Topo GPS vs Forest Watcher
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Topo GPS
Transform your device into a powerful GPS with detailed topographic maps for offline use. Plan, record, and follow routes for various outdoor activities. Access detailed maps and route management features without needing an expensive dedicated device.
- Detailed topographic maps
- Offline map access
- Route recording and planning
- Waypoint management
- Support for multiple coordinate systems
- GPX and KML file import/export
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Makes from your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and/or Macbook a complete GPS device with detailed topographic maps. Viewed maps will be stored on your device so that Topo GPS can also be used offline. Why should you buy an expensive GPS device if you can install Topo GPS? Topo GPS contains all functions of a regular GPS device for less money, has a much more detailed map, and is more convenient to operate. The accuracy of the position determination is in favorable conditions about 5 m. Ideal for walking, hiking, cycling, mountain biking, sailing, horse-riding, geocaching, scouting, trail running and other outdoor activities. Also suited for outdoor professionals. - Map * To use Topo GPS you need to buy a map. * Official topographic maps of many countries, including Great Britain (OS Explorer), New Zealand and Australia are available as in-app purchase. * Topographic maps are very detailed maps, include height contours and are very suited for outdoor activities. * All maps of a certain region can be made offline accessible using the map download screen. * Easy switching between maps. - Routes * Recording routes, with pause and restart possibility. * Planning routes via route points. * Generating routes * Editing routes * Synchronization with your other devices via iCloud. * Searching routes with filters. * Routes can be organized into folders. - Waypoints * Easy adding by pressing long on map. * Adding waypoints through address or coordinates. * Sharing waypoints. * Editing waypoints. - Layers Layers contain information that can be added to and removed from the map. * Long distance bicycle routes * Mountainbike routes - Coordinates * Easy entering coordinates * Scanning coordinates * Supported coordinate systems: WGS84 decimal, WGS84 degree minutes (seconds), UTM, MGRS, and other country specific coordinate systems. * Coordinates grid layers - Intuitive interface * Clear menu with most important functions. * Different dashboard panels with distance, time, speed, altitude and coordinates. * Clear manual at www.topo-gps.com - Supported file formats: * gpx, kml/kmz, geojson (all also zip compressed), WFS, csv If you are recording a route, the GPS will run in the background. Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life. Rdzl, the company behind Topo GPS, does not obtain in any way the position of the user of Topo GPS. Rdzl does also not obtain the routes recorded by the user, and save the routes planned by the user, unless the route is shared with Topo GPS. We sell our product, not our user data. Privacy policy: https://www.topo-gps.com/privacy-policy Terms of use: https://www.topo-gps.com/terms-of-use
Forest Watcher
Access global forest change data and alerts offline. Identify areas for investigation, collect field evidence with customizable forms, and make informed conservation decisions. Share data and manage teams for effective forest monitoring.
- Offline forest change data access
- Designate areas of interest
- Collect field data with forms
- Overlay contextual layers
- Route tracking for investigations
- Share alerts and data
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Forest Watcher is a mobile application designed to bring the dynamic online forest monitoring and alert systems of Global Forest Watch (GFW) offline and into the field. Forest Watcher allows users to easily access GFW’s forest change data on any mobile device, navigate to areas of detected change, and collect information about what they find, regardless of connectivity. This app provides an affordable and easy-to-use solution to quickly identify areas for patrols or field investigations, collect evidence about forest changes from the field, use the data that’s collected to make evidence-based management and conservation decisions, and investigate remote sensing products in the field. Features: * Designate areas of interest to monitor, up to 20,000 sq km * Store various satellite-based forest change data, such as near-real-time deforestation alerts on your mobile device * Overlay contextual layers, such as Protected Areas and Timber Concessions, or upload other custom datasets * Investigate alerts in the field and collect information (including GPS points and photos) through built-in and customizable forms * Review, analyze, and download data collected with the app * Route tracking to investigate a deforestation alert * Share alerts, areas, routes, reports, contextual layers and basemap tiles or all app content at once. * Manage a team and more through the supplementary desktop application at forestwatcher.globalforestwatch.org If you have any issues downloading or using the app, please reference our “how-to” materials. If the issues persist, please contact us at forestwatcher@wri.org. Any other questions or feedback, please contact us at forestwatcher@wri.org. Full terms and conditions can be found at http://www.globalforestwatch.org/terms.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Forest Watcher at none against Topo GPS's 22. Forest Watcher also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.5) and review sentiment (80% vs 70%). Topo GPS's advantage is ratings volume (476 vs 8) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). On price, ads and iOS requirement 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. Topo GPS sells 18 in-app purchases, starting at $18.49 per year. Forest Watcher asks for nothing beyond the download.
Forest Watcher holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Topo GPS has 476 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 70% of Topo GPS's written reviews are positive against 80% of Forest Watcher's.
Topo GPS ships an update every 3 weeks, Forest Watcher every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Topo GPS | Forest Watcher |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (476 ratings) | 5.0 (8 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 69.7% of reviews | 80.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 476 — better | 8 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 3 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 107 MB | 79 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | rdzl | World Resources Institute |
Customer experience
Topo GPS
Forest Watcher
Bugs and requests
Topo GPS
Reported bugs
3 issues- Purchased maps disappearing after updates
- Inability to restore previous purchases on new devices
- Crashes and freezes when using the app
Requested features
5 requests- Add elevation data to topo maps
- Improve route planning and navigation features
- Provide more detailed trail/path data
- Add CarPlay and Apple Watch support
- Improve map download and caching performance
Forest Watcher
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Topo GPS
- France topographic 1 year7 Days trial$18.491 Year
- 64 km² of France$0.99
- 64 km² of Great Britain$0.99
- United States - Aerial imagery$0.99
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- 256 km² of Great Britain$2.99
- Mountainbike routes layer$2.99
- Hiking node network$2.99
- Long distance bicycle routes$2.99
- United States topographic map$2.99
- Topographic map Netherlands$3.99
- Topographic map of Spain$3.99
- Topographic map New Zealand$3.99
- Topographic map of Norway$3.99
- Topographic map of Sweden$3.99
- Topographic map of Germany$3.99
- Topographic map of Denmark$3.99
- OpenStreetMap world coverage$4.99
- Switzerland 1:10.000$6.99
Forest Watcher
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Topo GPS free?
Is Forest Watcher free?
Which has better reviews, Topo GPS or Forest Watcher?
Do Topo GPS or Forest Watcher have ads?
Which is updated more often, Topo GPS or Forest Watcher?
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