Avenza Maps alternative
Cartahaven vs Avenza Maps
Avenza Maps has been the standard app for offline GeoPDF maps for years. In 2026 it combined with Blue Marble Geographics[13], stopped letting the free version open your own maps, and stopped taking new maps in its store. If you are looking for somewhere for your maps, or a free way to use the GeoPDFs you already have, here is how Cartahaven compares.
Avenza facts are from Avenza’s own pages, checked October 31, 2026; numbers in brackets link to the source. Plans change: check Avenza’s site for the latest. Something wrong? Email support@cartahaven.com and we’ll fix it.
| Cartahaven | Avenza Maps | |
|---|---|---|
| Open your own GeoPDF and GeoTIFF maps | Free, as many as your device holds. | Not in the free version, which “no longer supports custom map imports”[1]. Plus: up to 20 maps, $34.99/year per device. Pro: unlimited, from $169.99/year per device[2]. |
| Map store for publishers | Open to new publishers. You keep 85% of each sale, paid to your bank by Stripe automatically. | “At this time, new map uploads are not being accepted”; access to the publisher portal “will end when the Map Store closes”[3]. The publisher agreement splits the net 50/50 after app store and payment fees; payouts by email request, minimum $100[4]. |
| GPS position, track recording, placemarks with photos | Free. | Free[5]. |
| Your own fields on placemarks (forms) | Free: text, number, pick-one, yes/no, date; shareable with your crew. | Free (attribute schemas)[5]. |
| Import tracks and placemarks | Free: GPX, KML, KMZ, GeoJSON, CSV, shapefiles. | KML/KMZ, GPX; shapefiles and GeoPackage need Pro[6]. |
| Export | Free: GPX, KML, GeoJSON, CSV with one column per field. | KML, GPX, CSV free; shapefile and GeoPackage need Pro[7]. |
| Print or save the map with your tracks and placemarks on it | Free: a PDF of the sheet with them drawn on, plus a list page with notes and form answers. It stays a GeoPDF. | Not found in Avenza’s help: maps export in their original format[8]. |
| Background map beyond the sheet, offline | Free, downloaded with each map. | OpenStreetMap basemap; offline download needs Plus or Pro[9]. |
| Public land ownership, hunting units, slope shading | Free, offline: who manages the land (USGS PAD-US), state game management units for 35 states, slope-angle shading. | Not found in Avenza’s documentation. |
| Alerts when you leave a route | Free: follow a track, trail or a route you plan; alerts when you stray and when you’re back. | Alerts when entering or leaving a drawn area (geofences); the number depends on the plan[10]. |
| See where your group is | Free while you have signal: start a group, share a code; only the latest position is kept. | Not found in Avenza’s documentation. |
| Backup and sync between devices | Free with a free account: tracks, placemarks and forms. | Backup and restore with Plus or Pro[11]. |
| Devices | Any phone, tablet or computer from the browser, works offline once installed. App store apps for iPhone and Android are coming. | iPhone and Android; no desktop version[12]. |
Where Avenza is still ahead
- It has native apps in the App Store and Google Play today, with years of use in the field. Cartahaven’s app store apps are on the way; until then it runs from the browser and installs to your home screen.
- Its store still lists many publishers’ maps. Cartahaven is new: today it has 65,000+ free USGS and Forest Service maps, and publisher catalogs are being added.
- Pro has extras for GIS work, such as GeoPackage, custom symbol sets and external GPS receivers[5].
Moving over
- Your maps: open the GeoPDFs and GeoTIFFs you have in the Cartahaven map app, free. They keep their GPS registration.
- Your tracks and placemarks: export them from Avenza as KML or GPX and import the file; placemark attributes come across as fields.
- Publishers: bring your catalog. Upload your GeoPDFs as they are, set prices, and get paid through Stripe. How publishing works.
Avenza and Avenza Maps are trademarks of their owner. Cartahaven is not affiliated with Avenza or Blue Marble Geographics.