Detector Maps vs Digly
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Detector Maps
This app provides advanced geological data and GPS tools for gold prospecting in Australia, the US, and New Zealand. It offers offline map access, breadcrumb tracking, and waypoint marking to help users explore efficiently and locate potential gold-bearing areas.
- Advanced geological and gold-focused data
- Offline map and data layer downloads
- Breadcrumb trail tracking (background GPS)
- Waypoint marking with field notes
- Real-time GPS navigation
- Historic gold mines and workings layers
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Detector Maps is the field tool that keeps you on the gold - and on the relics. Built by geologists for prospectors, relic hunters and metal detectorists across the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, it pairs geological data and historical maps with rock-solid GPS so you spend your time on high-potential ground, not guessing. Whether you are swinging a detector for gold nuggets, coin shooting an old homestead, hunting Civil War relics or panning a creek, it puts serious research intelligence in your pocket - and it works offline, where the finds actually are. COIN & RELIC HUNTING - NATIONWIDE Research old towns, ghost towns, homesteads, schoolhouses and long-forgotten gathering places - the ground where old coins, buttons, buckles and relics are still waiting. - Historical map overlays: hunt the buildings, roads and fields the modern map forgot - Historic USGS Topo maps, coast to coast - LiDAR that reveals cellar holes, old roads and house sites hiding under the trees - Plan permissions with confidence before you knock GOLD PROSPECTING - 15 STATES Serious geology for nugget hunting, from California to the Carolinas. Detect where gold has already been found, then find what the old-timers missed. - Historic gold mines, diggings and workings - proven gold ground - Surface geochemistry with pathfinder-element filtering - Current and expired mining claims, updated every weekday - 1-metre LiDAR hillshade that reveals old workings worth a closer swing DETECTOR ACADEMY A built-in crash course: 34 short video lessons, most under a minute - layers, LiDAR, waypoints, trails, offline maps and Pro tools. DETECTOR GRIDS Plan complete, methodical coverage of a site with adjustable search lanes you follow while recording your trail - never grid the same ground twice. BREADCRUMB TRAIL TRACKING (BACKGROUND GPS) Record your exact trail even with the app in the background or the screen off. See where you have walked and save paths for the next trip. WHY WE REQUEST "ALLOW ALL THE TIME" LOCATION ACCESS Detector Maps only uses background location when you switch breadcrumb tracking ON, keeping an unbroken log while your phone is idle. Disable it anytime in the app or device settings. WAYPOINT MARKING AND FIND LOGGING Drop waypoints on coins, relics, gold finds and old workings. Add names, notes and photos, then sync securely between your phone and the web app so your finds are never lost. REAL-TIME GPS NAVIGATION Watch boundaries, geology, historical maps and terrain update around you as you move - a GPS built for prospecting, coin shooting and relic hunting. COVERAGE USA COIN & RELIC: Nationwide USA GOLD: CA, AL, NC, AZ, NV, ID, OR, UT, CO, MT, WA, SC, VA, GA, NM AUSTRALIA: QLD, NSW, VIC, WA, SA, TAS, NT NEW ZEALAND: historic goldfields, geology and offline maps CANADA: British Columbia SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION All plans include every map, standard data layers, offline downloads, and access to Australia, USA, New Zealand, Canada (BC) and the UK. USA Pricing - Explorer Monthly: $7.99 USD; Explorer Yearly: $59.99; Pro Monthly: $11.99 USD; Pro Yearly: $99.99 USD. Payment is charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel anytime in your App Store account settings. Pricing may vary by region. PRIVACY AND DATA Your location, trails and waypoints are used only for core app functionality. Delete your account anytime: Profile > Delete Account > type "confirm" > tap Delete. Privacy Policy: https://app.detectormaps.com/privacy-policy Terms of Use (EULA): https://app.detectormaps.com/license-agreement Whether you swing a GPX 6000, an Equinox, a Manticore, a Deus or a Gold Monster - or a sluice or a pan - Detector Maps helps you cover more ground, log your best finds, and read productive terrain like a professional.
Digly
This app helps metal detectorists log and map their discoveries. Record GPS coordinates, depth, and photos of each find, and track your search routes on a map. It offers customizable categories, weather data, and export options for your findings.
- Log finds with GPS, depth, and photos
- Track search routes on a map
- Customizable find categories
- View weather data
- Export data as PDF or CSV
- Real-time group searching (Pro)
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Digly is a simple and reliable metal detecting companion for logging and tracking your finds in the field. Keep track of exactly where you made your discoveries. With Digly, you can pin every find with GPS, record depth and photos, and see your entire detecting route on a map. FEATURES: - LOG FINDS: Save exact GPS coordinates, depth, category, photos, and notes. - ROUTE LOGGING: Track your movement during a session to see exactly where you have searched. - VDI / TARGET ID: Get instant guidance on what a signal might be, tailored to your detector. - CATEGORIES: Fully customisable — create your own, and choose which ones are visible or hidden. - MAP OPTIONS: View your finds and routes on standard or topographic map layers. - WEATHER DATA: Automatically show weather conditions for your location. - EXPORT DATA: Create PDF reports or export your data as CSV and ZIP backups. - PRIVACY: No accounts, no tracking. Your data stays on your device — or sync privately via iCloud (Pro). DIGLY PRO: - GROUP DIG: Search together in real time with up to 10 participants. Share locations, log finds, and coordinate your search — live. - ICLOUD SYNC: Your finds, photos, and sessions backed up and synced across all your devices. - DETECTING CONDITIONS: Soil conductivity, radar chart, and estimated detection depth based on your coil size. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is monetization model: Digly at freemium against Detector Maps's subscription. Digly also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (83% vs 74%). Detector Maps's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 4.2) and ratings volume (248 vs 6). On price, in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Detector Maps sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month and Digly sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Detector Maps holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Detector Maps has 248 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 74% of Detector Maps's written reviews are positive against 83% of Digly's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Detector Maps ships an update every 6 days, Digly every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Detector Maps | Digly |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (248 ratings) — better | 4.2 (6 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 73.6% of reviews | 83.3% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 248 — better | 6 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 days — better | Every 2 weeks |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Subscription | Freemium — better |
| Best chart rank | #121 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 — better | 17.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 140 MB | 15 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | GOLD DISCOVERY SOLUTIONS PTY LTD | METTE HAUGEN |
Customer experience
Detector Maps
Digly
Bugs and requests
Detector Maps
Reported bugs
2 issues- Issues with subscription and login
- LiDAR not working in certain areas
Requested features
2 requests- Expand coverage to more areas
- Improve data accuracy and consistency
Digly
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Detector Maps
- Monthly Explorer Plan$7.991 Month
- Monthly Plan$11.991 Month
- Yearly Explorer Plan7 Days trial$59.991 Year
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- Yearly Plan7 Days trial$99.991 Year
Digly
- Digly Pro Monthly$2.991 Month
- Digly Pro Yearly$19.991 Year








