# Elevation Survey vs ArcGIS Field Maps

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ArcGIS Field Maps at none against Elevation Survey's 2. ArcGIS Field Maps also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months). Elevation Survey's advantage is review sentiment (31% vs 11%) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.5). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Elevation Survey sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. ArcGIS Field Maps asks for nothing beyond the download.

Elevation Survey ships an update every 3 months, ArcGIS Field Maps monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Elevation Survey | ArcGIS Field Maps |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[2.1 (58 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcgis-field-maps/id1515671684/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **58** |
| Positive reviews | **31.3% of reviews** | 11.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Size | 75 MB | 161 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 18.5 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Booth](https://appshunter.io/developer/415450674) | [ESRI](https://appshunter.io/developer/379687933) |

## What reviewers say

### Elevation Survey

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elevation-survey/id433368313)

This app simplifies leveling surveys by automatically calculating instrument and ground heights. It allows for instant computation of staff readings for layout work and offers flexible data entry modes. Survey data can be easily exported and shared.

**Highlights:** Automatic HI and GH calculation, Instant staff reading computation for layout, Color-coded input and results, Add notes for projects, Export data as CSV, Standard and Staff data entry modes, In-app tutorial

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| Premium Yearly | $59.99 | per year |


### ArcGIS Field Maps

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcgis-field-maps/id1515671684)

This app provides mobile workers with interactive digital maps to understand their surroundings, locate assets, and collect data. It features smart forms for efficient data entry, offline capabilities, and location sharing for coordination and safety. Designed for organizational use, it supports fieldwork for various teams.

**Highlights:** Interactive digital maps, Smart forms for data collection, Offline map capabilities, Location sharing and tracking, Geofence alerts, Asset scanning and annotation, Data editing and syncing

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support, SharePlay

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🗺️ Comprehensive mapping capabilities when functioning
- 📊 Powerful data collection features for field work
- 🔄 Integration with ArcGIS ecosystem
- 📍 Useful for basic map information and POI lookup
- 🎯 Improved form calculations and contingent values

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- ⚠️ Unreliable offline map functionality
- 🔄 Constant need to delete and reinstall app
- 📥 Offline download failures and incomplete syncing
- ⏱️ Slow performance and lag

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on startup and during use
- Layers fail to load intermittently
- Offline map downloads fail or hang indefinitely
- Authentication errors and keyboard not appearing on login
- Maps load only 30% of the time

**Requested features**

- Stylus support for drawing features
- Landscape mode for iPhone devices
- Apple Watch integration and capabilities
- Export functionality (GPX, KMZ formats)
- Improved offline area size and quality selection


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Elevation Survey free?

Elevation Survey is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is ArcGIS Field Maps free?

ArcGIS Field Maps is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Elevation Survey or ArcGIS Field Maps have ads?

Neither Elevation Survey nor ArcGIS Field Maps shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Elevation Survey or ArcGIS Field Maps?

Elevation Survey ships an update every 3 months, and ArcGIS Field Maps monthly. Most recently, Elevation Survey was updated on October 30, 2026 and ArcGIS Field Maps on November 2, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*