Comparison

Nav Camera vs PicNav

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Nav Camera

Capture photos and videos with integrated geo-location data overlays. Add custom notes and choose from various display options and formats. Ideal for professional documentation and field use.

Highlights
  • Geo-location data overlays (date, time, position, altitude, datum, bearing)
  • Customizable notes up to four lines
  • Movie recording with real-time overlay updates
  • Multiple reticle options
  • Colored lens filters
  • Support for various position formats (MGRS, UTM, etc.)
Read full description

Nav Camera uses the proven navigation, augmented reality, and image processing engines from the well known Theodolite app to create a new app that focuses on photogaphy and video recording with data overlays. The app has been crafted with attention to detail by a top iOS developer, and benefits from over 20 years of development and testing heritage, along with real world usage by surveyors, geologists, architects, engineers, competitive sportsmen, first responders, military personnel, and search and rescue workers around the world. Nav Camera supports portrait and landscape photo capture, and gives you the option to overlay date/time, geo data, street address, and four lines of custom notes on photos and videos. Nav Camera lets you take photographs and record movies in landscape and portrait orientations with geo-location overlays and custom notes. Geo-location overlays include date, time, position, altitude, GPS datum, and compass bearing. Overlay data is updated in every frame when recording movies, which is great for documenting dynamic scenes or scanning an area. You can enter up to four lines of custom notes to be rendered into the overlay, which is perfect for job descriptions, project names, company/staff information, invoice numbers, or additional comments/documentation. Various parts of the overlay can be turned on or off, and multiple overlay colors are available. Nav Camera includes features for serious users including multiple reticles (three types of crosshairs and an SLR-style focus/exposure indicator), colored lens filters to improve use in dark conditions and preserve night vision, and multiple position formats including military grid reference system (MGRS), universal transverse Mercator (UTM), British/Irish National Grids, and six latitude/longitude variations. The optional "Datum Pack" adds over 220 geodetic datums to the app for more accurate position and altitude computation from GPS data. Optional datums include NAD-27, NAD-83, OSGB-36, ED-50, and hundreds of others, covering regions and countries on all continents around the world. Find out why apps like Nav Camera and Theodolite, and their field-proven results, are featured in Apple Keynotes, written up in magazine articles and professional journals, and used by everyday explorers and pro users around the world. Where will you take Nav Camera on your next adventure? Nav Camera works on any iPhone or iPod Touch with camera, running iOS 11.4 or later. If you like Nav Camera, please leave a review/rating on the iTunes App Store. It only takes a moment, and helps us a lot. Thanks!

About

PicNav

Features
Read full description

Navigate Your World Through Photos Discover the power of location-based photo navigation with PicNav — the ultimate tool for outdoor enthusiasts, travelers, and anyone looking to explore the world through imagery. Whether you're aiming to mark your favorite fishing spots, track down the best places for mushroom foraging, or simply find and navigate to places captured in photographs, PicNav makes it simple and intuitive. Key Features: Photo-Based Location Saving: Snap a photo, and PicNav instantly saves the location. Revisit your spots or share them with friends with just a tap. Discover Natural Wonders: Ideal for outdoor aficionados, PicNav helps you find and record elusive natural spots like prime fishing areas and lush mushroom patches. Seamless Integration with Navigation Apps: Open saved locations in popular navigation apps like Google Maps, Waze, and more, ensuring you can easily navigate to any spot recorded in PicNav. Intuitive Interface: Designed for ease of use, navigate the app's features with minimal taps, making it accessible to everyone, regardless of tech-savvy. Multi-Platform Sync: Your saved locations sync across all your devices in real time, so your spots are always with you, on any device. For Adventurers and Explorers: PicNav is not just an app; it's your companion for adventure. It's perfect for: Hikers looking to map out trails with specific scenic points. Fishermen tracking their successful spots across different seasons. Foragers and nature enthusiasts wanting to record the richness of their finds. Travelers capturing the essence of their journeys through photos and exact locations. Get Started Easily: Download PicNav and create your account. Start snapping photos with your camera through the app or upload existing images. View and manage your saved locations on a sleek map interface. Open any location in your preferred navigation app to get directions instantly. Privacy and Permissions: Your privacy is our top priority. PicNav uses your camera and location data solely for saving and managing your locations. We never track your location in the background or share your data without your explicit permission. Ready to explore the world in a whole new way? Download PicNav now and start your journey through the lens of your camera!

Screenshots

Nav Camera4 screens
PicNav4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: PicNav at Free against Nav Camera's $3.99. Nav Camera's advantage is iOS requirement (15.6 vs 18.6). On update cadence, ads, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

PicNav is free to download; Nav Camera costs $3.99 up front. Nav Camera sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and PicNav sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Nav Camera ships an update every 12 months, PicNav every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Nav Camera versus PicNav: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNav CameraPicNav
Price$3.99Free — better
Rating4.0 (34 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews61.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings34 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 12 monthsEvery 9 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.6 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB17 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCraig HunterGinnyPix

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Nav Camera

One-time1
  • Datum Pack$2.99
2 purchases

PicNav

Subscriptions2
  • Premium Monthly$0.991 Month
  • Premium Yearly$1.991 Year

Questions

Is Nav Camera free?
Nav Camera costs $3.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is PicNav free?
PicNav is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Nav Camera or PicNav have ads?
Neither Nav Camera nor PicNav shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Nav Camera or PicNav?
Nav Camera ships an update every 12 months, and PicNav every 9 months. Most recently, Nav Camera was updated on September 23, 2026 and PicNav on September 18, 2026.

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