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Mapit GIS for iOS

· 3 min read

After years as an Android-only application, Mapit GIS is now available on the App Store. This is a native Swift application built from the ground up for iPhone and iPad.

Why iOS, and why now?​

We've had requests for an iOS version for as long as the Android app has existed. The honest answer for why it took this long is that we wanted to do it properly. Wrapping the Android app in a cross-platform framework was never an option. GIS applications are too performance-sensitive and too tightly coupled to platform APIs for that to work well.

The iOS app is written entirely in Swift 6 and SwiftUI, with Mapbox for rendering. It shares the same GeoPackage format as Android, so your data moves between platforms without conversion.

What's included​

The iOS release ships with the core feature set that Mapit GIS users expect:

  • Data collection - points, lines, polygons, and multi-part geometries via GPS or manual placement
  • GeoPackage native - create, open, and edit OGC GeoPackage files directly
  • Offline maps - load MBTiles packages for fieldwork without connectivity
  • Map services - connect to WMS, WMTS, WFS, and XYZ tile endpoints
  • Custom attribute forms - dropdowns, multi-select, dates, and barcode scanning
  • Export - GeoPackage, GeoJSON, Shapefile, KML, GPX, CSV, and DXF
  • External GNSS - TCP/IP connection to external receivers with RTK support
  • GPS tracking - continuous path recording with configurable intervals

Feature parity with Android​

The goal is full feature parity between platforms. The iOS app at launch covers the most-used workflows, but there are features from the Android app that are still being brought across. PostgreSQL export and Dropbox integration are among the items on the roadmap.

If you're an existing Android user, you can open the same GeoPackage files on both platforms. The schema is identical.

Documentation​

We're still putting together iOS-specific user guides. That said, we've made a deliberate effort to keep the iOS app as close to Android as possible in terms of features and workflows. If you're familiar with the Android documentation, the instructions apply to iOS in most cases.

External GNSS devices​

External GNSS on iOS works over TCP/IP, same as Android. We're also in talks with major GNSS receiver manufacturers to get Apple MFi certification for direct Bluetooth integration. More on this as it develops.

Built for the field​

The interface is designed for one-handed use with gloves, in direct sunlight, and on unstable footing. Large touch targets, high-contrast map overlays, and minimal navigation depth. The same principles that guided the Android app apply here.

Pricing​

The iOS app follows the same subscription model as Android. A free tier covers basic GIS functionality. Pro unlocks the full feature set including high-accuracy GNSS, advanced export formats, and custom styling.

We're also working on Mapit GIS Cloud, a web platform for managing projects, team collaboration, and sync across devices. Stay tuned for more on that.

Get it​

Mapit GIS for iOS is available now on the App Store.