Terrain Navigator Pro vs Chief Mobile
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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.
Chief Mobile
Receive and map emergency dispatches from your 911 center with redundant alerting. Get instant push notifications for new incidents, view details and maps, and stay updated on personnel messages and schedules. Update your status and track response ETAs.
- Redundant Tone & CAD alerting
- Receive and map 911 dispatches
- Push notifications for new incidents
- Personnel message communication
- Update status and track ETA
- View company and personal schedules
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Chief Mobile is has redundant alerting using a combination of Tone Alerting & CAD Alerting. Allows you to receive & map incidents from your 911 dispatch center quickly. A push notification will alert you when a new dispatch occurs and forward you to the incident information and map. With Tone Alert, Chief Mobile works like your Fire Pager providing two sources for alerting. You can also receive messages that are sent out by other personnel. Get notified of open shifts, training, and other announcements instantly. The latest version allows you to reply to messages. Allows your personnel to update their status (i.e. Responding Station 1, Available, etc.). Their ETA is tracked while responding. Allows companies that use Chief Scheduling to view the company schedule by day and their own schedule. Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Chief Mobile at 3.4 against Terrain Navigator Pro's 2.7. Chief Mobile also leads on review sentiment (66% vs 40%). Terrain Navigator Pro's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 13.0). On price, ratings volume, 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. Chief Mobile sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Terrain Navigator Pro asks for nothing beyond the download.
Chief Mobile holds the better App Store score, 3.4 against 2.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 20 and 43 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 40% of Terrain Navigator Pro's written reviews are positive against 66% of Chief Mobile's.
Terrain Navigator Pro ships an update every 2 months, Chief Mobile every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Terrain Navigator Pro | Chief Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.7 (20 ratings) | 3.4 (43 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 40.0% of reviews | 65.9% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 20 | 43 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 5 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better |
| Requires iOS | 10.0 — better | 13.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 62 MB | 113 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Trimble Inc. | Chief Technologies |
Customer experience
Terrain Navigator Pro
Chief Mobile
In-app purchases
Terrain Navigator Pro
No in-app purchases
Chief Mobile
- Pro Version$4.99
Questions
Is Terrain Navigator Pro free?
Is Chief Mobile free?
Which has better reviews, Terrain Navigator Pro or Chief Mobile?
Do Terrain Navigator Pro or Chief Mobile have ads?
Which is updated more often, Terrain Navigator Pro or Chief Mobile?
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