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Maps · head to head

ArcGIS Survey123 vs Sygic GPS Navigation

ArcGIS Survey123 logo

ArcGIS Survey123

Maps

Form-centric field data collection that writes straight into an ArcGIS organisation

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Sygic GPS Navigation logo

Sygic GPS Navigation

Maps

Premium navigation app offering high-quality 3D offline maps from TomTom

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Sygic GPS Navigation has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: ArcGIS Survey123 the app is free and the licensing is not: every person completing a secure survey needs a paid ArcGIS user type, so a hundred-person field programme costs tens of thousands a year before anyone counts credits.; Sygic GPS Navigation offline map downloads limited by area size, requiring multiple selections for larger countries
  • They diverge on capability: ArcGIS Survey123 covers XLSForm authoring, Sygic GPS Navigation covers Core Functionality.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ArcGIS Survey123 and Sygic GPS Navigation actually diverge.

Attributes where ArcGIS Survey123 and Sygic GPS Navigation differ
AttributeArcGIS Survey123Sygic GPS Navigation
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelPer user per year by ArcGIS user typeUnknown
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, WindowsiOS, Android, Apple Watch
FoundedUnknown2004

Identical on both: 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 Survey123

  • XLSForm authoring
  • Web designer
  • Offline collection
  • Direct ArcGIS write
  • Repeats and nested records
  • Media and signature capture
  • Webhooks and integration
  • Reports

Only in Sygic GPS Navigation

  • Core Functionality
  • User Interface

What people use each for

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

ArcGIS Survey123

  • A water utility recording hydrant inspections that must appear on the corporate asset map the moment they are submitted, not after a nightly importnot Sygic GPS Navigation
  • A local authority running a public consultation where anyone can submit without a licence, while staff review responses in an ArcGIS dashboardnot Sygic GPS Navigation
  • An environmental monitoring programme with complex conditional forms authored in XLSForm and completed offline in areas with no signalnot Sygic GPS Navigation
  • A field crew already licensed for ArcGIS Field Maps that needs structured forms alongside map-based editing without adding another vendornot Sygic GPS Navigation

Sygic GPS Navigation

  • Turn-by-turn car navigation with offline maps (no data connection needed)not ArcGIS Survey123
  • Real-time traffic rerouting and speed camera/limit warningsnot ArcGIS Survey123
  • Motorcycle-specific navigation (twisty roads, elevation tracking)not ArcGIS Survey123
  • CarPlay-integrated in-dash navigationnot ArcGIS Survey123
  • Trip planning with POI search, parking and fuel price infonot ArcGIS Survey123

Where each one falls short

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

ArcGIS Survey123

  • The app is free and the licensing is not: every person completing a secure survey needs a paid ArcGIS user type, so a hundred-person field programme costs tens of thousands a year before anyone counts credits.
  • Esri does not publish user type prices on its main pricing pages, so buyers reconstruct the cost from marketplace listings or a sales conversation, which makes budgeting an ArcGIS rollout unnecessarily opaque.
  • Credits are consumed by geocoding, storage and some analysis, and a data collection programme that generates heavy attachment volumes can burn through the bundled allowance and trigger a mid-year top-up.
  • It is useless without ArcGIS. There is no standalone deployment, so the decision to use Survey123 is really a decision to buy or keep an ArcGIS estate.
  • Form authoring splits between a web designer that is easy but limited and XLSForm plus Survey123 Connect that is capable but requires learning a spreadsheet syntax, and teams routinely start in the wrong one and rebuild.

Sygic GPS Navigation

  • Offline map downloads limited by area size, requiring multiple selections for larger countries
  • Occasional inaccuracies in POIs and speed limit data in less-updated regions
  • Battery consumption increases significantly with AR navigation and dashcam features enabled
  • Limited free features; most functionality requires Premium+ subscription

Pricing, plan by plan

ArcGIS Survey123

On request
  • Survey123 appFree
    • No separate charge for the app itself
    • Requires an ArcGIS Online or Enterprise organisation
    • Public surveys can be completed without a licence
  • Creator user type$undefined/year
    • Required to author and publish surveys
    • Foundational user type, can administer the organisation
    • Includes an annual credit allowance
  • Mobile Worker user type$undefined/year
    • Required for each person completing a secure survey
    • Dependent user type, must be added to an organisation with a foundational licence
    • Public marketplace listings have shown around $400 per year

Sygic GPS Navigation

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Sygic GPS Navigation review.

