Crowsflight vs Topo Maps US
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Crowsflight
This app offers intuitive, mapless navigation using GPS and a compass. It displays distance and heading, allowing you to drop markers, search for destinations by address or what3words, and view saved locations on a map. It works offline for navigation and supports iCloud sync.
- Mapless GPS navigation
- Heading pointer
- Drop location markers
- Search by address or what3words
- Offline navigation
- iCloud location sync
- Apple Watch support
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Crowsflight is a GPS compass that simply points. No instructions, maps to read or paths to follow. When we ask for directions on the street, a friendly finger pointing towards the destination is often more than enough. By combining location data (GPS) with the compass, Crowsflight provides mapless navigation in an intuitive, glance-at-it kind of way. It uses only GPS to navigate, so once you’ve loaded your destination/s, you don’t need a data connection to navigate. Crowsflight is perfect for wandering around foreign cities. MAIN VIEW -Displays distance in metric or imperial units -Drop a marker at your current position (if you have a data connection, Crowsflight will attempt to autoname your location) -Heading pointer changes width as the compass/GPS accuracy increases or decreases LIST VIEW -Search for a new destination by address or placename -Input latitude and longitude manually (e.g. open search, enter 40.692,-73.944) -search for what3words (offline) -Location list view shows your relative distance to each location, so you can see how places compare (distances are scaled logarithmically, so shorter distances show greater difference) -Rearrange your location list by long-pressing the row -Share your current location via email -Launch Maps to get turn-by-turn directions MAP VIEW -Map view shows and allows you to select all your saved locations. It’s another way to see what is around you. -Drag and drop pins in map view to pinpoint and adjust locations -Longpress in map view to save a new location on your map. (if you have a data connection, Crowsflight will attempt to autoname your location) OTHER FEATURES -Works offline (searching is the only function that requires an internet connection) -Opens custom url schemes (e.g. crowsflight://&ll=42.923580,-78.793953&q=BUFFALO). You can send Crowsflight destinations to yourself and friends via email. To get the browser bookmarklet for easy sharing, go to http://cwandt.com/#crowsflight -Backup your locations to your computer through iTunes file sharing -save and sync locations to iCloud APPLE WATCH - same pointing interface as iPhone app - swipe to select from locations that you've add on your phone. -pro tip: If your running app keeps taking over as frontmost app, you can double press the crown to switch back to the last app. *Crowsflight is not meant for driving. Most cars have too much magnetic interference to show the compass reliably in the car anyways. You probably want turn by turn directions if you’re driving, but just in case you were thinking about it...we don’t recommend it.
Topo Maps US
Access and download detailed topographic maps of the United States for offline use. Track your location, mark waypoints, and record your routes for outdoor activities. Navigate with direction arrows and measure distances on the map.
- Download US topographic maps
- Offline map viewing
- GPS location tracking
- Add and import waypoints (flags)
- Import and share GPX/LOC files
- Record and share trails
- Elevation profile charts
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Download USGS topographic maps of the United States and use them offline, with no account and no subscription. Topo Maps US is built for people who go where cell service doesn't: hikers, backpackers, hunters, anglers, paddlers, mountain bikers, geocachers, and anyone who wants a real topographic map in their pocket. MAPS Choose from three USGS map layers: standard topographic, aerial imagery with a topographic overlay, or plain aerial imagery. OFFLINE Tap the map squares you want and download them before you leave. Downloaded maps work with no Internet connection and use no cell data in the field. TRAILS AND POINTS OF INTEREST BUILT IN Every map download includes the trails, summits, lakes, campsites, and other named places in that area from OpenStreetMap, so you can search them by name while you're offline. TRAIL RECORDING Record where you go. Recorded trails show your path on the map with distance, elapsed time, and average speed. Recording stops automatically when you start driving, and any drive at the start or end of a trail is trimmed off. ELEVATION PROFILES Every recorded or imported trail gets an elevation profile with distance labels and color-coded grade shading. Drag along the chart to see the matching point on the map, its elevation, and the time you passed it. FLAGS Mark your current location or any spot on the map. Flags record coordinates and elevation, and you can add notes and organize them by color: geocaches, trailheads, summits, camps, and so on. NAVIGATION Pick a flag and follow the direction arrow, driven by your compass heading, with the distance remaining. Handy for geocaching and for finding your way back to camp or the car. LOCATION See where you are on the map, your elevation, speed, and the accuracy of the GPS fix. MEASURE Trace a route on the map to measure its distance, then save it as a trail to follow later. IMPORT AND SHARE Import trails and waypoints from GPX files and geocache LOC files. Share your flags and trails by email, Messages, or AirDrop as standard GPX files that work with any GPS unit or mapping software. Back up your maps and data to a computer over Wi-Fi. Designed for iPhone and iPad. Note: Continued use of GPS in the background can noticeably reduce battery life.
