Comparison

Topo Maps+ vs Topo Maps US

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

Head to head
About

Topo Maps+

Plan and execute backcountry adventures with offline topographic maps and GPS navigation. Features include route building, waypoints, land boundaries, and on-trail tools. Integrates with Apple Watch and CarPlay for seamless outdoor exploration.

Highlights
  • Offline topographic maps
  • Smart route building
  • Waypoints and proximity alerts
  • Land boundary overlays
  • Track recording
  • Apple Watch and CarPlay integration
Features
Read full description

Designed and tested on real dirt, Topo Maps+ is packed with the maps & tools to plan and execute your backcountry adventure. ‣‣ MAPS FOR EVERY ACTIVITY ‣Setup your map based on your planned activity ‣‣ PLANNING TOOLS ‣ Compare and Download maps for use offline. ‣ Combine overlays to customize your map view ‣ Smart route-building tools ‣ Waypoints ‣ Print, email or share custom maps and routes ‣ Public, Private, and Hunting land boundaries ‣ Parcel Information ‣ Create teams and live-share members’ last known location ‣‣ ON-TRAIL TOOLS (Offline) ‣ View your current location ‣ All Maps and Overlays are downloadable ‣ Record your tracks - see where you’ve been ‣ Photo Waypoints - snap a pic and instantly shows on the map ‣ Progress on Trail - how much further on the trail ‣ Guide Me - to a waypoint ‣ Proximity Alerts - notify me when I’m close to a waypoint, trail, or region ‣ Line of Sight - what am I looking at? ‣ Downloaded elevation data for route-creation on the trail ‣‣ APPLE WATCH ‣ Integration with Apple HealthKit ‣Download maps directly to the watch ‣ Pan and zoom the map just like on the phone ‣ Drop a waypoint ‣ Record a track and see all of your stats ‣‣ CARPLAY ‣ Navigate to the trailhead ‣ Turn by Turn directions on USFS Roads ‣‣ NAVIGATIONAL MINDSET - helpful tips and tricks for keeping you safe in the backcountry! ‣‣ SUBSCRIPTION LEVELS: FREE level: view low resolution maps, record your tracks, and limited features Topo Maps+ Pro: high resolution maps, download maps, planning & on-trail tools, driving mode, import geospatial PDFs and TIFFS Topo Maps+ Elite: MapBox Satellite map, US public and private land overlays, parcel and ownership contact info, game management units. ‣‣ CLOUD Sync your routes, trips, subscriptions, and waypoints between all of your iOS and Mac devices. SUBSCRIPTION PAYMENT INFORMATION Topo Maps+ subscriptions will be charged to your Apple ID account at the confirmation of purchase and/or completion of free trial. Subscription automatically renews unless it is canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the free trial or current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage and cancel your subscriptions by going to your account settings on the App Store after purchase. Privacy Policy: https://topomaps.co/info/privacy Terms of Service: https://topomaps.co/info/tos Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life.

About

Topo Maps US

Access and download detailed topographic maps of the United States for offline use. Track your location, mark waypoints, and record your routes for outdoor activities. Navigate with direction arrows and measure distances on the map.

Highlights
  • Download US topographic maps
  • Offline map viewing
  • GPS location tracking
  • Add and import waypoints (flags)
  • Import and share GPX/LOC files
  • Record and share trails
  • Elevation profile charts
Features
Read full description

Download USGS topographic maps of the United States and use them offline, with no account and no subscription. Topo Maps US is built for people who go where cell service doesn't: hikers, backpackers, hunters, anglers, paddlers, mountain bikers, geocachers, and anyone who wants a real topographic map in their pocket. MAPS Choose from three USGS map layers: standard topographic, aerial imagery with a topographic overlay, or plain aerial imagery. OFFLINE Tap the map squares you want and download them before you leave. Downloaded maps work with no Internet connection and use no cell data in the field. TRAILS AND POINTS OF INTEREST BUILT IN Every map download includes the trails, summits, lakes, campsites, and other named places in that area from OpenStreetMap, so you can search them by name while you're offline. TRAIL RECORDING Record where you go. Recorded trails show your path on the map with distance, elapsed time, and average speed. Recording stops automatically when you start driving, and any drive at the start or end of a trail is trimmed off. ELEVATION PROFILES Every recorded or imported trail gets an elevation profile with distance labels and color-coded grade shading. Drag along the chart to see the matching point on the map, its elevation, and the time you passed it. FLAGS Mark your current location or any spot on the map. Flags record coordinates and elevation, and you can add notes and organize them by color: geocaches, trailheads, summits, camps, and so on. NAVIGATION Pick a flag and follow the direction arrow, driven by your compass heading, with the distance remaining. Handy for geocaching and for finding your way back to camp or the car. LOCATION See where you are on the map, your elevation, speed, and the accuracy of the GPS fix. MEASURE Trace a route on the map to measure its distance, then save it as a trail to follow later. IMPORT AND SHARE Import trails and waypoints from GPX files and geocache LOC files. Share your flags and trails by email, Messages, or AirDrop as standard GPX files that work with any GPS unit or mapping software. Back up your maps and data to a computer over Wi-Fi. Designed for iPhone and iPad. Note: Continued use of GPS in the background can noticeably reduce battery life.

