What Avenza Maps does

Avenza Maps, legally Avenza Systems Inc., is a Toronto, Canada-based mobile mapping software company that builds an offline GPS navigation application available on iOS and Android and operates the Avenza Map Store, a digital map marketplace hosting 175k+ hiking maps and hundreds of thousands of maps across 14+ activity categories. The core product allows users to download maps, locate their position without WiFi or network connectivity, record GPS tracks, add placemarks and photos, and measure distances; the professional extension, Avenza Maps Pro, adds custom map import and team deployment for field operations in government, firefighting, forestry, mining and oil/gas exploration, utilities, renewable energy, conservation, non-profit, and education segments.

The business operates a freemium consumer go-to-market combined with a marketplace model and an enterprise subscription tier. Revenue is generated through three streams: per-map transactions in the Avenza Map Store (including transactions from publisher partners such as Rand McNally on which Avenza earns marketplace commission), recurring subscriptions for Avenza Maps Pro features such as custom map import and team deployment, and publisher partnership commissions. Distribution leverages both app store channels (iOS App Store, Google Play) for consumer acquisition and direct sales for enterprise Pro customers; marketing is multi-channel and includes organic social, newsletters, content/blog, earned third-party app reviews, and partner co-marketing.

The company was founded by Ted Chado and has 51-100 employees; it has unified with Blue Marble Geographics to connect desktop GIS workflows with mobile field mapping, and maintains technology integrations with Trimble and What3Words. Operating geographies as explicitly disclosed are North America (USA and Canada), though global app store distribution enables broader reach. No funding rounds, ownership backers, or financial KPIs are disclosed in the available data.

Name

Avenza Maps

Legal name

Avenza Systems Inc.

Website

https://avenzamaps.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Avenza Maps is a Toronto-based mobile mapping app and digital map marketplace offering offline GPS navigation for outdoor enthusiasts and field professionals, with an enterprise Pro tier for custom map deployment.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mobile Mapping Software

NAICS

Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services (541370)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Consumer Navigation & Turn-by-Turn Apps (BPAMANAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

GIS & Spatial Data Management Platforms (BPAMANAK)

Keywords

• Offline mobile maps
• GPS navigation apps
• Digital map store
• Custom map deployment
• Outdoor recreation mapping

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Map Store Sales: Revenue generated from the sale of digital maps through the Avenza Map Store, where users purchase individual maps for offline use. Map prices vary by publisher and content type. Publishers can sell maps through the platform, with Avenza taking a commission on sales.
2. Avenza Maps Pro Subscription: Subscription-based revenue from Pro features including custom map import, team deployment capabilities, and enhanced professional tools for field data collection and management.
3. Publisher Partnership Commission: Avenza generates marketplace commission revenue from map publishers including Rand McNally and other major publishers who sell through the Avenza Map Store platform.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Avenza Maps provides an offline GPS mobile mapping application for iOS and Android that allows users to locate themselves on downloaded maps without WiFi or network connectivity, with features for GPS track recording, placemarks, photo attachments, and distance measurement. The company operates the Avenza Map Store, a digital marketplace offering 175,000+ professionally curated maps from publishers such as Rand McNally across hiking, cycling, hunting, fishing, and other outdoor activities. Avenza Maps Pro is a subscription offering that adds custom map import and team deployment capabilities for professional field operations across government, firefighting, forestry, mining, utilities, and non-profit sectors.

Product overview

Avenza Maps offers a dual-tier product portfolio consisting of the Avenza Maps consumer app (available on iOS and Android) paired with the Avenza Map Store digital marketplace, and the professional-grade Avenza Maps Pro subscription for enterprise and field operations. The consumer offering provides offline GPS navigation, track recording, and access to over 175,000+ maps across activities like hiking, cycling, hunting, fishing, and camping. Avenza Maps Pro extends this with custom map import and team deployment capabilities for government agencies, firefighters, forestry crews, and other field professionals. Additional programs include the Academic Partner Program for educational institutions and a QR Code Program for publishers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Avenza Maps Pro: Professional-grade offline mobile mapping and data collection for field professionals.

