Maps · head to head
MapQuest vs onX Maps
MapQuest
Maps
Free driving directions, live traffic updates, and road conditions for trip planning and navigation
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
onX Maps
Maps
Land ownership and offline navigation apps sold as separate subscriptions per activity: Hunt, Offroad, Backcountry
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: MapQuest subscription tiers cost more per transaction than the pay as you go rate at low volume, since $119 a month for 30,000 transactions is roughly $0.004 each against $0.0045 on demand; onX Maps hunt, Offroad and Backcountry are entirely separate subscriptions, so a user needing more than one activity pays for more than one product with no combined bundle discount.
- They diverge on capability: MapQuest covers Core Functionality, onX Maps covers Land ownership boundaries.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which MapQuest and onX Maps actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (On request), free tier (No), 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 MapQuest
- Core Functionality
- User Interface
Only in onX Maps
- Land ownership boundaries
- Offline maps
- Waypoint and track marking
- Elite tier private land data
- 3D terrain view
- Weather overlay
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
MapQuest
- Geocoding, routing and static maps over an APInot onX Maps
- Adding directions and place search to an applicationnot onX Maps
onX Maps
- A hunter who needs to know exact private and public land boundaries before crossing onto a propertynot MapQuest
- An off-road driver planning a trail route with land ownership and access datanot MapQuest
- A backcountry skier or hiker wanting offline terrain maps without cell signalnot MapQuest
- Someone who does two or more of these activities and needs to budget for two or three separate subscriptionsnot MapQuest
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
MapQuest
- Subscription tiers cost more per transaction than the pay as you go rate at low volume, since $119 a month for 30,000 transactions is roughly $0.004 each against $0.0045 on demand
- The 50,000 free pay as you go transactions are described as available for a limited time rather than as a standing allowance
- Plan allowances are monthly and do not carry over
- Enterprise volume is custom priced
onX Maps
- Hunt, Offroad and Backcountry are entirely separate subscriptions, so a user needing more than one activity pays for more than one product with no combined bundle discount.
- Elite-tier pricing at roughly $99.99 a year per product is expensive if a buyer only occasionally needs the private land ownership data it adds.
- The apps are US and Canada focused, with more limited usefulness for international travel compared to a global mapping product.
- Land ownership data, while extensive, can lag real-world changes in property boundaries in fast-changing areas.
- It is not a general-purpose hiking or trail-review app in the way AllTrails or Gaia GPS are, so casual hikers without a land-boundary need may find the focus narrower than expected.
Pricing, plan by plan
MapQuest
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the MapQuest review.
onX Maps
On request- onX Hunt Elite$99.99/year
- Nationwide private land ownership data
- Recent satellite imagery
- Offline maps
- onX Offroad Premium$34.99/year
- Trail and land ownership maps for off-road use
- Offline maps
- onX Offroad Elite$99.99/year
- Everything in Premium plus nationwide land ownership and recent imagery
- onX Backcountry$29.99/year
- Backcountry ski and hike focused maps
- Offline maps
- Avalanche and terrain data
Which should you pick?
Choose onX Maps if
- You need land ownership boundaries.
- You work on iOS, Android, Web.
- You also want offline maps.
Questions people ask
- Is MapQuest or onX Maps better?
- Neither clearly leads. MapQuest starts at On request and onX Maps at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, MapQuest or onX Maps?
- MapQuest starts at On request and onX Maps at On request.
- Does MapQuest or onX Maps run on more platforms?
- MapQuest runs on Web. onX Maps runs on iOS, Android, Web.
- What is MapQuest best used for?
- MapQuest is most often used for geocoding, routing and static maps over an api, adding directions and place search to an application. Of those, geocoding, routing and static maps over an api and adding directions and place search to an application are not what onX Maps is typically brought in for.
- What can MapQuest do that onX Maps cannot?
- MapQuest covers Core Functionality, User Interface. onX Maps covers Land ownership boundaries, Offline maps, Waypoint and track marking, Elite tier private land data.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
MapQuest: What is the cheapest way to use MapQuest APIs?
The MapQuestGO plan offers 50,000 free transactions for a limited time, then charges $0.0045 per transaction. Monthly subscription plans start at $119/month for 30,000 transactions.
SourceonX Maps: Can I use one onX subscription for both hunting and off-roading?
No, onX Hunt, onX Offroad and onX Backcountry are separate apps with separate subscriptions.
MapQuest: Can I cache or store geocoding results on a monthly MapQuest plan?
No. Storing or caching geocodes is not allowed on monthly plans. Only Enterprise accounts can store geocodes off-map with the Extended Rights Geocoding feature.
SourceonX Maps: What does the Elite tier add?
Elite tiers add nationwide private land ownership data, more recent satellite imagery and partner discounts on top of the base Premium tier.
MapQuest: What happens if I exceed my MapQuest monthly transaction limit?
The MapQuest pricing page does not specify overage charges. Users can modify their plan selection from their account dashboard at any time to scale up.
SourceonX Maps: Does onX work outside the US?
Coverage is strongest in the US and Canada; usefulness elsewhere is limited.
MapQuest: Can I change my MapQuest plan mid-cycle?
Yes. Users can modify their plan selection from their account dashboard at any time, making it easy to scale as needs evolve.
SourceRelated pages
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