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Maps · head to head

ArcGIS Field Maps vs IndoorAtlas

ArcGIS Field Maps logo

ArcGIS Field Maps

Maps

Esri field data collection that cannot be bought on its own, only with an ArcGIS user type

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
IndoorAtlas logo

IndoorAtlas

Maps

Indoor positioning and navigation solutions using the Earth's magnetic field, WiFi, and Bluetooth beacons

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only IndoorAtlas has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: ArcGIS Field Maps field Maps has no price of its own, so a project budget built from the product page misses the Creator seats, the Mobile Worker seats and the ArcGIS Online credits or Enterprise infrastructure that actually cost money; IndoorAtlas requires labor-intensive fingerprinting process, walking every corridor to build magnetic map for each venue
  • They diverge on capability: ArcGIS Field Maps covers Offline map areas, IndoorAtlas covers Core Functionality.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ArcGIS Field Maps and IndoorAtlas actually diverge.

Attributes where ArcGIS Field Maps and IndoorAtlas differ
AttributeArcGIS Field MapsIndoorAtlas
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelIncluded with an ArcGIS user type licencefreemium
Free tierNoYes
FoundedUnknown2012

Identical on both: platforms (iOS, Android, Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Maps).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in ArcGIS Field Maps

  • Offline map areas
  • Smart forms
  • High-accuracy GNSS
  • Location sharing
  • Assignment dispatch
  • Indoor positioning
  • Direct editing of authoritative data

Only in IndoorAtlas

  • Core Functionality
  • User Interface

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

ArcGIS Field Maps

  • A water utility whose inspectors update the same asset feature service the office GIS runs on, rather than filling in forms that someone re-keysnot IndoorAtlas
  • A county carrying out a sign inventory where crews work in areas without mobile coverage and need offline maps that sync laternot IndoorAtlas
  • An environmental team needing sub-metre positions from an external GNSS receiver recorded directly against the authoritative datasetnot IndoorAtlas
  • An organisation consolidating from Collector, Explorer, Tracker and Workforce onto a single app after Esri retired themnot IndoorAtlas

IndoorAtlas

  • Routing customers to deals in large retail spacesnot ArcGIS Field Maps
  • Guiding visitors through shopping centers and airportsnot ArcGIS Field Maps
  • Optimizing workplace space with movement analyticsnot ArcGIS Field Maps
  • Tracking dwell times and visitor movement patternsnot ArcGIS Field Maps

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

ArcGIS Field Maps

  • Field Maps has no price of its own, so a project budget built from the product page misses the Creator seats, the Mobile Worker seats and the ArcGIS Online credits or Enterprise infrastructure that actually cost money
  • It only works against Esri feature services, so an organisation whose data is in PostGIS or a database without an ArcGIS layer must publish through Esri first, which is a platform decision rather than an app choice
  • Named user licensing means occasional or seasonal field staff still consume a full annual seat, and organisations with a large pool of infrequent collectors pay for capacity they use a few weeks a year
  • As a forms tool alone it is more rigid and more expensive than dedicated mobile forms products, so its value collapses if you are not already committed to ArcGIS
  • The consolidation of four apps into one changed established workflows, and organisations that had built processes around Collector or Workforce have had to rework them on Esri's timetable rather than their own

IndoorAtlas

  • Requires labor-intensive fingerprinting process, walking every corridor to build magnetic map for each venue
  • Magnetic signatures degrade over time, requiring periodic re-fingerprinting as the environment changes
  • Magnetic interference from external sources and devices disrupts positioning accuracy
  • Positioning inconsistent across different smartphone models due to magnetometer heterogeneity
  • High cost to deploy and maintain, with expensive implementation for wide-scale adaptation

Pricing, plan by plan

ArcGIS Field Maps

On request
  • Mobile Worker user type$undefined/year
    • Field editing in Field Maps included with no additional purchase
    • Cannot author maps; requires a Creator seat elsewhere in the organisation
    • Priced per named user per year
  • Creator user type$undefined/year
    • Required to author and publish the maps that field workers use
    • At least one Creator needed before Field Maps can be deployed
    • Includes Field Maps editing as well as authoring
  • ArcGIS Enterprise deployment$undefined/year
    • Field Maps against self-hosted ArcGIS Enterprise instead of ArcGIS Online
    • Server licensing and infrastructure priced separately
    • Quoted through Esri or a distributor

