Comparison

Map Plus vs BackCountry Navigator XE

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

Head to head
About

Map Plus

This app is a powerful tool for viewing and editing custom maps, managing geographic data, and planning outdoor activities. It supports various map and GIS file formats, offers on-map editing, GPS track recording, and data sharing.

Highlights
  • View and edit custom maps
  • Manage geographic data
  • Support for GIS vector and common file formats
  • Offline map viewing
  • GPS track recording and path following
  • On-map vector editing
  • Data sharing via multiple methods
Features
Read full description

The most powerful and versatile tool for viewing and editing custom maps, surveying, editing or managing mass of your geography data. ● You can use Map Plus as a professional GIS tool for geographic data gathering, editing, measuring, cartography, surveying, planning, online/offline viewing and many other management. ● You can also use Map Plus to help your outdoor activities and global travels, for trip planning, offline map downloading, track/photo/video recording, and sharing memories with friends. Besides common map features such as locating, searching, Map Plus provides many more special: ● Configuring, viewing and downloading any online maps of XYZ/WMS/WMTS patterns, or using scripts to configure more complex ones. ● Handling GIS vector file formats, such as Shape(SHP), TAB, GEOJSON, GML/GZ, AutoCAD DXF... ● Handling Common GIS file formats such as KML, KMZ, GPX, CSV, WPT.. Supported styles in KML/KMZ. ● Handling offline map file formats such as MBTiles, RMaps... ● On-map vector editing with finger drag-drop and magnetic snap. ● GPS Track Recording with auto-recovery and background mode support. ● Path Following with voice guidance for both user paths and searched direction routes. ● Displaying locations of photos and videos in your system photo albums. (no need to import) ● User data management with folders, sub-folders, layers, bulk operations, shortcuts, tags and fuzzy searches. Supports Advanced Search by using expressions with attribute conditions. ● Using Feature Class for bulk editing and managing similar (same class of) features and layers all together. Supports bulk Attributes Merge and Link Relationship Building between features of different classes. ● Conditional Style and Expression provide dynamic content rendering. ● Customizable pop-up panel for on-map picking items with HTML, JS and CSS support to make custom forms, layout and rich-formatted content. ● Handling coordinates in MGRS, UTM, and Plus Code. ● Photo Markup allows you draw markups on photo, such as arrows, texts, free-hand drawings. ● Browser Access allows you to access app's data or files from a desktop PC/Mac with a web browser wirelessly. ● Sharing or transferring data via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, iCloud, SMS, Email, QR codes, Open-In, AirDrop or many other ways. ● Many more fantastic and free functions could not be fully descriped here, such as Guide Mark, Arrival Notification, Photo Mode, Map Level Adjust, Custom Icons, Photo/Video Attachments, Image Overlay, Text Overlay, Fast Editing, Distance/Perimeter/Area Measuring, Custom Time Zone, etc. User Manual: https://duweis.com/en/mapplus_guide.html Contact Us: support@duweis.com

About

BackCountry Navigator XE

Navigate the outdoors with offline maps and GPS functionality. Download maps for various regions and use your device as a handheld GPS. Record tracks, set waypoints, and upload/download trips from the cloud.

Highlights
  • Offline map downloads
  • Handheld GPS functionality
  • Record tracks with stats
  • Set waypoints
  • Cloud trip management
  • GPX/KML import/export
  • Optional map overlays
Features
Read full description

Explore the outdoors on your own terms with BackCountry Navigator XE. Choose and download maps for offline use. Use your iOS device as a handheld GPS. Choose from over 50 worldwide and country specific map sources. App makes suggestions based on where the map is centered. The worldwide sources are often the best. Some countries with specific content to consider are Spain, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. With membership, save maps for offline use. An easy grid interface lets you choose blocks for download, and see those you have already downloaded. Switch to offline maps to see what you have downloaded when out in the backcountry. A worldwide vector map, known as the BackCountry World Map, allows for quick download of large blocks. Small size with splendid detail even when zoomed in. Navigate in the wild with GPS Record your path as a track, seeing a customized set of stats as you progress. Set waypoints by tapping the screen or at the current GPS Location. Upload or download trips from the cloud on demand. See the trips on your desktop browser. Import or export GPX or KML. Updated UI for this website is coming soon. Optional overlays enhance map with boundaries, parcel data, or trail maps. BLM boundaries show limits of various types of federal lands within the western United States. Most US States have parcel data and wildlife management boundaries. Use is subject to license agreement at https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Map Plus4 screens
BackCountry Navigator XE4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Map Plus at 83% against BackCountry Navigator XE's 23%. Map Plus also leads on rating (4.6 vs 2.8) and ratings volume (637 vs 36). BackCountry Navigator XE's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

Both are free to download. Map Plus sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and BackCountry Navigator XE sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $14.49 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Map Plus holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Map Plus has 637 ratings behind it against 36, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 83% of Map Plus's written reviews are positive against 23% of BackCountry Navigator XE's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Map Plus ships an update monthly, BackCountry Navigator XE every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Map Plus versus BackCountry Navigator XE: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMap PlusBackCountry Navigator XE
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (637 ratings) — better2.8 (36 ratings)
Positive reviews82.6% of reviews — better22.7% of reviews
Number of ratings637 — better36
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 6 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size39 MB164 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMiocool Inc.Jirolabs LLC

Customer experience

Map Plus

All ratings637 ratings
Positive92.9%
Neutral2.2%
Negative4.9%
Written reviews230 reviews
Positive82.6%
Neutral4.3%
Negative13.0%

BackCountry Navigator XE

All ratings36 ratings
Positive38.9%
Neutral2.8%
Negative58.3%
Written reviews22 reviews
Positive22.7%
Neutral13.6%
Negative63.6%

Bugs and requests

Map Plus

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Crashes when loading large datasets
  • Issues with map layer visibility and synchronization
  • Problems with coordinate system and projection support
  • Inconsistent behavior when using certain features

Requested features

5 requests
  • Improved user interface and navigation
  • Better integration with other mapping/GIS software
  • Route planning and navigation capabilities
  • Ability to import and export more file formats
  • Improved offline map caching and performance

BackCountry Navigator XE

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Map Plus

One-time10
  • Large File Support$0.99
  • Enhanced Map$0.99
  • Donate$1.99
Show 7 more
  • Export GPX Support$2.99
  • Enhanced Format$2.99
  • Remove Advertisements$3.99
  • Enhanced GIS$4.99
  • Enhanced Editing$5.99
  • Enhanced Photo$8.99
  • Full-Function Package$19.99
6 purchases

BackCountry Navigator XE

Subscriptions3
  • Bronze Subscription7 Days trial$14.491 Year
  • Silver Subscription7 Days trial$19.991 Year
  • Gold Subscription7 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time3
  • 500 Coins$4.99
  • 1000 Coins$9.99
  • 2000 Coins$19.99

Questions

Is Map Plus free?
Map Plus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is BackCountry Navigator XE free?
BackCountry Navigator XE is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Map Plus or BackCountry Navigator XE?
Map Plus is rated higher. Map Plus averages 4.6 out of 5 from 637 ratings, while BackCountry Navigator XE averages 2.8 from 36 ratings.
Do Map Plus or BackCountry Navigator XE have ads?
Map Plus shows ads; BackCountry Navigator XE does not.
Which is updated more often, Map Plus or BackCountry Navigator XE?
Map Plus ships an update monthly, and BackCountry Navigator XE every 6 weeks. Most recently, Map Plus was updated on October 2, 2026 and BackCountry Navigator XE on September 30, 2026.

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