USFS & BLM Campgrounds vs BearAware
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
USFS & BLM Campgrounds
Discover over 5,600 USFS and BLM campgrounds across the USA. Find low-cost or free camping options with detailed information including weather, elevation, and images. Plan your route and navigate easily with offline access.
- Over 5,600 USFS/BLM campgrounds
- Low-cost or free options
- Local weather and elevation
- Internet images and Flickr search
- Offline map access
- Route planning integration
- GPX file import
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This app shows over 5,640 United States Forest Service (USFS) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) campgrounds throughout the USA. These types of campgrounds tend to be low cost or free. Each location displays the campground name, which agency administers it (BLM or USFS), the local weather, elevation, Internet images and searches of the campground, Flickr geotag search, and more. Easily locate the campgrounds nearest you. Send location data directly to our Road Trip Planner app. Import routes from GPX files. This makes it much easier to find locations along your route. - No subscription fees; just a one-time purchase. - Show a route between your location and the campground. - Map layers include Apple, Google, and Open Street Maps. - No Internet connection required to view campground locations and info. - View Flickr photos of each location (if they exist). - View current weather of each location. - Database is updated monthly, subject to user submissions.
BearAware
This community-powered map helps outdoor enthusiasts stay informed about recent bear activity. Share and view real-time sightings to make safer decisions in bear country. The app works offline, allowing you to log observations even in remote locations.
- Live community bear sighting map
- Offline recording of sightings
- Fast and simple reporting
- In-app bear safety guide
- Privacy-focused anonymous accounts
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The ultimate safety companion for hikers, campers, anglers, and anyone living or recreating in bear country. The BearAware is a community-powered map that helps you stay aware of recent bear activity to make smarter, safer decisions outdoors. Share and view sightings in real-time. By contributing your own observations, you help create a safer environment for both people and bears. Designed for the real world, our app works seamlessly offline, allowing you to log a sighting the moment it happens, no matter how remote your location. When you're back in cell range, your report automatically syncs to the community map. Key Features: • Live Community Map: See pins of recent grizzly sightings reported by a community of outdoor enthusiasts and residents. Know what's happening in your area before you head out. • Instant Offline Recording: No signal? No problem. The app saves your sighting with precise GPS data and uploads it automatically once you regain service. • Simple & Fast Reporting: Quickly log the date, time, location, and an optional comment with just a few taps. • Essential Bear Safety Guide: Brush up on crucial safety protocols and learn how to be "Bear Aware" with our easy-to-access in-app guide. • Privacy-Focused Community: We use anonymous accounts to protect your identity while allowing you to contribute valuable information to keep the community safe.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: BearAware at 100% against USFS & BLM Campgrounds's 46%. BearAware also leads on price (Free vs $0.99) and rating (5.0 vs 4.5). USFS & BLM Campgrounds's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (4.3K vs 4). On update cadence 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
BearAware is free to download; USFS & BLM Campgrounds costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
BearAware holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: USFS & BLM Campgrounds has 4.3K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 46% of USFS & BLM Campgrounds's written reviews are positive against 100% of BearAware's.
USFS & BLM Campgrounds ships an update every 3 weeks, BearAware every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and September 27, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | USFS & BLM Campgrounds | BearAware |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.5 (4.3K ratings) | 5.0 (4 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 45.6% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 4.3K — better | 4 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 6 weeks |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Ad-supported — better |
| Best chart rank | #13 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 14 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Kyle Modesitt | Svetlana Morozov |
Customer experience
USFS & BLM Campgrounds
BearAware
Bugs and requests
USFS & BLM Campgrounds
Reported bugs
3 issues- Weather information not displaying correctly
- Campground locations sometimes inaccurate or outdated
- Filters not working as expected, missing relevant campsites
Requested features
5 requests- Add ability to view number of sites and amenities at each campground
- Integrate with state park systems for additional route planning
- Include more information on dispersed camping areas
- Add user-submitted photos and reviews for campsites
- Provide clearer indication of free vs. paid campsites
BearAware
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
USFS & BLM Campgrounds
No in-app purchases
BearAware
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is USFS & BLM Campgrounds free?
Is BearAware free?
Which has better reviews, USFS & BLM Campgrounds or BearAware?
Do USFS & BLM Campgrounds or BearAware have ads?
Which is updated more often, USFS & BLM Campgrounds or BearAware?
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