# Map Plus vs BackCountry Navigator XE

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Map Plus at 83% against BackCountry Navigator XE's 22%. 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.

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.

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 22% of BackCountry Navigator XE's.

Map Plus ships an update monthly, BackCountry Navigator XE every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Map Plus | BackCountry Navigator XE |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (637 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/map-plus/id438868200/reviews)** | [2.8 (36 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backcountry-navigator-xe/id1330376207/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **637** | 36 |
| Positive reviews | **82.6% of reviews** | 21.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 39 MB | 164 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Miocool Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/438868203) | [Jirolabs LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1536871231) |

## What reviewers say

### Map Plus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/map-plus/id438868200)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Large File Support | $0.99 | one-time |
| Enhanced Map | $0.99 | one-time |
| Donate | $1.99 | one-time |
| Export GPX Support | $2.99 | one-time |
| Enhanced Format | $2.99 | one-time |
| Remove Advertisements | $3.99 | one-time |
| Enhanced GIS | $4.99 | one-time |
| Enhanced Editing | $5.99 | one-time |
| Enhanced Photo | $8.99 | one-time |
| Full-Function Package | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Powerful mapping features
- 👍 Customizable and versatile
- 🗺️ Offline map support
- 💡 Useful for various industries (surveying, construction, outdoor activities)
- 🔍 Detailed and accurate mapping

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and stability issues
- 🔍 Steep learning curve for some users
- 📁 Difficulty managing data and files
- 🔧 Limited documentation and support
- 🔒 Privacy concerns with data collection

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backcountry-navigator-xe/id1330376207)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bronze Subscription | $14.49 | per year |
| Silver Subscription | $19.99 | per year |
| Gold Subscription | $29.99 | per year |
| 500 Coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| 1000 Coins | $9.99 | one-time |
| 2000 Coins | $19.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked 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 18, 2026 and BackCountry Navigator XE on October 16, 2026.

---

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