Screenshots
Verdict
Crowsflight and Topo Maps US both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 88% of Topo Maps US's written reviews are positive against 72% of Crowsflight's. Topo Maps US also leads on ratings volume (213 vs 33). On price, rating, update cadence and ads 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Crowsflight holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Topo Maps US has 213 ratings behind it against 33, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 72% of Crowsflight's written reviews are positive against 88% of Topo Maps US's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Crowsflight ships an update every 3 months, Topo Maps US every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Crowsflight | Topo Maps US |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (33 ratings) — better | 4.4 (213 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 72.2% of reviews | 87.5% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 33 | 213 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 8 MB | 5 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | CW&T | DC Cloud Apps, LLC |
Customer experience
Crowsflight
Topo Maps US
User reviews
Crowsflight
From 33 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Simple, intuitive interface design
- 🧭 Accurate directional compass pointing to destinations
- 📍 Offline functionality without requiring data/WiFi
- 🚶 Excellent for walking and urban exploration
- 💡 Innovative concept - shows direction and distance instead of turn-by-turn
Room to improve
- 🐛 Compass calibration issues and inaccurate readings
- 🔍 Search function returns incorrect or distant locations
- 📱 Small font sizes difficult to read
- 🎯 Inconsistent location accuracy
- ⚠️ Persistent warning messages that can't be dismissed
Topo Maps US
From 213 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Intuitive and simple user interface
- 📱 Works completely offline with downloaded maps
- 💰 Free app with no subscriptions or ads
- 🗺️ High-quality USGS topographic maps
- 📍 Accurate GPS location tracking
Room to improve
- 🐛 White/gray blocks appearing on offline maps
- 🔋 High battery drain during route recording
- ❌ Limited color options for flags (only red)
- ⚠️ Route recording stops unexpectedly
- 🔍 No search functionality for trails/landmarks
Bugs and requests
Crowsflight
Reported bugs
13 issues- Compass won't calibrate properly
- Directional readings off by 90+ degrees
- App freezes at instruction screen
- App opens spontaneously after unlocking phone
- Search function returns locations in wrong countries
Show 8 moreShow fewer
- What3Words integration no longer works
- Location name disappears when tapped, preventing copy/paste
- Pop-up info bubbles won't disappear and block navigation
- App thinks user is in wrong location (e.g., New York when elsewhere)
- Distance calculations wildly inaccurate (e.g., 1.26 miles when at saved location)
- Yellow compass arc doesn't move/respond
- Search buttons disappear from bottom of screen
- App stopped tracking after updates
Requested features
18 requests- Apple Watch support
- Gyroscope-based active pointer for hands-free navigation
- Metric kilometers display option
- Ability to organize locations into groups/categories
- GPS-based accuracy instead of compass-only
Show 13 moreShow fewer
- Larger, configurable font sizes
- Dark mode or color theme options
- Help/tutorial menu for new users
- Elevation information for destinations
- LED light option for night navigation
- Search by intersection (e.g., 6th Ave & 3rd St)
- Sort search results by proximity
- SMS sharing of locations in addition to email
- Integration with What3Words addresses
- Multiple location list organization
- Ability to enter GPS coordinates in DMS format
- Alias/naming system for GPS coordinates
- Train transit option in addition to walk/bike/car/plane
Topo Maps US
Reported bugs
8 issues- White and gray blocks appearing on downloaded offline maps
- Route recording stops unexpectedly mid-hike
- High battery drain during route tracking
- GPX file import issues in iOS 13+
- Map display issues near borders
Show 3 moreShow fewer
- Flags cluttering the view
- Inconsistent zoom functionality
- Route tracking drops without saving
Requested features
18 requests- Pause/resume tracking during hikes
- Search feature for trails and landmarks
- Apple Watch app support
- CarPlay integration
- Slope shading visualization
Show 13 moreShow fewer
- Ability to select and download multiple tiles at once
- Background map downloading
- Map transfer between devices
- iCloud backup for GPS tracks
- Older USGS topographic map versions
- Time stamps in GPX export for fitness tracking
- Quadrangle identification display
- Built-in compass with map orientation
- Laptop map manager for easier updates
- Community Q&A section
- Multiple color options for waypoints
- Auto-save feature for long recordings
- Larger downloadable map areas
In-app purchases
Crowsflight
No in-app purchases
Topo Maps US
No in-app purchases









