Comparison

Terrain Navigator Pro vs Touch GIS

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

Head to head
About

Terrain Navigator Pro

This app allows professionals to collect, map, and share field data offline or in near real-time. It integrates with desktop software for analysis and collaboration, making smartphones a viable alternative to dedicated GPS devices for GIS applications.

Highlights
  • Offline data collection
  • Real-time data sync
  • Offline map downloads
  • GPS and GIS data analysis
  • Team tracking and collaboration
  • Access to topographic and aerial maps
Features
Read full description

Terrain Navigator Pro provides an affordable and simple solution for professionals to collect and seamlessly transmit data from the field to the office. Use the TNP mobile app to map, find, collect, and share field data. Then, with a mobile connection, instantly share field data with the TNP desktop software to analyze GPS and GIS data at the office. TNP serves a professional market, including search and rescue teams, law enforcement, foresters, surveyors, the oil and gas industry, and land managers. This mobile app is ideal for entry-level GIS applications and enables professionals to use the smartphone in their pocket instead of a consumer-grade GPS device. To activate this app, users need a licensed copy of the Terrain Navigator Pro desktop software version 9.2 or later. To learn more about TNP, visit the Terrain Navigator Website at www.terrainnavigator.com. OFFLINE DATA COLLECTION The TNP mobile app uses the GPS built into the iPhone, so professionals can collect field data in areas without a cellular or data signal. In addition, users can download and store topographic, aerial, and street maps onto the phone for offline use and data display. Your data is stored on your iPhone, so there’s no need to have a network connection. ---------------------------------- TNP CLOUD Got a Wi-Fi or data connection? Share your data in near real-time with colleagues at the office to streamline project workflows. The TNP app uploads data as it’s collected, so professionals with the same project open in the TNP desktop software can view the field data and collaborate to make accurate, on-the-spot decisions. ---------------------------------- TNP MOBILE APP FEATURES •Collect field data (markers, tracks, photos, videos, audio clips) in areas without a cellular or data signal. •Near real-time sync between phone and TNP map software via Wifi or data connection like a 3G network. •View data on topographic, aerial, and street maps downloaded to phone for offline use. Terrain Navigator Pro offers 1-meter aerial photos for the 48 contiguous United States. The seamless USGS topographic maps are based off 1:24K, 1:100K, 1:250K map scales. Alaska is 1:63K and 1:250K. •Access a compass and other geo-information such as latitude/longitude, elevation, and direction on phone. •New Feature for TNP Enterprise customers - team tracking shows where your users are in near real time. Support for team projects which allow organizations to control data users can see ---------------------------------- TNP DESKTOP SOFTWARE This app syncs to our award-winning Terrain Navigator Pro mapping software, which has been fine-tuned based on more than a decade of feedback from professionals who rely heavily on maps in the field. The TNP software provides access to an easily catalogued collection of USGS/US Forest Service topographic maps, including 1:24,000 (7.5 minute series), 1:100,000 and 1:250,000 scale as well as seamless, 1-meter resolution color aerial photos dating back to 2003, and up to the most recent National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP) aerial imagery available. The software supports GIS and CAD export and import, and provides access to advanced mapping tools, including: range rings by time and distance, area fills and line-of-sight height offsets, geo-pins, geo-tips, Public Land Survey System (PLSS), advanced address search, up-to-date street data, and more. ---------------------------------- Notes: Terrain Navigator Pro is designed for your iPhone device. Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life.

About

Touch GIS

This professional tool simplifies field data collection and mapping. It allows users to create and customize data forms, collect various data types offline, and export them to standard GIS formats. Professionals across diverse fields utilize it to enhance their fieldwork.