Products and services

• Avenza Maps Mobile App Offline GPS map viewer and navigation app for outdoor enthusiasts on iOS and Android. Enables users to locate their position on downloaded maps without WiFi or network connectivity, record GPS tracks, add placemarks, attach photos, and measure distances.
• Avenza Map Store Digital map marketplace offering professionally curated maps from renowned publishers across diverse activities including hiking, cycling, hunting, fishing, off-roading, skiing, paddling, and camping. Publishers such as Rand McNally distribute maps through the platform, with Avenza earning commission on sales.
• Avenza Maps Pro Professional-grade offline mobile mapping and data collection subscription. Allows teams to import custom maps and deploy them to field personnel before missions, designed for government, firefighting, forestry, non-profit, mining, oil and exploration, conservation, utilities, renewable energy, and education sectors.

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Blue Marble GeographicscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlue Marble Geographics has joined with Avenza as one organization, strengthening how professionals move between office analysis and field execution. This unification creates a comprehensive geospatial platform combining Blue Marble's desktop GIS capabilities with Avenza's mobile mapping technology.
• Rand McNally PublishingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRand McNally has joined Avenza Maps, bringing their collection of maps to the Avenza Map Store platform. Users can browse and purchase Rand McNally's map collection directly through Avenza's marketplace.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Gaia GPS: Gaia GPS is a leading offline GPS mapping app for outdoor adventurers (hiking, hunting, backcountry) on iOS and Android, with premium subscription tiers and custom map import capabilities. It is the most direct competitor to Avenza's consumer app and overlaps strongly on Pro-style custom map workflows for backcountry professionals.
• onX Maps: onX (Hunt, Offroad, Backcountry, Hike) is a category-leading outdoor navigation app offering offline maps, GPS tracking, and rich proprietary basemaps for hunters and outdoor enthusiasts. It directly competes with Avenza in the hunting and outdoor segments and has a comparable subscription + marketplace model.
• AllTrails: AllTrails is the dominant consumer hiking and trail navigation platform, offering offline map downloads, GPS tracking, and a large community-driven trail library. It overlaps with Avenza's hiking and outdoor adventure use cases, though Avenza differentiates through a publisher-driven marketplace and offline GIS professional features.
• CalTopo: CalTopo provides backcountry and search-and-rescue mapping with offline mobile apps and custom layer overlays, serving both outdoor enthusiasts and professional SAR teams. Its offline mapping and custom layer functionality closely parallels Avenza Pro's value proposition for technical/professional users.
• Guru Maps: Guru Maps is an offline map and GPS navigation app for iOS and Android that supports custom map import (MBTiles, etc.) and outdoor activities. It competes with Avenza in the consumer offline navigation space, particularly for technical users who import custom map sources.

Broad incumbents

• Esri ArcGIS Field Maps: Esri's ArcGIS Field Maps is the enterprise incumbent for mobile GIS data collection and offline mapping, used across government, utilities, forestry, and natural resources. It competes with Avenza Maps Pro in the professional segment but offers a much broader GIS platform; Avenza+Blue Marble positions as a more accessible alternative for smaller field teams.
• Mapbox: Mapbox is a leading mapping platform providing basemaps, SDKs, and APIs used by developers and enterprises to build custom map applications. It is comparable to Avenza as an enabling geospatial platform, though Mapbox focuses on developer infrastructure while Avenza focuses on end-user offline navigation and map marketplace distribution.
• Trimble Maps: Trimble Maps (formerly ALK Technologies/PC*Miler) provides commercial navigation, fleet mapping, and offline mobile map solutions for transportation, logistics, and field service. Avenza already lists Trimble as a Partner & Integration, indicating adjacency in professional geospatial workflows and overlap in serving enterprise field operations.
• Google Maps: Google Maps is the dominant consumer navigation app with growing offline capabilities, basemap data, and integration across Android. It is the primary indirect competitor to Avenza for general navigation use cases, though Avenza differentiates through curated publisher maps, offline reliability in remote terrain, and professional field-team features.

Emerging players

• REI Co-op (route/trip planning via partnerships): REI and similar outdoor retailers increasingly bundle or promote digital navigation and trip-planning tools to their membership base, with app-based trail and map features. While not a direct product competitor, REI-adjacent offerings represent an emerging alternative discovery and navigation channel that could pressure Avenza's Map Store traffic in the outdoor enthusiast segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/avenzamaps
• Facebookfacebook.com/AvenzaMaps
• Instagraminstagram.com/avenzamaps/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Avenza Maps