Ordnance Survey
For outdoor enthusiasts including hikers, runners, and cyclists who require reliable offline navigation and trail discovery.
OS Maps: Walk, Hike, Run, Bike
Snapshot
Who is Ordnance Survey?
Providing detailed navigation and trail-planning tools for outdoor enthusiasts. Enabling safe exploration through offline mapping and activity tracking.
Target audience
Portfolio
Free 2Last updated
OS Maps: Walk, Hike, Run, Bike
vVARY
4mo ago
Publisher DNA
What defines Ordnance Survey?
Publisher DNA
Primary focus
Navigation and outdoor mapping tools
Scale
indie
Target audience
Outdoor enthusiasts including hikers, runners, and cyclists who require reliable offline navigation and trail discovery.
Signature Patterns
- •Focus on high-fidelity mapping and spatial data visualization
- •Integration of offline-first functionality for remote navigation
- •Freemium monetization model for consumer utility apps
- •Experimental use of AR for location-specific retail engagement
Portfolio momentum
Released 6 updates across 2 apps in the last 6 months, with the primary navigation title receiving a major update within the last month.
Portfolio
What does Ordnance Survey ship?
Apps
2 apps analysed
Explore the great outdoors with trail maps for hikes, rides & runs
Single-market publisher, every app ships only to United States.
Based on 1 of 2 apps with localized market data, more coverage rolling in as scans complete · last scanned .
Americas (1)
- United States1 / 1
Core markets (1/1 apps)
Rivals
Who does Ordnance Survey compete with?
The rivals identified
Nemeses(1)
Geocaching competes for the same outdoor enthusiast audience by offering offline maps and location-based exploration, substituting pure trail navigation with a gamified physical treasure hunt.
Contenders(10)
Avenza Maps competes directly with OS Maps by targeting outdoor enthusiasts who require offline navigation in areas without cellular reception. Both apps operate on a freemium model and prioritize offline map access for remote environments.
Bikemap competes directly for the cycling segment of OS Maps' audience by offering specialized bike-type routing algorithms and user-generated routes. Both apps monetize via freemium models gating offline maps and advanced navigation.
Both apps provide offline mapping and route discovery, competing for outdoor enthusiasts seeking specialized navigation tools.
known for
MapXplorer: Map Radar Navigate
Both applications provide offline map support and navigation utilities, though MapXplorer targets drivers while OS Maps focuses on outdoor recreation.
Footpath Route Planner competes directly for outdoor enthusiasts by offering freemium route planning and navigation tools that overlap with OS Maps' core utility.
Both applications target outdoor enthusiasts requiring offline navigation, with Organic Maps competing directly by offering a completely free alternative to the freemium model of OS Maps.
While both provide outdoor GPS tracking, they serve entirely different environments: OS Maps targets land-based hikers and cyclists, whereas Savvy Navvy focuses strictly on marine navigation for boaters.
Both apps target outdoor enthusiasts requiring offline navigation in areas without cellular reception. Gaia GPS competes directly for the premium segment via its professional-grade GIS tools and Outside+ bundle.
Both apps provide navigation utilities, but what3words targets precise point identification via a grid system while OS Maps focuses on trail routing and activity tracking.
Wikiloc competes directly for the outdoor enthusiast segment by offering freemium offline topographic maps and trail planning tools. Both apps target hikers and cyclists seeking community-sourced route data.
Same space(16)
Offers a regional focus on Alpine outdoor activities, providing a specialized database for hikers and skiers.
Focuses on curated, photo-led walking routes in the UK, prioritizing discovery over raw GPS tracking.
Targets gold prospectors with specialized geological data, serving a niche exploration market.
Acts as a general navigation utility that competes for user attention during transit and local discovery.
Serves as a mapping utility for outdoor activities with a focus on European topographic data.
Targets the specific niche of hunters requiring precise land ownership boundaries and terrain analysis.
Provides marine-specific navigation that requires hardware integration, catering to boaters rather than land-based hikers.
Provides topographic mapping for outdoor enthusiasts, competing directly in the hiking and cycling navigation space.
Provides a specialized database for mountain biking and winter sports, serving as a community-sourced alternative to general hiking tools.
Provides detailed topographic maps for various outdoor activities, acting as a direct utility for offline navigation.
Focuses on professional property data and parcel mapping, serving a different user base than recreational hikers.
Focuses on heritage site exploration and visitor engagement, serving as a destination-specific guide rather than a general navigation tool.
Focuses on vehicle-based navigation and traffic management, serving as a specialized alternative for road-based travel.
Facilitates travel discovery by highlighting lesser-known locations in the UK, complementing general navigation tools.
Simplifies marine navigation for recreational boaters through personalized chart adjustments.
Competes in the hiking navigation space by offering topographic maps and multi-day planning tools.
The Analyst's Read
The bottom line on Ordnance Survey
Bottom line
Ordnance Survey successfully translates its core mapping expertise into a functional consumer navigation product. Their ability to maintain a high-utility, offline-capable tool provides a stable foundation, though future growth likely depends on expanding their AR and retail-integrated mapping use cases.
Frequently asked questions
How many apps does Ordnance Survey publish?
What kind of apps does Ordnance Survey make?
What is Ordnance Survey's top app?
In how many countries are Ordnance Survey's apps available?
What fed this analysis
- Apps analyzed:
- 2
- With full intel:
- 0
- With overview:
- 2
- Website scraped:
- yes
- Social presence:
- no