# Topo Reader vs LiveTopo

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Topo Reader at 50% against LiveTopo's 0%. Topo Reader also leads on rating (4.6 vs 3.5) and ratings volume (174 vs 10). LiveTopo's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Topo Reader sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and LiveTopo sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Topo Reader holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Topo Reader has 174 ratings behind it against 10, 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 0% of LiveTopo's.

Topo Reader ships an update every 3 months, LiveTopo every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and June 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Topo Reader | LiveTopo |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (174 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/topo-reader/id940309979/reviews)** | [3.5 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/livetopo/id1521874998/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **174** | 10 |
| Positive reviews | **50.0% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 29 MB | 46 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Delcartes LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/909846659) | [TerraTrace Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/1321132077) |

## What reviewers say

### Topo Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/topo-reader/id940309979)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 90 Day | $2.99 | one-time |
| 1 Year | $5.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime | $23.99 | one-time |


### LiveTopo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/livetopo/id1521874998)

Access detailed topographic and geologic maps for exploration and understanding the natural world. Save locations and tracks for free, with offline map access for US public lands available via subscription.

**Highlights:** Topographic and geologic map access, Save favorite locations and tracks, Real-time hiking metrics (pace, distance, altitude), Offline maps for US public lands, Detailed geological information, Free trial for subscription features

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| LiveTopo Monthly | $0.99 | per month |
| LiveTopo Yearly | $9.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Topo Reader free?

Topo Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is LiveTopo free?

LiveTopo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Topo Reader or LiveTopo?

Topo Reader is rated higher. Topo Reader averages 4.6 out of 5 from 174 ratings, while LiveTopo averages 3.5 from 10 ratings.

### Do Topo Reader or LiveTopo have ads?

Neither Topo Reader nor LiveTopo shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Topo Reader or LiveTopo?

Topo Reader ships an update every 3 months, and LiveTopo every 2 weeks. Most recently, Topo Reader was updated on September 29, 2026 and LiveTopo on June 4, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*