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Maps · head to head

onX Maps vs QGIS

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
Q

QGIS

Maps

Free, open-source desktop GIS application that supports viewing, editing, and analysis of

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • 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.; QGIS requires technical knowledge to use effectively for advanced GIS analysis
  • They diverge on capability: onX Maps covers Land ownership boundaries, QGIS 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 QGIS actually diverge.

Attributes where onX Maps and QGIS differ
AttributeonX MapsQGIS
Pricing modelSeparate per-product subscriptions, per user per yearfreemium
PlatformsiOS, Android, WebWindows, macOS, Linux

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 onX Maps

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

Only in QGIS

  • 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 QGIS
  • An off-road driver planning a trail route with land ownership and access datanot QGIS
  • A backcountry skier or hiker wanting offline terrain maps without cell signalnot QGIS
  • Someone who does two or more of these activities and needs to budget for two or three separate subscriptionsnot QGIS

QGIS

  • Creating thematic maps showing population density by regionnot onX Maps
  • Digitizing building footprints from satellite imagery for urban planningnot onX Maps
  • Analyzing proximity of retail stores to competitor locationsnot onX Maps
  • Performing spatial analysis of wildlife habitat suitabilitynot 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.

QGIS

  • Requires technical knowledge to use effectively for advanced GIS analysis
  • Desktop application does not include built-in web publishing capabilities

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

QGIS

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the QGIS 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 QGIS if

  • You need core functionality.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want user interface.
QGIS review

Questions people ask

Is onX Maps or QGIS better?
Neither clearly leads. onX Maps starts at On request and QGIS at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, onX Maps or QGIS?
onX Maps starts at On request and QGIS at On request.
Does onX Maps or QGIS run on more platforms?
onX Maps runs on iOS, Android, Web. QGIS runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
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 QGIS is typically brought in for.
What can onX Maps do that QGIS cannot?
onX Maps covers Land ownership boundaries, Offline maps, Waypoint and track marking, Elite tier private land data. QGIS 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.

QGIS: Is QGIS free and open source?

Yes. QGIS is free and open-source software, licensed under the GNU General Public License, available for download and modification by anyone.

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.

QGIS: What operating systems does QGIS support?

QGIS runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, with installers available for each platform.

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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