Comparison

Topo Reader vs Topo Maps US

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

Head to head
About

Topo Reader

Access and use detailed USGS topographical maps offline, even historical versions. Import your own geospatial PDF maps for navigation, route planning, and distance measurement. Ideal for outdoor adventures and geographical exploration.

Highlights
  • Download USGS topographical maps offline
  • Import geospatial PDF maps
  • Offline GPS usage on downloaded maps
  • Dual mode ruler for distance measurement
  • Route creation and GPS track recording
  • Augmented Reality waypoints
Features
Read full description

Download all available USGS topographic maps and import Geospatial PDF maps for off-line use at full undistorted resolution. Topo Reader is designed for road trips, camping, hiking, exploration and geographical history. Map images are accurately center aligned regardless of datum and placed on top of Apple's map kit for easy referencing and intuitive touch navigation. This software utilizes the latest capabilities of IOS with a fast start up, map rotating, unbeatable full detail resolution. Map downloads dispatch in the background so you can continue using the app. Topo Reader can install for use 422,664 U.S. Geological Survey current and historical topographical maps describing the topography of every region and island territories of the United States of America. Historical versions date as far back as year 1879. Install a map quad by pressing and holding a point on the reference map and discover the maps available at that location and the unique names given to every quad by the cartographers. Import geospatial PDF maps from the web, AirDrop, Finder, iTunes and email. Even at trailheads there are QRCode for maps that copy and install onto this app! Local and national park services offer PDF maps from their web sites. Even aeronautical sectional maps with embedded geospatial metadata that you can download in installed into Topo Reader. Easy see all your installed maps by zooming out and they all become a colorful violet and partially transparent so you can spot your map. Installed maps are managed in a table format which can be sorted by name, distance, and scale. Multiple versions of the same map can be stacked on top of one another and made visible or hidden using two finger swipes. Planning a hike somewhere and want to know the distance of your jaunt. Download the map and use the dual mode ruler to measure the path distance. Select the create Route option and draw and record your planned route. Purchase a subscription for unlimited map downloading. A subscription stops ads and doesn't auto-renew. The first few map download are complementary.‡ Features: • No need for cellular service to use • Use the GPS on downloaded topo maps while offline* • Dual mode ruler with orthographic line and path measuring • Waypoints with Augmented Reality finder • Routes path creation • Tracks/bread-crumb GPS location recording* • Full app usability while maps download in the background • Displays footprint grid and quad names • Aligns map datums to WGS84 (GPS) coordinates • Dynamic map stitching • Cropping of map margins for one big map grid • Automatic USGS topographic map download for your current location • Uses GPS location service to identify your location on a topo map* • Miles, Feet, Kilometers, Meters, Nautical Miles units • MGRS, UTM, and geodetic latitude and longitude coordinates • Import geospatial PDF maps downloaded from the USGS and other sources in zip or regular file formats • Enter coordinates in decimal, minutes and second formats • Map rotation and orients map to follow your heading • Imports GPX file formats waypoints • Email, AirDrop and SMS text waypoints, tracks and routes as GPX files (one subscription purchase required to permanently enable). Not currently supported: Geo TIFF; OCG layer selection used in current USTopo USGS maps. Not all geospatial metadata formats and datums are supported for imported PDF maps. Limited KML features supported. * Not preloaded with maps. WiFi recommended. Downloading queue does cap at around 36 maps. ** Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life. Location feature may not function on iPod and wifi-only iPad devices without GPS hardware. ‡ After a subscription period expires, advertisement may resume from usage of the import features.

About

Topo Maps US

Access and download detailed topographic maps of the United States for offline use. Track your location, mark waypoints, and record your routes for outdoor activities. Navigate with direction arrows and measure distances on the map.

