Avenza Maps review

Avenza Maps solves a narrow problem well: putting a GPS dot on a real paper-style map. The free app opens a large Map Store with content from National Geographic, the National Park Service, the US Forest Service, USGS, NOAA and BLM, many of them free, and every map works offline once downloaded. It shows your real-time position and direction, records GPS tracks, measures distances and lets you drop placemarks with photos and notes, with KML, GPX and CSV support. You can also import your own geospatial PDF, GeoPDF and GeoTIFF maps, such as a park handout. Avenza Maps Plus, $34.99 a year on the US App Store, raises custom imports to 20 and adds geofences, and Pro at $169.99 a year targets professional field work and is required for commercial and government use. There is no trail search or route planner, so Avenza is a companion to a planning app rather than a replacement.

Who it is for

Hikers who want official park, forest and NatGeo maps on their phone with a GPS dot, without a subscription.

Price

Free app with free and paid maps in the Map Store; Avenza Maps Plus $34.99 a year on the US App Store (about $2.92 per month); Pro $169.99 a year.

Avenza Maps Plus $34.99
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 8, 2026.

Key features

• Real-time GPS position and direction on offline maps
• Map Store with maps from National Geographic, the National Park Service, USFS, USGS, NOAA and BLM
• Import your own PDF, GeoPDF and GeoTIFF maps
• GPS track recording, placemarks, photos, notes and distance measuring
• KML, GPX and CSV support

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Many official agency maps are free in the Map Store
• Strength: No subscription needed to use downloaded maps offline
• Strength: Plus allows up to 20 custom map imports
• Weakness: No route planner or trail search
• Weakness: Paid maps are bought one at a time
• Weakness: Professional, academic and government use requires Pro at $169.99 a year

Key facts

• Free plan: Yes
• Plus: $34.99/yr
• Pro: $169.99/yr
• Custom imports on Plus: Up to 20
• Formats: PDF, GeoPDF, GeoTIFF, KML, GPX, CSV

Where it ranks

Avenza Maps is No. 10 in our Best Hiking Apps verdict.