IndoorAtlas

Free
  • TrialFree
    • 1 venue
    • 10 end-users
    • 14 days data retention
  • Develop Lite$59/month
    • 1 venue
    • 20 end-users
    • 30 days data retention
  • Develop$400/month
    • unlimited venues
    • 50 end-users
    • 1 hour monthly support
  • Pro$349/month per venue
    • unlimited venues and end-users
    • supports up to 10,000 m² per venue
    • basic technical support

Which should you pick?

Choose ArcGIS Field Maps if

  • You need offline map areas.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want smart forms.
ArcGIS Field Maps review

Choose IndoorAtlas if

  • You need core functionality.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want user interface.
IndoorAtlas review

Questions people ask

Is ArcGIS Field Maps or IndoorAtlas better?
Neither clearly leads. ArcGIS Field Maps starts at On request and IndoorAtlas at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ArcGIS Field Maps or IndoorAtlas?
IndoorAtlas has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for ArcGIS Field Maps and Free for IndoorAtlas.
Does ArcGIS Field Maps or IndoorAtlas run on more platforms?
Both run on iOS, Android, Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use IndoorAtlas for free?
Yes. IndoorAtlas has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. ArcGIS Field Maps starts at On request.
What is ArcGIS Field Maps best used for?
ArcGIS Field Maps is most often used for a water utility whose inspectors update the same asset feature service the office gis runs on, rather than filling in forms that someone re-keys, a county carrying out a sign inventory where crews work in areas without mobile coverage and need offline maps that sync later, an environmental team needing sub-metre positions from an external gnss receiver recorded directly against the authoritative dataset, an organisation consolidating from collector, explorer, tracker and workforce onto a single app after esri retired them. Of those, a water utility whose inspectors update the same asset feature service the office gis runs on, rather than filling in forms that someone re-keys and a county carrying out a sign inventory where crews work in areas without mobile coverage and need offline maps that sync later are not what IndoorAtlas is typically brought in for.
What can ArcGIS Field Maps do that IndoorAtlas cannot?
ArcGIS Field Maps covers Offline map areas, Smart forms, High-accuracy GNSS, Location sharing. IndoorAtlas covers Core Functionality, User Interface.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

ArcGIS Field Maps: Can I buy Field Maps on its own?

No. It is included with the Mobile Worker, Creator and GIS Professional user types, and you need at least one Creator in the organisation to author maps.

IndoorAtlas: How does IndoorAtlas determine positioning without beacons or hardware?

IndoorAtlas uses patented geomagnetic fusion technology that maps the Earth's magnetic field patterns inside buildings through a process called magnetic fingerprinting. The technology combines magnetometer data with other sensors like WiFi and Bluetooth for robust positioning.

Source
ArcGIS Field Maps: What replaced Collector and Workforce?

Field Maps. Esri merged Collector, Explorer, Tracker and Workforce into it and retired the separate apps.

IndoorAtlas: What is the initial setup process for IndoorAtlas?

Setup requires fingerprinting the venue by systematically walking through all corridors and spaces to build a magnetic map. The platform then identifies problematic areas through red (conflicting data), blue (insufficient coverage), and path orientation errors that require correction before the map is production-ready.

Source
ArcGIS Field Maps: Does it work offline?

Yes. Map areas are downloaded in advance and edits synchronise when connectivity returns.

IndoorAtlas: What are IndoorAtlas's pricing plans?

IndoorAtlas offers production subscriptions starting at 349 euros per month per venue, with a development plan at 400 euros per month. A free tier is available for developers to start building.

Source
ArcGIS Field Maps: Can it write to a non-Esri database?

Not directly. The data must be published as an ArcGIS feature service, which may sit over an enterprise geodatabase you already run.

IndoorAtlas: How accurate is IndoorAtlas positioning?

IndoorAtlas claims industry-leading accuracy down to 50 centimeters using its 6-layer sensor fusion core across diverse environments, though accuracy varies based on building magnetic patterns and requires careful calibration.

Source
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