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Maps · head to head

onX Maps vs OpenStreetMap

onX Maps logo

onX Maps

Maps

Land ownership and offline navigation apps sold as separate subscriptions per activity: Hunt, Offroad, Backcountry

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
OpenStreetMap logo

OpenStreetMap

Maps

Collaborative project to create a free editable geographic database of the world

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only OpenStreetMap has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: 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.; OpenStreetMap data accuracy varies dramatically by geographic region depending on volunteer coverage
  • They diverge on capability: onX Maps covers Land ownership boundaries, OpenStreetMap covers Core Functionality.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which onX Maps and OpenStreetMap actually diverge.

Attributes where onX Maps and OpenStreetMap differ
AttributeonX MapsOpenStreetMap
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelSeparate per-product subscriptions, per user per yearUnknown
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsiOS, Android, WebWeb, API
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 onX Maps

  • Land ownership boundaries
  • Offline maps
  • Waypoint and track marking
  • Elite tier private land data
  • 3D terrain view
  • Weather overlay

Only in OpenStreetMap

  • Core Functionality
  • User Interface

What people use each for

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

onX Maps

  • A hunter who needs to know exact private and public land boundaries before crossing onto a propertynot OpenStreetMap
  • An off-road driver planning a trail route with land ownership and access datanot OpenStreetMap
  • A backcountry skier or hiker wanting offline terrain maps without cell signalnot OpenStreetMap
  • Someone who does two or more of these activities and needs to budget for two or three separate subscriptionsnot OpenStreetMap

OpenStreetMap

  • Supplying map data to websites, mobile apps and hardware devicesnot onX Maps
  • Community mapping of roads, trails, cafes and railway stationsnot onX Maps
  • Projects that need open map data and can meet the attribution requirementnot onX Maps
  • Building on map data where a share-alike licence is acceptablenot onX Maps

Where each one falls short

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

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.

OpenStreetMap

  • Data accuracy varies dramatically by geographic region depending on volunteer coverage
  • No minimum quality standards enforced, making data prone to errors and inconsistencies
  • Data completeness gaps, especially for minor roads and remote areas
  • Bias toward well-mapped regions with high volunteer activity
  • Positional accuracy concerns with only 70-76% of roads within 5-10 meter tolerance
  • Tag criteria not well-defined leading to logical consistency issues

Pricing, plan by plan

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

OpenStreetMap

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the OpenStreetMap review.

Which should you pick?

Choose onX Maps if

  • You need land ownership boundaries.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want offline maps.
onX Maps review

Choose OpenStreetMap if

  • You need core functionality.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, API.
  • You also want user interface.
OpenStreetMap review

Questions people ask

Is onX Maps or OpenStreetMap better?
Neither clearly leads. onX Maps starts at On request and OpenStreetMap at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, onX Maps or OpenStreetMap?
OpenStreetMap has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for onX Maps and Free for OpenStreetMap.
Does onX Maps or OpenStreetMap run on more platforms?
onX Maps runs on iOS, Android, Web. OpenStreetMap runs on Web, API.
Can I use OpenStreetMap for free?
Yes. OpenStreetMap has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. onX Maps starts at On request.
What is onX Maps best used for?
onX Maps is most often used for a hunter who needs to know exact private and public land boundaries before crossing onto a property, an off-road driver planning a trail route with land ownership and access data, a backcountry skier or hiker wanting offline terrain maps without cell signal, someone who does two or more of these activities and needs to budget for two or three separate subscriptions. Of those, a hunter who needs to know exact private and public land boundaries before crossing onto a property and an off-road driver planning a trail route with land ownership and access data are not what OpenStreetMap is typically brought in for.
What can onX Maps do that OpenStreetMap cannot?
onX Maps covers Land ownership boundaries, Offline maps, Waypoint and track marking, Elite tier private land data. OpenStreetMap covers Core Functionality, User Interface.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

onX 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.

OpenStreetMap: Is OpenStreetMap free to use?

Yes, OpenStreetMap is completely free and open-source under the Open Data Commons license. You can download and use map data for any purpose.

Source
onX 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.

OpenStreetMap: How accurate is OpenStreetMap?

OpenStreetMap accuracy varies by region. In well-mapped areas like developed countries, accuracy is generally high. Only 76% of OSM roads aligned within 10 meters of reference roads, with 70% within 5 meters.

Source
onX Maps: Does onX work outside the US?

Coverage is strongest in the US and Canada; usefulness elsewhere is limited.

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Related pages

More on onX Maps

More on OpenStreetMap

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