# Mapcha vs CalTopo

The clearest difference is update cadence: CalTopo at every 2 weeks against Mapcha's every 11 months. CalTopo also leads on ratings volume (7.6K vs 1) and chart position (#120 vs unranked). Mapcha's advantage is iOS requirement (8.0 vs 16.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Mapcha holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CalTopo has 7.6K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 50% of Mapcha's written reviews are positive against 56% of CalTopo's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Mapcha ships an update every 11 months, CalTopo every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Mapcha | CalTopo |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mapcha/id956671318/reviews)** | [4.8 (7.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/caltopo-backcountry-mapping/id1460038458/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **7.6K** |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | **56.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 11 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | — | **#120** |
| Size | 31 MB | 165 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Marc Baldwin](https://appshunter.io/developer/640084769) | [CalTopo LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1460038457) |

## What reviewers say

### Mapcha

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mapcha/id956671318)

Overlay your paper maps onto your device's screen to see your current location, even offline. Simply calibrate by matching points on your paper map to digital maps.

**Highlights:** Overlay paper maps on digital maps, See current location on paper maps, Offline map usage, Calibrate maps using known points, Use device camera or photo library

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### CalTopo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/caltopo-backcountry-mapping/id1460038458)

**Currently charting:** #120 Top Free · Navigation (US App Store)

Plan and navigate off-grid adventures with detailed offline maps and real-time weather forecasts. Trusted by professionals, this app offers seamless syncing and collaborative planning for backcountry pursuits.

**Highlights:** Offline map downloads, Satellite imagery, Route planning, GPS tracking, Weather forecasting, Collaborative map sharing, Slope angle shading

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Powerful mapping features
- 💡 Extensive data layers
- 👍 Detailed trail and terrain information
- 👍 Useful for SAR operations
- 👍 Great for planning outdoor adventures

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and unstable mobile app
- 🐛 Maps not always loading properly
- 🐛 Slow map rendering
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 👎 Difficult to use for casual users

**Reported bugs**

- Trails and tracks disappearing
- Coordinate display issues
- Frequent app crashes and freezes
- Incompatibility with older devices

**Requested features**

- Add 3D map view
- Implement route snapping to trails
- Improve offline map download capabilities
- Add photo geotagging functionality
- Implement course-up map orientation


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Mapcha free?

Mapcha is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is CalTopo free?

CalTopo is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Mapcha or CalTopo?

Mapcha is rated higher. Mapcha averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while CalTopo averages 4.8 from 7.6K ratings.

### Do Mapcha or CalTopo have ads?

Neither Mapcha nor CalTopo shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Mapcha or CalTopo?

Mapcha ships an update every 11 months, and CalTopo every 2 weeks. Most recently, Mapcha was updated on November 1, 2026 and CalTopo on November 6, 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.*