Topo Maps+ vs AR AlpineGuide
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Offline topographic maps
- Smart route building
- Waypoints and proximity alerts
- Land boundary overlays
- Track recording
- Apple Watch and CarPlay integration
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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.
AR AlpineGuide
Identify mountains in real-time by pointing your device. See names, altitudes, and distances of over a million peaks worldwide in an augmented reality view. Explore 3D terrain and share your discoveries.
- Identify 1M peaks worldwide
- Augmented reality peak naming
- 3D terrain visualization
- View from any map location
- Photo sharing
- Adjustable peak name display
- Import photos for labeling
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Point your iOS device at the mountain and you'll see the name, altitude, and distance of the mountaintop. You can identify the names of all the mountain peaks in the 360-degree panoramic AR view. All features are free to use. Thanks to your support, we have reached 2.5 million downloads across all platforms, both domestic and international. Features - It has data from nearly one million peaks around the world. - It uses three-dimensional coordinates and a gyroscope to display the name at the peak, even if you tilt the camera. The display makes it easy to check. - The three-dimensional terrain is displayed semi-transparently, so it is easy to compare it with the actual shape of the mountain and check the location of the peak. - When you point your iOS device downward, the view switches to a 3D view looking down from the sky. - You can check the names of the terrain and mountains that can be seen from any location specified on the map. - You can take a photo with the name of the peak and share it via SNS or email. - Swiping the AR display up, down, left, or right allows you to adjust the position of the peak name display. - It is possible to adjust the position of the peak name display after the picture is taken. - You can import photos taken with another app and add the peak name. ※ If the direction is not correct (e.g. it always shows North), if your iOS device has a cover on it If there is a sensor in the case, please remove it. The metal or magnet on the cover may interfere with the sensor and cause it to malfunction. Terms of Service https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Topo Maps+ at none against AR AlpineGuide's shown. Topo Maps+ also leads on review sentiment (62% vs 42%) and ratings volume (9.4K vs 790). AR AlpineGuide's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model 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 Maps+ sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per 3 months and AR AlpineGuide sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Topo Maps+ holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Topo Maps+ has 9.4K ratings behind it against 790, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 62% of Topo Maps+'s written reviews are positive against 42% of AR AlpineGuide's.
Topo Maps+ ships an update every 3 weeks, AR AlpineGuide weekly. Both last shipped on October 26, 2026.
| Parameter | Topo Maps+ | AR AlpineGuide |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (9.4K ratings) — better | 4.6 (790 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 62.2% of reviews — better | 42.4% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 9.4K — better | 790 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #64 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Vision Pro — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 16.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 252 MB | 171 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Glacier Peak Studios LLC | にゃんこソフトウェア |
Customer experience
Topo Maps+
AR AlpineGuide
User reviews
Topo Maps+
From 9.4K App Store ratingsWhat 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
AR AlpineGuide
From 790 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Useful app
- 🚀 Works almost everywhere
- 💡 Provides information about mountains, sun, and moon
- 👍 Excellent app
- 👍 Very good app, works well
Room to improve
- 🐛 Buggy, not functioning properly
- 🐛 Inaccurate mountain identification
- 🐛 Difficult to use, not intuitive
- 🐛 Orientation issues, compass not calibrated
- 🐛 Disappearing peak names after updates
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
AR AlpineGuide
Reported bugs
4 issues- App not launching after updates
- Constant pop-up notifications
- Camera view not working, only black screen
- Compass spinning uncontrollably
Requested features
3 requests- Allow selecting elevation range to display
- Add ability to download/save images locally
- Improve language support and translations
In-app purchases
Topo Maps+
- Topo Maps+ Essentials 3 Months$14.993 Months
- Topo Maps+ Pro: 3 Months$29.993 Months
- Topo Maps+ Essentials$29.991 Year
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- Topo Maps+ Elite: 3 Months$39.993 Months
- Topo Maps+ Pro7 Days trial$59.991 Year
- Topo Maps+ Elite7 Days trial$79.991 Year
- 3 Month Map Pass$11.99
- 6 Month Map Pass$14.99
- 12 Month Map Pass$19.99
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- 3 Months PRO$29.99
- 12 Months PRO$59.99
AR AlpineGuide
- Ad-Free$0.991 Month
- Ad-Free$1.992 Months
- Ad-Free7 Days trial$3.991 Year
Show 2 moreShow fewer
- Ad-Free$5.991 Year
- Ad-Free7 Days trial$5.991 Month
- AdFree (Forever)$14.99









