MARLVEL

US National Forest Service Map vs its rivals

Side-by-side comparison against US National Forest Service Map's closest competitors — identity, store metrics, ratings & sentiment, and strategic intel.

US National Forest Service Map
This App
Avenza Maps: Offline Mapping
Nemesis
Footpath Route Planner
Contender
Gaia GPS: Mobile Trail Maps
Contender
Wikiloc - Trails of the World
Peer
Geocaching®
Peer
MapXplorer: Map Radar Navigate
New Kid
Core Identity
DeveloperGeoPOI LLCAvenza Systems Inc.Half Mile Labs LLCTrailBehindWikiloc Outdoor SLGroundspeak Inc.Goldlab Applications Yazilim Bilişim Anonim Şirketi
CategoryNavigationNavigationNavigationNavigationNavigationNavigationNavigation
PlatformAndroid, iOSiOS, AndroidiOS, AndroidiOSAndroid, iOSiOS, AndroidiOS
Store Metrics
Rating2.7 / 54.8 / 54.8 / 54.8 / 54.8 / 54.8 / 54.5 / 5
Ratings Count3124,68621,04031,8555,07763,57628,252
PriceUSD2.99FreeFreeFreeFreeFreeFree
Release DateDec 3, 2020Sep 19, 2010May 7, 2013May 22, 2017May 19, 2011Sep 16, 2009Sep 6, 2023
Last UpdatedDec 3, 2020Nov 5, 2025Apr 9, 2026Feb 17, 2026Apr 13, 2026Apr 2, 2026Apr 10, 2026
Sentiment & Reviews
Sentimentpositivemixed--mixedmixed-
Score90/10045/100--55/10055/100-
Praises
  • Extensive geographic coverage provides users with detailed information for navigating national forests across the country
  • Offline GPS functionality enables reliable navigation in remote areas without cellular service
--
  • Reliable trail navigation and offline map access provide confidence for outdoor exploration
  • Outdoor exploration mechanics encourage users to visit new locations and trails daily
-
Complaints-
  • Recent updates restrict free custom map imports and force users toward the store
--
  • GPS tracking inaccuracies and straight-line rendering issues disrupt the utility of recorded routes
  • Aggressive paywall restrictions limit access to basic caches for free-tier users
-
Requests-
  • Native vehicle dashboard integration to allow hands-free navigation during outdoor activities
--
  • Granular privacy controls for activity uploads to prevent automatic public sharing of home locations
  • Driving navigation integration within the app to simplify travel between cache locations
-
Strategic Intel
Strengths
  • 80,000-point specialized database functions as a barrier to entry for generic mapping apps
  • Offline-first architecture serves remote wilderness segments where streaming competitors fail
  • Professional-grade map store partnerships sustain high-intent user acquisition
  • Offline-first architecture creates a functional moat in remote environments
--
  • 77 million trail database creates a high barrier to entry
  • Hardware-integration partnerships with Garmin and COROS lock in power users
  • Global community network effect creates a treasure hunt barrier
  • Physical-digital hybrid experience increases switching costs
  • 25-year brand history sustains organic install velocity
-
Weaknesses
  • Premium tier at $1.49-$2.99 above category median for casual users
  • 2.9-star average rating indicates friction in the current user experience
  • No community-driven trail updates or social features
  • Premium tier gating of custom imports creates high churn risk
  • Lack of vehicle dashboard integration limits usage in off-road segments
--
  • Public-by-default activity sharing drives privacy complaints
  • 0.7★ Android-iOS rating gap indicates platform-specific UI/UX neglect
  • Premium tier at category-median pricing
  • 0.2★ Android-iOS rating gap
  • Login failures post-update
-
Pricingpaidfreemiumfreemiumfreefreemiumsubscriptionsubscription
Momentum-IntenseIntenseActiveIntenseIntenseIntense
Update Cadence-5 versions5 versions5 versions5 versions5 versions5 versions

Compare US National Forest Service Map head-to-head

Disclosure: Independent intel to help mobile builders succeed.

AI-powered analysis with editorial review, built from publicly available sources. Marlvel.ai is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by US National Forest Service Map, its developer, the app publisher, Apple, or Google Play. All trademarks, logos, and screenshots referenced remain the property of their respective owners.

See methodologyContact support

Data licensed under CC-BY-NC 4.0