Gaia GPS
  • Free Trial
  • Out and Back Podcast
    • Gaia GPS

      “Ninjasticking” Through the Backcountry with Vasu Sojitra

      April 8, 2021

      Gaia GPS

      Out and Back: How to Train for Hiking…

      March 18, 2021

      Gaia GPS

      Mountain Climber Adrian Ballinger Finds Love and his…

      March 4, 2021

      Gaia GPS

      Climber and Entrepreneur Matt Segal on Finding Balance

      February 17, 2021

      Gaia GPS

      Camping and Overlanding Save Atlanta Couple’s Marriage

      February 11, 2021

      Adventures

      Backcountry Skiing in the Himalayas with Mountain Guide…

      February 3, 2021

      Backcountry Skiing

      The Best Backcountry Skiing Gear Recommendations

      January 19, 2021

  • Adventures
    • User Stories
  • Activities
    • Backcountry Skiing
    • Boating
    • Emergency Response
    • Fishing
    • Offroading
  • New Features
  • New Maps
  • Shop Swag
  • Home
Gaia GPS
  • Free Trial
  • Out and Back Podcast
    • Gaia GPS

      “Ninjasticking” Through the Backcountry with Vasu Sojitra

      April 8, 2021

      Gaia GPS

      Out and Back: How to Train for Hiking…

      March 18, 2021

      Gaia GPS

      Mountain Climber Adrian Ballinger Finds Love and his…

      March 4, 2021

      Gaia GPS

      Climber and Entrepreneur Matt Segal on Finding Balance

      February 17, 2021

      Gaia GPS

      Camping and Overlanding Save Atlanta Couple’s Marriage

      February 11, 2021

      Adventures

      Backcountry Skiing in the Himalayas with Mountain Guide…

      February 3, 2021

      Backcountry Skiing

      The Best Backcountry Skiing Gear Recommendations

      January 19, 2021

  • Adventures
    • User Stories
  • Activities
    • Backcountry Skiing
    • Boating
    • Emergency Response
    • Fishing
    • Offroading
  • New Features
  • New Maps
  • Shop Swag
  • Home

Backcountry Navigator vs. Atlogis US Topo Maps Pro

by Andrew Johnson May 16, 2014
by Andrew Johnson May 16, 2014

Here’s a comparison of two popular Android hiking apps – Backcountry Navigator and Atlogis US Topo Maps Pro.

I previously wrote about Gaia GPS vs. BCN, and it’s clear that Atlogis is a distant third. In this case, it comes down to the maps. I could take some fun jabs at the usability and performance of these apps relative to one another, but maps make the rest moot.

I’ll also note that we’d like you to compare Gaia GPS to both apps – we’ll give you a refund if you prefer our competitors, and we’ll give you a free GaiaPro subscription if you write to tell us why you like Gaia GPS better. Email support@gaiagps.com.

BackCountry has Better Topos than Topo Maps Pro

If you are looking for USGS topo maps, then you are much better off using Backcountry Navigator than Atlogis. BCN uses the same USGS topo maps that we do in Gaia GPS – the amazingly clear and updated USGS topos provided by CalTopo. On the other hand, Atlogis seems to have stitched together their own quilt of USGS topo maps – you can tell because of the ugly watermarks they superimpose on what are actually government maps.

Screenshot_2014-05-16-11-03-32

Atlogis maps are also just obviously less clear and inferior – CalTopo renders the images to a higher resolution with a better method.

I can’t help but point out that Gaia GPS is best of all in this respect – not only do we have the clear CalTopo maps, but we let you adjust the hill-shading in the app itself, if you have a GaiaPro add-on. Personally, I prefer to have hill-shading turned off in the field. See for yourself which USGS topo is the best:

Screenshot_2014-05-16-10-19-40

Backcountry vs. Atlogis vs. Gaia GPS

BackCountry has Better Map Selection than Atlogis

It might be that if you are looking for a weather app, Atlogis is what you want. There are a lot of weather layers, and like Gaia GPS, you can animate weather radar in the app and get some forecast info.

But for offline satellite imagery, international maps, and special sources like hunting layers and NOAA nautical charts, Atlogis isn’t going to do it for you.

Conclusion

I think people who buy Atlogis Topo Maps Pro do so for very random reasons, related to marketing and effort to promote the app. BCN is just better, and Gaia GPS is best of all.

Email support@gaiagps.com and let us know what you think.

0
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Andrew Johnson

Andrew founded Gaia GPS. He writes code and manages the business.

previous post
How to Plan a Backpacking Trip
next post
iPhone vs. Garmin GPS

You may also like

“Ninjasticking” Through the Backcountry with Vasu Sojitra

April 8, 2021

Spice Up Your Gaia GPS App Icon with...

March 31, 2021

Find Trails for Hiking, Biking, and Offroading with...

March 30, 2021

How to Start Trail Running

March 29, 2021

All New Gaia Topo: The Best Backcountry Map...

March 25, 2021

How to Save Phone Battery Life in the...

March 25, 2021

A Complete Intro to Bikepacking: How to Pack...

March 24, 2021

Discover Millions of Routes with the New Public...

March 24, 2021

Get Worldwide 3D Maps on the Web at...

March 22, 2021

Record a Track to “Crush it 4 Climate”

March 18, 2021

Keep in touch

Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube

Popular Posts

  • 1

    How to Read Topographic Maps

    October 7, 2020
  • 2

    How to Save Phone Battery Life in the Backcountry

    March 25, 2021
  • 3

    Forrest Fenn’s Treasure has been Found

    March 12, 2019
  • 4

    Gaia GPS and Apple CarPlay Bring Outdoor Maps to Your Dashboard

    February 24, 2020
  • 5

    Easy to Read, Tiny to Download: The All New Gaia Topo

    January 28, 2020

Categories

  • Adventures
  • Android
  • App Comparisons
  • App Updates
  • Backcountry Skiing
  • Boating
  • Company News
  • Emergency Response
  • Featured
  • Fishing
  • Gaia GPS
  • GaiaCloud
  • Hikes
  • How-To
  • Hunting
  • iOS
  • New Features
  • New Maps
  • Newsletter
  • Offroading
  • Out and Back Podcast
  • User Profiles
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • RSS

@2020 - All Right Reserved. Gaia GPS


Back To Top