elevation monthly. The most recent releases landed on August 1, 2026 and September 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 1 level
Theodolite HD versus Geo Elevation: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTheodolite HDGeo Elevation
Price$8.99$4.99 — better
Rating4.7 (136 ratings) — better3.1 (10 ratings)
Positive reviews91.1% of reviews — better56.8% of reviews
Number of ratings136 — better10
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro — better
Requires iOS15.6 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size30 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCraig HunterObjectGraph LLC

Customer experience

Theodolite HD

All ratings136 ratings
Positive94.1%
Neutral2.2%
Negative3.7%
Written reviews158 reviews
Positive91.1%
Neutral3.2%
Negative5.7%

Geo Elevation

All ratings10 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative40.0%
Written reviews37 reviews
Positive56.8%
Neutral13.5%
Negative29.7%

Bugs and requests

Theodolite HD

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Occasional crashes or freezes, especially on older devices
  • Camera orientation issues on some devices

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add option to set elevation angle to 0 degrees horizontal
  • Implement cross-device sync and data sharing
  • Expand map coverage and reduce in-app purchase costs
  • Add support for more camera features like video recording

Geo Elevation

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

8 purchases

Theodolite HD

One-time8
  • 1,000 Outdoors Map Tiles$0.99
  • Team Tracking$1.99
  • World Datum Pack$2.99
Show 5 more
  • US Mountain Summits AR Layer$2.99
  • 5,000 Outdoors Map Tiles$4.99
  • 10,000 Outdoors Map Tiles$8.99
  • 20,000 Outdoors Map Tiles$17.99
  • US State Plane Coordinates$24.99
None

Geo Elevation

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Theodolite HD free?
Theodolite HD costs $8.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Geo Elevation free?
Geo Elevation costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Theodolite HD or Geo Elevation?
Theodolite HD is rated higher. Theodolite HD averages 4.7 out of 5 from 136 ratings, while Geo Elevation averages 3.1 from 10 ratings.
Do Theodolite HD or Geo Elevation have ads?
Neither Theodolite HD nor Geo Elevation shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Theodolite HD or Geo Elevation?
Theodolite HD ships an update every 4 months, and Geo Elevation monthly. Most recently, Theodolite HD was updated on August 1, 2026 and Geo Elevation on September 27, 2026.

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