ArcGIS Navigator vs Global Mapper Mobile
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ArcGIS Navigator
Navigate to your destinations with voice-guided, turn-by-turn directions and offline map access. This tool allows field teams to efficiently access and route on custom maps, view asset information, and manage daily work lists. It requires an ArcGIS account and Navigator license to function.
- Voice-guided turn-by-turn directions
- Offline navigation with local data
- Access custom Esri navigation maps
- Search assets and route on roads
- Vehicle-specific travel modes
- Manage daily work lists and stops
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ArcGIS is available on your desktop, in a browser, and now on your iPhone or iPad. Navigate to where you need to be, unlock efficiency, and improve your field workforce reliability. To use Navigator, you must have an ArcGIS account and a Navigator license. Key Features: - Use voice-guided turn-by-turn directions with automatic route recalculation. - Navigate completely offline with locally stored data (even in the background). - Access Esri's navigation maps or use your own maps—search your assets, route on your roads, and view your layers. - Follow shared routes. - Complete stops one at a time, or create a work list for an entire day's work. - View information about your assets. - Use vehicle-specific travel modes. - Receive stops from an email, your own app, or other ArcGIS apps such as Collector for ArcGIS. Note: Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life.
Global Mapper Mobile
This application allows users to view and collect GIS data in the field using their mobile device's GPS. It supports various data layers and offers tools for drawing, tracking, and form-based data collection, with advanced features available through an in-app purchase.
- Vector, raster, and terrain data display
- GPS location display and feature creation
- Drawing, tracking, and form-based data collection
- Image capture and Picture Point creation
- Advanced GPS support for GNSS devices
- RTK correction via NTRIP client
- Offline data access and custom online sources
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Bring your GIS workflow to the field. Global Mapper Mobile® is a powerful iOS application for viewing and collecting GIS data. It utilizes the GPS capabilities of mobile devices to provide situational awareness and locational intelligence for remote mapping projects. A perfect complement to the desktop version of Global Mapper, the mobile app provides maps-in-hand functionality for engineers, surveyors, wildlife managers, foresters, and anyone whose job requires access to spatial data in remote locations. Global Mapper Mobile can display vector, raster, and elevation data layers that have been transferred from the desktop version of the software. It also provides tools for drawing, tracking, and form-based data collection using pre-configured attributes and picklists. Global Mapper Mobile Base Version (Free) The base version of Global Mapper Mobile is free of charge and provides an array of features and functions, including: • Vector, raster, and terrain data display • GPS location display • Point, line, and polygon feature creation using GPS location • Editing of existing vector features • Capture of images in the field • Creation of Picture Points from geotagged images • Attribute and feature notation recording for new or existing vector features • Online access to Open Street Map data Global Mapper Mobile Pro The Pro version of Global Mapper Mobile, available as an in-app purchase, supplements the functionality of the base version with an array of professional-grade tools, including: • Advanced GPS support for connection to high-accuracy GNSS devices from vendors such as Bad Elf, EOS, Juniper, and others • RTK correction via built-in NTRIP client • GPS Averaging • Terrain shader and water level display options • Custom online source options and online data saving for offline use • Simultaneous feature creation • Viewshed creation • Volume calculation • Data reprojection • Address searching • Geopackage and GeoPDF format support Global Mapper Mobile Pro is available as an in-app purchase. The license is based on an annual subscription from the date of purchase that can be renewed each year. Note: Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life. Privacy Policy: https://www.bluemarblegeo.com/privacy-policy/ Terms of Use: https://www.bluemarblegeo.com/licensing-policy/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Global Mapper Mobile at 3.7 against ArcGIS Navigator's 2.7. Global Mapper Mobile also leads on update cadence (every 4 months vs every 13 months) and review sentiment (29% vs 17%). ArcGIS Navigator's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On price, ratings volume, ads 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
Both are free to download. Global Mapper Mobile sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $49.99 per year. ArcGIS Navigator asks for nothing beyond the download.
Global Mapper Mobile holds the better App Store score, 3.7 against 2.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 19 and 15 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 17% of ArcGIS Navigator's written reviews are positive against 29% of Global Mapper Mobile's.
ArcGIS Navigator ships an update every 13 months, Global Mapper Mobile every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ArcGIS Navigator | Global Mapper Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.7 (19 ratings) | 3.7 (15 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 16.7% of reviews | 28.6% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 19 — better | 15 |
| Update frequency | Every 13 months | Every 4 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 14.5 | 12.2 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 134 MB | 126 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | ESRI | Blue Marble Geographics |
Customer experience
ArcGIS Navigator
Global Mapper Mobile
In-app purchases
ArcGIS Navigator
No in-app purchases
Global Mapper Mobile
- Pro Module$49.991 Year
Questions
Is ArcGIS Navigator free?
Is Global Mapper Mobile free?
Which has better reviews, ArcGIS Navigator or Global Mapper Mobile?
Do ArcGIS Navigator or Global Mapper Mobile have ads?
Which is updated more often, ArcGIS Navigator or Global Mapper Mobile?
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