Screenshots

Topo Maps+4 screens
Topo Maps US4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Topo Maps US at none against Topo Maps+'s 10. Topo Maps US also leads on review sentiment (88% vs 62%) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). Topo Maps+'s advantage is ratings volume (9.4K vs 215) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). On price, 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. Topo Maps+ sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per 3 months. Topo Maps US asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Topo Maps+ holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Topo Maps+ has 9.4K ratings behind it against 215, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 62% of Topo Maps+'s written reviews are positive against 88% of Topo Maps US's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Topo Maps+ ships an update fortnightly, Topo Maps US every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
Topo Maps+ versus Topo Maps US: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTopo Maps+Topo Maps US
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (9.4K ratings) — better4.4 (215 ratings)
Positive reviews62.1% of reviews87.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings9.4K — better215
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemium — betterPaid
Best chart rank#99 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Vision Pro — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS17.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size240 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGlacier Peak Studios LLCDC Cloud Apps, LLC

Customer experience

Topo Maps+

All ratings9,428 ratings
Positive95.8%
Neutral1.7%
Negative2.5%
Written reviews240 reviews
Positive62.1%
Neutral8.3%
Negative29.6%

Topo Maps US

All ratings213 ratings
Positive86.9%
Neutral1.4%
Negative11.7%
Written reviews80 reviews
Positive87.5%
Neutral2.5%
Negative10.0%

User reviews

Topo Maps+

From 9.4K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Accurate offline maps
  • 📍 Reliable GPS tracking
  • 🗺️ Variety of map options
  • 🔍 Detailed trail information
  • ⛰️ Useful for backcountry navigation

Room to improve

  • 🐢 Slow map downloads
  • 🤔 Confusing user interface
  • 🔒 Paywall for many features
  • 🗺️ Limited map coverage outside US
  • 🔋 High battery consumption

Topo Maps US

From 215 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Intuitive and simple user interface
  • 📱 Works completely offline with downloaded maps
  • 💰 Free app with no subscriptions or ads
  • 🗺️ High-quality USGS topographic maps
  • 📍 Accurate GPS location tracking

Room to improve

  • 🐛 White/gray blocks appearing on offline maps
  • 🔋 High battery drain during route recording
  • ❌ Limited color options for flags (only red)
  • ⚠️ Route recording stops unexpectedly
  • 🔍 No search functionality for trails/landmarks

Bugs and requests

Topo Maps+

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Crashes during map downloads
  • GPS tracking issues in certain areas
  • Waypoint data loss after app updates

Requested features

5 requests
  • Improved route planning tools
  • Ability to import/export user data
  • Enhanced offline map caching
  • More detailed map legends
  • Integration with other outdoor apps

Topo Maps US

Reported bugs

8 issues
  • White and gray blocks appearing on downloaded offline maps
  • Route recording stops unexpectedly mid-hike
  • High battery drain during route tracking
  • GPX file import issues in iOS 13+
  • Map display issues near borders
Show 3 more
  • Flags cluttering the view
  • Inconsistent zoom functionality
  • Route tracking drops without saving

Requested features

18 requests
  • Pause/resume tracking during hikes
  • Search feature for trails and landmarks
  • Apple Watch app support
  • CarPlay integration
  • Slope shading visualization
Show 13 more
  • Ability to select and download multiple tiles at once
  • Background map downloading
  • Map transfer between devices
  • iCloud backup for GPS tracks
  • Older USGS topographic map versions
  • Time stamps in GPX export for fitness tracking
  • Quadrangle identification display
  • Built-in compass with map orientation
  • Laptop map manager for easier updates
  • Community Q&A section
  • Multiple color options for waypoints
  • Auto-save feature for long recordings
  • Larger downloadable map areas

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Topo Maps+

Subscriptions5
  • Topo Maps+ Essentials 3 Months$14.993 Months
  • Topo Maps+ Pro: 3 Months$29.993 Months
  • Topo Maps+ Essentials$29.991 Year
Show 2 more
  • Topo Maps+ Pro7 Days trial$59.991 Year
  • Topo Maps+ Elite7 Days trial$79.991 Year
One-time5
  • 3 Month Map Pass$11.99
  • 6 Month Map Pass$14.99
  • 12 Month Map Pass$19.99
Show 2 more
  • 3 Months PRO$29.99
  • 12 Months PRO$59.99
None

Topo Maps US

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Topo Maps+ free?
Topo Maps+ is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Topo Maps US free?
Topo Maps US is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Topo Maps+ or Topo Maps US?
Topo Maps+ is rated higher. Topo Maps+ averages 4.7 out of 5 from 9.4K ratings, while Topo Maps US averages 4.4 from 215 ratings.
Do Topo Maps+ or Topo Maps US have ads?
Neither Topo Maps+ nor Topo Maps US shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Topo Maps+ or Topo Maps US?
Topo Maps+ ships an update fortnightly, and Topo Maps US every 2 months. Most recently, Topo Maps+ was updated on November 9, 2026 and Topo Maps US on November 2, 2026.

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