Detector Maps vs Canada Prospector
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.
Canada Prospector
This app provides detailed mapping for mineral exploration in Nova Scotia, displaying live mining claim boundaries, historical data, and geological information. It offers free features like claim expiry status and data layers, with Pro unlocks for advanced analysis and tracking.
- Live mining claim boundaries with expiry status
- 23+ data layers (geology, geochemistry, geophysics)
- Save points of interest and notes
- Offline field mode for data access
- Claim assessment and prospectivity scoring
- Assessment work tracking and PDF export
- Expiry alerts and notifications
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Canada Prospector is a native mapping app built specifically for gold prospecting and mineral exploration — covering Nova Scotia, Ontario, and British Columbia. See mining claim boundaries colour-coded by expiry, browse mineral occurrences and drill hole records, and explore bedrock geology, fault lines, and geochemistry — all on one fast, easy-to-use map. FREE FEATURES: Claim boundaries for all three provinces, refreshed nightly and colour-coded by expiry (active, expiring within a year, expiring within 90 days) More than 40 data layers across the three provinces, spanning geology, geochemistry, geophysics, and historic mining Save up to 3 favourites and 3 field notes (unlimited with Pro) Satellite imagery and detailed records one tap away DATA LAYERS: Every province — Claims, Staking Grid, Mineral Occurrences, Mines, Drill Holes, Bedrock Formations, Surficial Geology, Faults, Water & Streams Nova Scotia — Available Staking Ground, Abandoned Mines, Ice Flow, Gold Geochemistry, Historic Mining Areas, Mine Tailings, Coal Seams & Workings, Anticlines, Restricted & Protected Areas, Crown Land, Property Parcels, Oak Island Treasure Licence, Aeromagnetics, Radiometrics, Gravity, VLF-EM Ontario — Available Staking Ground, Abandoned Mines, Geochemistry, Iron Formations, Dikes, Gold Mines & Deposits, Mine Workings, Exploration Permits, Patents & Leases, Withdrawn Lands, Crown Land Use, Protected Areas British Columbia — MINFILE Producing & Past-Producing Mines, Regional Geochemistry, Assessment Reports, Work Permits, Mineral Reserves, Crown Granted Claims, Protected Areas PRO UNLOCKS: Pro Map Layers — Expired Claims, LiDAR Hillshade with coverage outlines, the prospecting heatmap, and terrain hillshade, contours and 3D Claim Assessment — multi-layer prospectivity scoring for any claim in one tap Assessment Work Tracker — Nova Scotia Form 10/11 PDFs, Ontario cost summaries with receipt photos, BC Statement of Work summaries Prospecting Targets — ranked locations where multiple data sources agree, with commodity filtering and an open-ground check (Nova Scotia and Ontario) Staking Calculator — select cells for a live fee and area total, with registry-ready output like NovaROC Tract Descriptions Faribault 1898–1919 Survey (Nova Scotia) — exclusive digitised shafts, veins, faults, and anticlines Claim Watch & Notifications — expiry reminders at 90, 30, 7, and 1 day, plus an alert if a watched claim leaves the registry early Open Ground Alerts — watch an area and get notified when claims there lapse, with a ledger of exactly which parcels opened Expiring Claims — province-wide expiry list, recently released ground, and your watchlist in one view Staking History — the chain of title for a cell, where the province publishes it What Is Here — tap anywhere for nearby occurrences, geochemistry, drill holes, and mines Near Me Search — occurrences, mines, drill holes, and more within a chosen radius of your GPS Export to KML, GeoJSON, or CSV for Google Earth and GIS tools Offline Field Mode — search and downloadable province data packs work with no connection, plus downloadable LiDAR areas (geophysics streams live tiles) Unlimited saves and field notes with photos — no cap on favourites or pins Built by a Nova Scotian prospector — whether you're staking your first claim or doing desktop research before a field trip, from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Data is drawn from each province's public registry and open geoscience data. Canada Prospector is independent — not affiliated with or endorsed by any government, and nothing in it is legal advice. Canada Prospector Pro is an auto-renewing subscription: $8.99/month or $79.99/year. Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase and renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the period ends. Manage or cancel in your App Store account settings. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Canada Prospector at none against Detector Maps's 4. Canada Prospector also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (100% vs 73%). Detector Maps's advantage is update cadence (every 6 days vs every 3 months) and chart position (#85 vs unranked). On price 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. Canada Prospector asks for nothing beyond the download.
Detector Maps ships an update every 6 days, Canada Prospector every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Detector Maps | Canada Prospector |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (254 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 73.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 254 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 6 days — better | Every 3 months |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Subscription | Freemium — better |
| Best chart rank | #85 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 115 MB | 109 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | GOLD DISCOVERY SOLUTIONS PTY LTD | Nigel Brown |
Customer experience
Detector Maps
Canada Prospector
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
Canada Prospector
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
Canada Prospector
No in-app purchases









