Topo Maps+ vs ArkenMap
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.
ArkenMap
This app transforms georeferenced PDF maps into interactive navigation tools. View your real-time location directly on imported maps, even offline. It's designed for privacy, keeping your data local.
- Import georeferenced PDF maps
- View real-time GPS location on map
- Offline map functionality
- Pan and zoom map gestures
- Local data storage for privacy
- Supports trail, forestry, and planning maps
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ArkenMap turns georeferenced PDF maps into something you can use outside: open the sheet full screen and see where you are on the map when you allow location access. What you can do Import PDF maps from Files or share sheets and keep them in a simple library on your device. Pan and zoom the PDF with familiar gestures. Show your position on the map when Location is enabled (while you’re using the app). Works with PDFs that include georeference / measure information (for example GeoPDF-style GPTS/LPTS metadata). Designed for real maps ArkenMap is built for georeferenced PDFs—trail maps, forestry or resource maps, planning PDFs, and other cartography exported with embedded coordinates. Privacy-minded Imported PDFs and your library are stored locally on your iPhone or iPad. The app is focused on on-device viewing and positioning, not on uploading your maps to our servers. Notes: Accuracy depends on your PDF georeferencing, device GPS, and coordinate system handling in the app. Some datum and projection differences can cause small shifts compared to survey-grade tools.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ratings volume: Topo Maps+ at 9.4K against ArkenMap's 2. Topo Maps+ also leads on review sentiment (62% vs 50%) and chart position (#68 vs unranked). ArkenMap's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). On price, ads, 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 ArkenMap sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
ArkenMap holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Topo Maps+ has 9.4K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 62% of Topo Maps+'s written reviews are positive against 50% of ArkenMap's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Topo Maps+ ships an update every 3 weeks, ArkenMap weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Topo Maps+ | ArkenMap |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (9.4K ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 62.0% of reviews — better | 50.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 9.4K — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #68 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Vision Pro — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 252 MB | 7 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Glacier Peak Studios LLC | ALEXANDER THOMAS ROBINSON |
Customer experience
Topo Maps+
ArkenMap
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
ArkenMap
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
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
ArkenMap
- Unlimited PDF Maps$3.99









