# ArcGIS Survey123 vs Markham Communicator

ArcGIS Survey123 and Markham Communicator both sit at 2.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 60% of Markham Communicator's written reviews are positive against 12% of ArcGIS Survey123's. Markham Communicator also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). ArcGIS Survey123's advantage is ratings volume (220 vs 15) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.6). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 2.8 for ArcGIS Survey123 against 2.7 for Markham Communicator. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ArcGIS Survey123 has 220 ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 12% of ArcGIS Survey123's written reviews are positive against 60% of Markham Communicator's.

ArcGIS Survey123 ships an update every 2 months, Markham Communicator fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ArcGIS Survey123 | Markham Communicator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[2.8 (220 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcgis-survey123/id993015031/reviews)** | [2.7 (15 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/markham-communicator/id1057362824/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **220** | 15 |
| Positive reviews | 12.1% of reviews | **60.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 221 MB | 22 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 18.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ESRI](https://appshunter.io/developer/379687933) | [Markham College](https://appshunter.io/developer/1011242612) |

## What reviewers say

### ArcGIS Survey123

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcgis-survey123/id993015031)

Capture precise, location-aware data in the field using smart forms, even offline. Seamlessly sync collected information with your ArcGIS platform for real-time analysis and decision-making. Ideal for public feedback, inspections, and documenting field conditions.

**Highlights:** Smart forms for data collection, Offline data capture and syncing, Location-aware data with GPS, Support for various question types, Photo and audio attachments, Data validation and skip logic, Integration with ArcGIS platform

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Offline map viewing capability
- 🌍 Easy translation support
- 📝 Solid core functionality for data collection
- 🎨 Customizable forms when designed well
- 📱 Works well on iPad with proper configuration

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔋 Severe battery drain from continuous location tracking
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and app freezes
- ⏱️ Significant lag and slow performance
- 🔐 Authentication and login issues
- 📸 Photo attachment failures and glitches

**Reported bugs**

- Continuous location services polling even when app is closed
- iPhone 17 photo capture causes complete app crash
- Keyboard hangs during form data entry
- App crashes on login attempts
- Submit checkbox occluded by keyboard

**Requested features**

- Edit sent survey data capability
- Multiple photo selection from library
- Magic keyboard trackpad support for iPad
- Previous answers dropdown for repeated data entry
- Desktop/web-based survey completion


### Markham Communicator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/markham-communicator/id1057362824)

This app provides parents and students with access to academic information. View grades, homework, schedules, and attendance records. Requires a student or parent account.

**Highlights:** Receive notifications, Access grades, View homework, Check schedules, Monitor attendance

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ArcGIS Survey123 free?

ArcGIS Survey123 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Markham Communicator free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ArcGIS Survey123 or Markham Communicator?

ArcGIS Survey123 is rated higher. ArcGIS Survey123 averages 2.8 out of 5 from 220 ratings, while Markham Communicator averages 2.7 from 15 ratings.

### Do ArcGIS Survey123 or Markham Communicator have ads?

Neither ArcGIS Survey123 nor Markham Communicator shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ArcGIS Survey123 or Markham Communicator?

ArcGIS Survey123 ships an update every 2 months, and Markham Communicator fortnightly. Most recently, ArcGIS Survey123 was updated on November 4, 2026 and Markham Communicator on November 2, 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.*