Comparison

Topo Reader vs OpenMaps

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

OpenMaps

Access detailed, open-source topographic maps for all your outdoor adventures. Plan hikes, discover trails, and navigate with confidence using community-driven data from OpenStreetMap.

Highlights
  • Detailed topographic maps
  • OpenStreetMap (OSM) data
  • Live tile mapping
  • Route planning
  • Community-driven data
  • Offline map access (implied by planning/navigation)
Features
Read full description

OpenMaps turns your iPhone, Apple Watch and Mac into a complete outdoor and marine navigation kit — powered by free, community-sourced OpenStreetMap data. OUTDOOR & MARINE IN ONE APP Switch between an Outdoor profile (hiking, trekking, mountain biking, trail running) and a Marine profile with OpenSeaMap nautical overlays — buoys, lighthouses, depths and harbours. One app for the trail and the water. WORKS WHERE THERE'S NO SIGNAL Topographic tiles are cached on device and can be pre-downloaded, so your map keeps working deep in the mountains or offshore where there's no connection. EVERYTHING YOU NEED OUTDOORS • 6 open-source topographic & nautical map styles • Draw routes tap-by-tap with live distance & elevation • Turn-by-turn directions with haptic guidance • Import and export Garmin FIT files, plus GPX • Find nearby POIs: refuges, water, peaks, marinas, fuel and more • Built-in tools: compass, altimeter, sunrise/sunset, coordinates • Live weather, wind and conditions for your location ON YOUR WRIST & ON YOUR DESK • Apple Watch app: record workouts with HealthKit, standalone map, Digital Crown zoom, Always-On mode and on-wrist route navigation • Watch complications & widgets: altimeter, nearest POI, live workout, weather • Mac app: menu bar access, Spotlight search and Quick Look map previews OPENMAPS PRO Remove all ads and support development. One subscription covers iPhone, Apple Watch and Mac. • Monthly — €1.99 / month • Yearly — €9.99 / year Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the period. Payment is charged to your Apple ID on confirmation. Manage or cancel anytime in iOS Settings → Apple ID → Subscriptions. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://privacypolicyhub.vercel.app/openmaps/en

Screenshots

Topo Reader4 screens
OpenMaps4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Topo Reader at 4.6 against OpenMaps's 3.9. Topo Reader also leads on review sentiment (50% vs 10%) and ads (none vs shown). OpenMaps's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription). On price, update cadence, 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

Both are free to download. Topo Reader sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and OpenMaps sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Topo Reader holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Topo Reader has 174 ratings behind it against 16, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Topo Reader's written reviews are positive against 10% of OpenMaps's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Topo Reader ships an update every 3 months, OpenMaps every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Topo Reader versus OpenMaps: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTopo ReaderOpenMaps
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (174 ratings) — better3.9 (16 ratings)
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews — better9.7% of reviews
Number of ratings174 — better16
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscriptionFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS14.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size29 MB21 MB
Age rating9++4
DeveloperDelcartes LLCImmaginet Srl

Customer experience

Topo Reader

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

OpenMaps

All ratings16 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews62 reviews
Positive9.7%
Neutral9.7%
Negative80.6%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Topo Reader

One-time3
  • 90 Day$2.99
  • 1 Year$5.99
  • Lifetime$23.99
2 purchases

OpenMaps

Subscriptions2
  • OpenMaps Pro Monthly$1.991 Month
  • Open Maps Pro Yearly Plan$8.991 Year

Questions

Is Topo Reader free?
Topo Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is OpenMaps free?
OpenMaps is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Topo Reader or OpenMaps?
Topo Reader is rated higher. Topo Reader averages 4.6 out of 5 from 174 ratings, while OpenMaps averages 3.9 from 16 ratings.
Do Topo Reader or OpenMaps have ads?
OpenMaps shows ads; Topo Reader does not.
Which is updated more often, Topo Reader or OpenMaps?
Topo Reader ships an update every 3 months, and OpenMaps every 2 months. Most recently, Topo Reader was updated on September 29, 2026 and OpenMaps on September 22, 2026.

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