Comparison

Theodolite HD vs Nav Camera

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

Nav Camera

Capture photos and videos with integrated geo-location data overlays. Add custom notes and choose from various display options and formats. Ideal for professional documentation and field use.

Highlights
  • Geo-location data overlays (date, time, position, altitude, datum, bearing)
  • Customizable notes up to four lines
  • Movie recording with real-time overlay updates
  • Multiple reticle options
  • Colored lens filters
  • Support for various position formats (MGRS, UTM, etc.)
Currently charting
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Nav Camera uses the proven navigation, augmented reality, and image processing engines from the well known Theodolite app to create a new app that focuses on photogaphy and video recording with data overlays. The app has been crafted with attention to detail by a top iOS developer, and benefits from over 20 years of development and testing heritage, along with real world usage by surveyors, geologists, architects, engineers, competitive sportsmen, first responders, military personnel, and search and rescue workers around the world. Nav Camera supports portrait and landscape photo capture, and gives you the option to overlay date/time, geo data, street address, and four lines of custom notes on photos and videos. Nav Camera lets you take photographs and record movies in landscape and portrait orientations with geo-location overlays and custom notes. Geo-location overlays include date, time, position, altitude, GPS datum, and compass bearing. Overlay data is updated in every frame when recording movies, which is great for documenting dynamic scenes or scanning an area. You can enter up to four lines of custom notes to be rendered into the overlay, which is perfect for job descriptions, project names, company/staff information, invoice numbers, or additional comments/documentation. Various parts of the overlay can be turned on or off, and multiple overlay colors are available. Nav Camera includes features for serious users including multiple reticles (three types of crosshairs and an SLR-style focus/exposure indicator), colored lens filters to improve use in dark conditions and preserve night vision, and multiple position formats including military grid reference system (MGRS), universal transverse Mercator (UTM), British/Irish National Grids, and six latitude/longitude variations. The optional "Datum Pack" adds over 220 geodetic datums to the app for more accurate position and altitude computation from GPS data. Optional datums include NAD-27, NAD-83, OSGB-36, ED-50, and hundreds of others, covering regions and countries on all continents around the world. Find out why apps like Nav Camera and Theodolite, and their field-proven results, are featured in Apple Keynotes, written up in magazine articles and professional journals, and used by everyday explorers and pro users around the world. Where will you take Nav Camera on your next adventure? Nav Camera works on any iPhone or iPod Touch with camera, running iOS 11.4 or later. If you like Nav Camera, please leave a review/rating on the iTunes App Store. It only takes a moment, and helps us a lot. Thanks!

Screenshots

Nav Camera4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Theodolite HD at 4.7 against Nav Camera's 4.0. Theodolite HD also leads on review sentiment (91% vs 62%) and update cadence (every 4 months vs every 12 months). Nav Camera's advantage is price ($3.99 vs $8.99) and chart position (#80 vs unranked). 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

Theodolite HD costs $8.99 and Nav Camera $3.99 up front. Theodolite HD sells 8 one-off in-app purchases and Nav Camera 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

Theodolite HD holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 136 and 34 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 91% of Theodolite HD's written reviews are positive against 62% of Nav Camera's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Theodolite HD ships an update every 4 months, Nav Camera every 12 months. The most recent releases landed on August 1, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Theodolite HD versus Nav Camera: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTheodolite HDNav Camera
Price$8.99$3.99 — better
Rating4.7 (136 ratings) — better4.0 (34 ratings)
Positive reviews91.1% of reviews — better61.8% of reviews
Number of ratings136 — better34
Update frequencyEvery 4 months — betterEvery 12 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank—#80 — better
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPod — better
Requires iOS15.615.6
Further details — not scored
Size30 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCraig HunterCraig Hunter

Customer experience

Theodolite HD

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

Nav Camera

All ratings34 ratings
Positive79.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.6%
Written reviews34 reviews
Positive61.8%
Neutral2.9%
Negative35.3%

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

Nav Camera

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

Nav Camera

One-time1
  • Datum Pack$2.99

Questions

Is Theodolite HD free?
Theodolite HD costs $8.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Nav Camera free?
Nav Camera costs $3.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Theodolite HD or Nav Camera?
Theodolite HD is rated higher. Theodolite HD averages 4.7 out of 5 from 136 ratings, while Nav Camera averages 4.0 from 34 ratings.
Do Theodolite HD or Nav Camera have ads?
Neither Theodolite HD nor Nav Camera shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Theodolite HD or Nav Camera?
Theodolite HD ships an update every 4 months, and Nav Camera every 12 months. Most recently, Theodolite HD was updated on August 1, 2026 and Nav Camera on September 23, 2026.

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