Highlights
  • Create Points, Lines, Polygons, Circles
  • Customizable attribute forms
  • Offline map tile saving
  • Export to industry standard formats
  • Attach photos to locations
  • Clinometer tool for orientation
  • Add custom base maps and overlays
Read full description

Touch GIS is the most intuitive professional field data collection and mapping tool. It's a super-powered field notebook enabling you to collect any kind of data, in any environment, online or offline, and transfer it easily to your preferred desktop GIS. We believe your data collection tools should amplify your capabilities, not limit them, which is why we focus on keeping your forms and attributes totally customizable in the field. Join thousands of professionals utilizing Touch GIS as their mobile GIS app to enhance their field work in geologic mapping, ecological mapping, civil engineering, mineral exploration and mining, natural resource management, landscape architecture, and more. FEATURES - Easily capture new Points, Lines, Polygons, and Circles in the field. - Quickly and accurately draw new lines and polygons with free draw mode and vertex snapping. - Adjust feature class attribute forms in the field at any time. - Get multiple perspectives by switching between basemaps in the field. - Download basemaps for offline use. - Export to many industry standard formats. - Snap, mark up, and attach photos to locations. - Measure planar and linear feature orientation using our clinometer tool with strike/dip, dip/dip direction, or trend/plunge formats. - Add custom base maps with WMS/WMTS. - Add raster images like Geospatial PDFS or GeoTiffs and other overlays to your map to see your location in context. - Add team members so your whole team has access. Supported file types: - Shapefiles - KML and KMZ - Geospatial PDF / GeoPDF - GeoPackage (GPKG) - GeoJSON - GPX - CSV - World File - Geotiff - JPG - PNG Customizable attribute types: - Description - Date & Time - Photos - List Of Values - Checkbox - Address - Number - Website - Phone Number - Attitude / Orientation for Geologic features Pre-loaded feature classes supporting many different use-cases: - Forestry - Geology - Real Estate - Stream Surveys - Water Infrastructure - Wetlands management - Create your own fully customizable data attribute forms, and update them in the field as needed. Terms of Service: https://www.touchgis.app/terms-of-service Privacy Policy: https://www.touchgis.app/privacy

Screenshots

Terrain Navigator Pro4 screens
Touch GIS4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Touch GIS at 4.0 against Terrain Navigator Pro's 2.7. Touch GIS also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months) and review sentiment (50% vs 40%). Terrain Navigator Pro's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.6). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support 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. Touch GIS sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $29.99 per month. Terrain Navigator Pro asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Touch GIS holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 2.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 20 and 32 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 40% of Terrain Navigator Pro's written reviews are positive against 50% of Touch GIS's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Terrain Navigator Pro ships an update every 2 months, Touch GIS every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Terrain Navigator Pro versus Touch GIS: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTerrain Navigator ProTouch GIS
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.7 (20 ratings)4.0 (32 ratings) — better
Positive reviews40.0% of reviews50.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2032 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS10.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size62 MB79 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTrimble Inc.TouchGIS

Customer experience

Terrain Navigator Pro

All ratings19 ratings
Positive42.1%
Neutral5.3%
Negative52.6%
Written reviews15 reviews
Positive40.0%
Neutral6.7%
Negative53.3%

Touch GIS

All ratings32 ratings
Positive68.8%
Neutral9.4%
Negative21.9%
Written reviews30 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral13.3%
Negative36.7%

In-app purchases

None

Terrain Navigator Pro

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Touch GIS

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Subscription (Monthly)$29.991 Month
  • Pro License (Annual)$299.991 Year

Questions

Is Terrain Navigator Pro free?
Terrain Navigator Pro is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Touch GIS free?
Touch GIS is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Terrain Navigator Pro or Touch GIS?
Touch GIS is rated higher. Terrain Navigator Pro averages 2.7 out of 5 from 20 ratings, while Touch GIS averages 4.0 from 32 ratings.
Do Terrain Navigator Pro or Touch GIS have ads?
Neither Terrain Navigator Pro nor Touch GIS shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Terrain Navigator Pro or Touch GIS?
Terrain Navigator Pro ships an update every 2 months, and Touch GIS every 3 weeks. Most recently, Terrain Navigator Pro was updated on November 3, 2026 and Touch GIS on November 6, 2026.

Other comparisons