Comparison

Theodolite HD vs GPS Stakeout

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

GPS Stakeout

This app transforms property descriptions into walkable points of interest. It guides you to property corners using live distance, bearing, and haptic feedback. Ideal for landowners and surveyors needing approximate boundary location.

Highlights
  • Scan deeds with camera
  • Import KML boundaries
  • Navigate to corners with haptic feedback
  • AR boundary overlay
  • External GPS support
  • Bearing basis correction
  • Offline deed scanning
Read full description

GPS Stakeout turns a written property description into corners you can walk to. Starter mode walks you through it one step at a time: scan your deed, stand on one corner, and follow the arrow to the rest. Photograph a printed deed with your camera, paste the text, look up a PLSS section, enter a single bearing-and-distance line, or import a KML boundary — then the app plots the parcel and guides you to each corner with live distance and bearing, plus a haptic pulse when you arrive. Built for two kinds of use: exploring your own land — walking your deed, seeing your parcel's shape, and getting an approximate sense of where your lines run — and serving as a field aid for licensed surveyors and their crews. NOT A SURVEY. GPS Stakeout shows approximate, deed-derived locations anchored by your device's GPS. It is not a boundary survey and does not replace one. Only a licensed Professional Land Surveyor can establish or certify a property corner. For anything legal or precise — a fence, construction, a sale, or a boundary dispute — rely on a licensed survey. FEATURES Scan a deed with your camera — on-device text recognition, works offline Paste or type a deed — bearings and distances in feet, chains, rods, metres and more, including curve calls PLSS section lookup (U.S.) — township/range/section corners from BLM data Single line — one bearing and distance to stake a course (free) KML import (Pro) — bring in a boundary from Google Earth or county GIS Navigate to any corner — real-time distance and bearing, with an arrival haptic Map view — boundary and corners on standard or satellite maps, with a live GPS accuracy ring AR boundary overlay (Pro) — property lines on your live camera view External GPS support — connect a Bluetooth receiver (XGPS160, Bad Elf, Garmin GLO) for tighter accuracy Bearing basis correction — set true, grid, magnetic, or assumed north; rotate a magnetic-north deed to true, or auto-solve the exact rotation from two known corners Feet or meters — choose your units; defaults automatically to your region KML export (Pro) — open your boundary in Google Earth and other tools Private by design — your plats and location stay on your device No subscription — one optional one-time Pro upgrade Whether you're a landowner curious about your own boundary or a survey crew in the field, GPS Stakeout gets you from a paper description to the right spot on the ground.

Screenshots

GPS Stakeout4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: GPS Stakeout at Free against Theodolite HD's $8.99. GPS Stakeout also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 4 months) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). Theodolite HD's advantage is ratings volume (136 vs 4) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model 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

GPS Stakeout is free to download; Theodolite HD costs $8.99 up front. Theodolite HD sells 8 one-off in-app purchases and GPS Stakeout sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

GPS Stakeout holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Theodolite HD has 136 ratings behind it against 4, 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 100% of GPS Stakeout's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Theodolite HD ships an update every 4 months, GPS Stakeout fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Theodolite HD versus GPS Stakeout: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTheodolite HDGPS Stakeout
Price$8.99Free — better
Rating4.7 (136 ratings)5.0 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews91.4% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings136 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS15.6 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size30 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCraig HunterRivertop Development, LLC

Customer experience

Theodolite HD

All ratings136 ratings
Positive94.1%
Neutral2.2%
Negative3.7%
Written reviews185 reviews
Positive91.4%
Neutral3.2%
Negative5.4%

GPS Stakeout

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

GPS Stakeout

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
1 purchases

GPS Stakeout

One-time1
  • GPS Stakeout Pro$29.99

Questions

Is Theodolite HD free?
Theodolite HD costs $8.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is GPS Stakeout free?
GPS Stakeout is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Theodolite HD or GPS Stakeout?
GPS Stakeout is rated higher. Theodolite HD averages 4.7 out of 5 from 136 ratings, while GPS Stakeout averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.
Do Theodolite HD or GPS Stakeout have ads?
Neither Theodolite HD nor GPS Stakeout shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Theodolite HD or GPS Stakeout?
Theodolite HD ships an update every 4 months, and GPS Stakeout fortnightly. Most recently, Theodolite HD was updated on October 23, 2026 and GPS Stakeout on October 28, 2026.

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