Highlights
  • Download US topographic maps
  • Offline map viewing
  • GPS location tracking
  • Add and import waypoints (flags)
  • Import and share GPX/LOC files
  • Record and share trails
  • Elevation profile charts
Features
Read full description

Download and view topographic maps covering the United States. Topographic maps are useful for recreational activities such as hiking, canoeing, camping, fishing, mountain biking, geocaching, and exploring. MAPS Choose from 2 map sources: USGS standard topographic or USGS hybrid topographic. OFFLINE Download maps for areas of interest to view them later when you don't have Internet access or you don't want to use cell data. TRACKING Use location tracking to show where you are on the map, your elevation, and the accuracy of the GPS signal. FLAGS Flags are included with map downloads. Add flags (waypoints) to the map to mark your current location or other locations. Import flags from other sources using GPX files and geocache LOC files. Share flags with others using email or AirDrop. Organize your flag types by color, for example, geocaches, trailheads, and summits. TRAILS Trails are included with map downloads. Import trails (tracks) using GPX files you find on the Internet or from your personal GPS track collection. Share trails with others using email or AirDrop. Organize your trail types by color, for example, mountain bike trails, hiking trails, and OHV trails. TRAIL RECORDING Record your own trails to show where you've been on the map, follow them later, and share with others. ELEVATION PROFILE Recorded trails include an elevation profile (distance/elevation chart). NAVIGATION Navigate to a flag by following the direction arrow that uses your compass heading. Useful for geocaching. MEASURE Measure the distance between points on the map. Note: Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life.

Screenshots

Topo Reader4 screens
Topo Maps US3 screens

Verdict

The call

Topo Reader and Topo Maps US both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 88% of Topo Maps US's written reviews are positive against 50% of Topo Reader's. Topo Maps US also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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

Both are free to download. Topo Reader sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Topo Maps US asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Topo Reader holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 174 and 211 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 50% of Topo Reader's written reviews are positive against 88% of Topo Maps US's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Topo Reader ships an update every 3 months, Topo Maps US every 2 months. Both last shipped on September 29, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Topo Reader versus Topo Maps US: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTopo ReaderTopo Maps US
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (174 ratings) — better4.4 (211 ratings)
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews87.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings174211 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationSubscriptionPaid — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS14.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size29 MB5 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperDelcartes LLCDC Cloud Apps, LLC

Customer experience

Topo Reader

All ratings174 ratings
Positive90.2%
Neutral4.6%
Negative5.2%
Written reviews14 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral14.3%
Negative35.7%

Topo Maps US

All ratings211 ratings
Positive86.7%
Neutral1.4%
Negative11.8%
Written reviews80 reviews
Positive87.5%
Neutral2.5%
Negative10.0%

Bugs and requests

Topo Reader

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Topo Maps US

Reported bugs

8 issues
  • White and gray blocks appearing on downloaded offline maps
  • Route recording stops unexpectedly mid-hike
  • High battery drain during route tracking
  • GPX file import issues in iOS 13+
  • Map display issues near borders
Show 3 more
  • Flags cluttering the view
  • Inconsistent zoom functionality
  • Route tracking drops without saving

Requested features

18 requests
  • Pause/resume tracking during hikes
  • Search feature for trails and landmarks
  • Apple Watch app support
  • CarPlay integration
  • Slope shading visualization
Show 13 more
  • Ability to select and download multiple tiles at once
  • Background map downloading
  • Map transfer between devices
  • iCloud backup for GPS tracks
  • Older USGS topographic map versions
  • Time stamps in GPX export for fitness tracking
  • Quadrangle identification display
  • Built-in compass with map orientation
  • Laptop map manager for easier updates
  • Community Q&A section
  • Multiple color options for waypoints
  • Auto-save feature for long recordings
  • Larger downloadable map areas

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Topo Reader

One-time3
  • 90 Day$2.99
  • 1 Year$5.99
  • Lifetime$23.99
None

Topo Maps US

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Topo Reader free?
Topo Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Topo Maps US free?
Topo Maps US is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Topo Reader or Topo Maps US?
Topo Reader is rated higher. Topo Reader averages 4.6 out of 5 from 174 ratings, while Topo Maps US averages 4.4 from 211 ratings.
Do Topo Reader or Topo Maps US have ads?
Neither Topo Reader nor Topo Maps US shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Topo Reader or Topo Maps US?
Topo Reader ships an update every 3 months, and Topo Maps US every 2 months. Most recently, Topo Reader was updated on September 29, 2026 and Topo Maps US on September 29, 2026.

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