Mapboard GIS vs Touch GIS Usage & Stats
Mapboard GIS is an iPad app for drawing maps with an Apple Pencil. Mapboard combines the intuitive workflow of pen-and-paper mapping with the precision, flexibility, and scale-independence of geospatial information systems (GIS). Its forward-looking design helps beginner and expert mappers produce multiscale, topologically consistent geologic maps.
MOTIVATION AND DESIGN
Mapboard GIS was born out of frustration with both paper– and GIS-based mapping workflows. It is primarily designed for geologists but is potentially useful in many situations demanding interpretive mapping. Mapboard attempts to bring digital mapping closer to the intuitive experience provided by paper. A sophisticated open-source spatial engine drives simple tools for drawing, erasing, and reshaping features. Outputs are natively compatible with common GIS software. Mapboard allows mapping time to be spent refining interpretations
instead of fighting with technical tools.
KEY FEATURES
- Editing tools geared towards pen-based mapping
- Powerful and intuitive reshaping, snapping, and erasing
- Iterative topology solver to fill map units
- Sophisticated onboard Spatialite GIS engine
- Project files natively readable by standard GIS software (QGIS, ArcGIS, etc.)
- User-configurable data types for line and polygon features
- Tether to remote PostGIS for work across large datasets and real-time collaboration
- Interoperable with standard formats (mbtiles, Spatialite, PostGIS) and open-source + commercial software
OTHER FEATURES
- Load MBTiles basemaps
- Satellite, streets, and topographic basemaps
- Dark mode support
- Geologic line types
TERMS OF USE: https://mapboard-gis.app/terms-of-service
PRIVACY POLICY: https://mapboard-gis.app/privacy
CHANGELOG: https://mapboard-gis.app/docs/ios/releases
- Apple App Store
- Free
- Productivity
Store Rank
- -
Touch GIS is the most intuitive professional field data collection and mapping tool available. It's a super-powered field notebook enabling you to collect any kind of data, in any environment, online or offline, and transfer it easily to your preferred desktop GIS. We believe your data collection tools should amplify your capabilities, not limit them, which is why we focus on keeping your forms and attributes totally customizable in the field.
Join thousands of professionals utilizing Touch GIS as their mobile GIS app to enhance their field work in geologic mapping, ecological mapping, civil engineering, mineral exploration and mining, natural resource management, landscape architecture, and more.
FEATURES
- Easily create new Points, Lines, Polygons, and Circles in the field.
- Quick and simple line and polygon drawing with free draw mode and vertex snapping.
- Quickly adjust feature class collection and attribute forms in the field at any time
- Get multiple perspectives by switching between base maps in the field
- Save map tiles for offline use
- Export to a variety of industry standard formats
- Snap, mark up, and attach photos to locations
- Measure planar and linear feature orientation using our clinometer tool with strike/dip, dip/dip direction, or trend/plunge formats.
- Add custom base maps with WMS/WMTS
- Add Rasters and other overlays to your map
- Add team members so your whole team has access
FILE TYPES SUPPORTED
- Shapefile
- KML and KMZ
- GeoJSON
- GPX
- CSV
- World File
- Geotiff
- JPG
- PNG
- GeoPackage (GPKG)
Customizable attribute types:
- Description
- Date & Time
- Photos
- List Of Values
- Checkbox
- Address
- Number
- Website
- Phone Number
- Attitude / Orientation
- Make your own
PRELOADED FEATURE CLASSES
- Forestry
- Geology
- Real Estate
- Stream Surveys
- Water Infrastructure
- Wetlands
- Create Your Own!
Terms of Service: https://www.touchgis.app/terms-of-service
Privacy Policy: https://www.touchgis.app/privacy
- Apple App Store
- Free
- Productivity
Store Rank
- -
Mapboard GIS VS. 
Touch GISJanuary 12, 2026