Comparison

Esri Events vs Transect

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

Head to head
About

Esri Events

Access comprehensive information for all Esri conferences, including agendas, session details, and event schedules. Manage your personal schedule, connect with fellow attendees, and navigate event venues with ease.

Highlights
  • Conference agendas
  • Session descriptions
  • Activity dates and times
  • Schedule management
  • Peer connection
  • Venue navigation
Features
Read full description

Information on all Esri conferences is available to you at the touch of your finger. Access important information including agendas, session descriptions, and activity dates and times. The app helps you manage your schedule, connect with peers, and navigate venues while attending Esri events.

About

Transect

This app guides you along a set survey line with real-time haptic and audio feedback, allowing you to focus on your surroundings. It offers configurable alerts, auto-pause, and seamless line advancement, with Apple Watch integration for hands-free operation. Data is stored locally and exportable as KML or CSV.

Highlights
  • Real-time offset tracking
  • Configurable haptic and audio alerts
  • Grace period for brief deviations
  • Auto-pause for extended stops
  • Apple Watch integration
  • KML/CSV data export
  • Live UTM coordinates
Features
Read full description

Transect Navigator keeps you on your survey line so you can keep your eyes on the ground. Set your line spacing and orientation, tap Start, and walk. The app tracks your offset from the target line in real time and warns you with haptics and directional audio when you drift — a first alert at the distance you choose, a stronger one if you keep going. No staring at a screen when you should be scanning for sign. BUILT FOR FIELD PROTOCOLS - Two configurable alert distances with distinct feedback - Grace period: step off-line briefly to dodge a wash or check a burrow without nuisance alerts — one quiet countdown, then normal alerts resume - Auto-pause for longer stops off the line - Advance to the next line with one tap; spacing is preserved APPLE WATCH Start, stop, pause, and adjust lines from your wrist. The watch shows your live offset and gives its own haptic guidance — leave the phone in your pack. ACCURACY Live UTM coordinates and a GPS accuracy indicator. Works with external GNSS receivers (such as Bad Elf) for sub-meter work, or the phone's built-in GPS anywhere. GPS needs no cell coverage. YOUR DATA STAYS YOURS Surveys auto-save every two minutes and are stored on your device. Export any session as KML or CSV — timestamps, lat/long, UTM, and accuracy for every point — straight to the Files app. Nothing is uploaded anywhere. Built by a working wildlife biologist for protocol-level coverage surveys: desert tortoise clearance, condition assessments, botanical grids — any survey where straight, evenly spaced lines matter.

Screenshots

Esri Events4 screens
Transect2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Transect at 100% against Esri Events's 57%. Transect also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.7). Esri Events's advantage is ratings volume (1.3K vs 2). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Transect holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Esri Events has 1.3K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 57% of Esri Events's written reviews are positive against 100% of Transect's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Esri Events ships an update every 3 months, Transect every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Esri Events versus Transect: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEsri EventsTransect
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (1.3K ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews57.1% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.3K — better2
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS17.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size117 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperESRIPlaya Environmental

Customer experience

Esri Events

All ratings1,319 ratings
Positive93.7%
Neutral2.7%
Negative3.6%
Written reviews63 reviews
Positive57.1%
Neutral11.1%
Negative31.7%

Transect

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Esri Events

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App not displaying any events or content
  • Frequent logout issues requiring re-login
  • Crashes after short usage periods

Requested features

6 requests
  • Calendar view for schedule planning
  • Ability to add multiple sessions per time block
  • Keyword search for sessions and content
  • Automatic conflict detection and session recommendations
  • Integration with device calendar for scheduling
Show 1 more
  • Option to take and attach photos in session notes

Transect

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Esri Events

No in-app purchases

None

Transect

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Esri Events free?
Esri Events is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Transect free?
Transect is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Esri Events or Transect?
Transect is rated higher. Esri Events averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.3K ratings, while Transect averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Esri Events or Transect have ads?
Neither Esri Events nor Transect shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Esri Events or Transect?
Esri Events ships an update every 3 months, and Transect every 2 months. Most recently, Esri Events was updated on October 29, 2026 and Transect on October 10, 2026.

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