Which should you pick?

Choose ArcGIS Survey123 if

  • You need xlsform authoring.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Windows.
  • You also want web designer.
ArcGIS Survey123 review

Choose Sygic GPS Navigation if

  • You need core functionality.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Apple Watch.
  • You also want user interface.
Sygic GPS Navigation review

Questions people ask

Is ArcGIS Survey123 or Sygic GPS Navigation better?
Neither clearly leads. ArcGIS Survey123 starts at On request and Sygic GPS Navigation at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ArcGIS Survey123 or Sygic GPS Navigation?
Sygic GPS Navigation has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for ArcGIS Survey123 and Free for Sygic GPS Navigation.
Does ArcGIS Survey123 or Sygic GPS Navigation run on more platforms?
ArcGIS Survey123 runs on Web, iOS, Android, Windows. Sygic GPS Navigation runs on iOS, Android, Apple Watch.
Can I use Sygic GPS Navigation for free?
Yes. Sygic GPS Navigation has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. ArcGIS Survey123 starts at On request.
What is ArcGIS Survey123 best used for?
ArcGIS Survey123 is most often used for a water utility recording hydrant inspections that must appear on the corporate asset map the moment they are submitted, not after a nightly import, a local authority running a public consultation where anyone can submit without a licence, while staff review responses in an arcgis dashboard, an environmental monitoring programme with complex conditional forms authored in xlsform and completed offline in areas with no signal, a field crew already licensed for arcgis field maps that needs structured forms alongside map-based editing without adding another vendor. Of those, a water utility recording hydrant inspections that must appear on the corporate asset map the moment they are submitted, not after a nightly import and a local authority running a public consultation where anyone can submit without a licence, while staff review responses in an arcgis dashboard are not what Sygic GPS Navigation is typically brought in for.
What can ArcGIS Survey123 do that Sygic GPS Navigation cannot?
ArcGIS Survey123 covers XLSForm authoring, Web designer, Offline collection, Direct ArcGIS write. Sygic GPS Navigation covers Core Functionality, User Interface.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

ArcGIS Survey123: Is Survey123 free?

The app is. Using it is not, unless your surveys are public. Authoring needs a Creator licence and each person completing a secure survey needs a Mobile Worker, Editor, Creator or GIS Professional user type.

Sygic GPS Navigation: Does Sygic work without internet?

Yes. Sygic Premium+ includes offline 3D maps with monthly updates, allowing navigation in areas without cellular coverage.

Source
ArcGIS Survey123: How much are the user types?

Esri does not list them on its main pricing pages. Public marketplace listings have shown roughly $700 a year for Creator and $400 for Mobile Worker; confirm with Esri or a distributor for your region.

Sygic GPS Navigation: What is the cost of Sygic Premium+ subscription?

Sygic Premium+ costs €29.99 per year or €13.99 for three months. Premium lifetime licenses are no longer available.

Source
ArcGIS Survey123: Can respondents fill in a survey without a licence?

Yes, if the survey is shared publicly. Secure surveys require a licensed user type.

Sygic GPS Navigation: Does Sygic work with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto?

Yes. Sygic integrates with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, including specialized versions for trucks, caravans, and motorcycles.

Source
ArcGIS Survey123: Does it work offline?

Yes, in the mobile app, with sync when connectivity returns.

Sygic GPS Navigation: What maps and regions does Sygic support?

Sygic covers navigation globally with particular focus on Europe. Users must download offline maps by region, with size limitations that may require multiple downloads for larger countries.

Source
ArcGIS Survey123: Is it the same as ArcGIS Field Maps?

No. Field Maps is map-centric editing; Survey123 is form-centric. Many organisations license both, which doubles nothing because user types cover the whole app suite.

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