Detector Maps vs Talus Maps
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.
Talus Maps
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Know the Ground. Own the Hunt. Talus turns raw terrain into an advantage. Built for hunters and backcountry travelers who want to read the land before they ever leave the truck, Talus layers high-resolution LiDAR, the maps you actually hunt on, and immersive 3D — all fully offline when you're miles past cell service. SEE THE TERRAIN LIKE NEVER BEFORE Our bare-earth LiDAR engine renders the real shape of the land on your device: • Slope shading - spot benches, saddles, and bedding terrain at a glance • Hillshade & low-angle light - reveal subtle ridges and drainages • Sun & shadow modeling - see exactly where light falls at any date and time • Local Relief Mapping - pull out micro-terrain other maps flatten VIEWSHED LINE-OF-SIGHT ANALYSIS Drop a pin on a glassing knob, stand, or camp and Talus computes what you can actually see, a live visibility map out to ~2 miles, green for visible, red for blocked. Find the glassing points and shooting lanes before you climb. FIRST-PERSON 3D + AR Walk the country in immersive first-person 3D terrain with draped trails and named peaks. Then step outside and hold your phone up: AR mode labels the peaks and your pins right on the live camera view. THE OVERLAYS YOU HUNT ON • Hunting units / GMUs - filter by species and state • Public land - federal and state boundaries • Private land - parcel boundaries with landowner names (where available) so you know who owns the ground • Detailed water - creeks, springs, and lakes • Walking trails, contour lines, and current + historical wildfire perimeters Tap any feature for its details. Overlapping geometries each get their own tab. TRULY OFFLINE Download any area for base maps, your overlays, AND LiDAR terrain so slope, shadows, and 3D keep working with zero signal. Pick your resolution and go dark. EVERYTHING YOU EXPECT • Precise place search - peaks, towns, streams, and lakes, fully offline • Custom pins with notes, shareable links, and elevation + distance readouts • GPS track recording with multi-source barometric + LiDAR elevation • Pin-to-pin route building snapped to the trail and road network • Measure distance & area • Compass rangefinder to accurately place pins while glassing • 2D/3D terrain, satellite and topographic base maps, live elevation Talus is free to download and try. Talus Pro unlocks LiDAR visualizations, viewshed, first-person 3D, premium overlays, offline downloads, and place search. Know the ground before you're on the ground. Download Talus. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Talus Maps at none against Detector Maps's shown. Detector Maps's advantage is update cadence (every 6 days vs every 3 weeks) and chart position (#64 vs unranked). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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 Talus Maps sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Detector Maps ships an update every 6 days, Talus Maps every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Detector Maps | Talus Maps |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (265 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 73.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 265 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 6 days — better | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Subscription | — |
| Best chart rank | #64 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 — better | 16.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 115 MB | 199 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | GOLD DISCOVERY SOLUTIONS PTY LTD | Michael Halme |
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
Talus Maps
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
Talus Maps
- Talus Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
- Talus Pro Yearly$24.991 Year
Questions
Is Detector Maps free?
Is Talus Maps free?
Do Detector Maps or Talus Maps have ads?
Which is updated more often, Detector Maps or Talus Maps?
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