# Elevation vs Topo Maps US

Elevation and Topo Maps US both sit at 4.5 stars, but that hides the real split: 88% of Topo Maps US's written reviews are positive against 30% of Elevation's. Topo Maps US also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ads (none vs shown). Elevation's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (5.4K vs 210). On price, rating, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Elevation sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.49 per month. Topo Maps US asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Elevation against 4.4 for Topo Maps US. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Elevation has 5.4K ratings behind it against 210, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 30% of Elevation's written reviews are positive against 88% of Topo Maps US's.

Elevation ships an update every 3 weeks, Topo Maps US every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Elevation | Topo Maps US |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (5.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elevation-altimeter-map/id480740433/reviews)** | [4.4 (210 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/topo-maps-us/id1033846196/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **5.4K** | 210 |
| Positive reviews | 29.6% of reviews | **87.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Size | 53 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Mapnitude Company Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/473558784) | [DC Cloud Apps, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/353416960) |

## What reviewers say

### Elevation

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elevation-altimeter-map/id480740433)

Easily find your current elevation, altitude, and height above sea level. This app allows you to check elevations by touching the map, entering an address, or using your device's GPS or barometer. It also provides valuable data for flood prediction and outdoor planning.

**Highlights:** Find current elevation and altitude, Check elevation by map touch or address input, Utilize GPS and barometer for altitude, Record and display GPS altitude path, Standalone barometer functionality, Support for UTM and MGRS coordinates, Export timestamp, altitude, pressure, and coordinates

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Plus Upgrade | $4.49 | per month |
| Plus Upgrade | $25.99 | per 6 months |
| Plus Upgrade | $48.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Works great
- 👍 Helpful for research
- 👍 Useful for tracking elevation during storms
- 👍 Easy to use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes on opening
- 🐛 Elevation readings are inaccurate
- 🐛 Doesn't work consistently
- 💰 Too many ads
- 🤔 Confusing user interface

**Reported bugs**

- Elevation readings not working
- App freezes or crashes frequently
- Inconsistent behavior across locations

**Requested features**

- Add search functionality
- Display elevation in feet instead of meters
- Improve accuracy of elevation readings


### Topo Maps US

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/topo-maps-us/id1033846196)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 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

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- Pause/resume tracking during hikes
- Search feature for trails and landmarks
- Apple Watch app support
- CarPlay integration
- Slope shading visualization


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Elevation free?

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

### Is Topo Maps US free?

Topo Maps US is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Elevation or Topo Maps US?

Elevation is rated higher. Elevation averages 4.5 out of 5 from 5.4K ratings, while Topo Maps US averages 4.4 from 210 ratings.

### Do Elevation or Topo Maps US have ads?

Elevation shows ads; Topo Maps US does not.

### Which is updated more often, Elevation or Topo Maps US?

Elevation ships an update every 3 weeks, and Topo Maps US every 4 months. Most recently, Elevation was updated on September 24, 2026 and Topo Maps US on September 18, 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.*