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Maps · head to head

Polaris Navigation GPS vs Topcon MAGNET

Polaris Navigation GPS logo

Polaris Navigation GPS

Maps

Professional GPS navigation for outdoor professionals

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Topcon MAGNET logo

Topcon MAGNET

Construction

Field, office and cloud software for surveying and civil construction, built around Topcon instruments

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Polaris Navigation GPS has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • They diverge on capability: Polaris Navigation GPS covers Precision GPS, Topcon MAGNET covers MAGNET Field.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Polaris Navigation GPS and Topcon MAGNET actually diverge.

Attributes where Polaris Navigation GPS and Topcon MAGNET differ
AttributePolaris Navigation GPSTopcon MAGNET
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreemiumquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsAndroidWindows, Android, Web
CategoryMapsConstruction
Founded2010Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Polaris Navigation GPS

  • Precision GPS
  • Multiple coordinate systems
  • Waypoint averaging
  • Area measurement
  • NMEA output
  • External GPS receivers
  • Bluetooth GPS
  • Local data storage

Only in Topcon MAGNET

  • MAGNET Field
  • MAGNET Office
  • MAGNET Enterprise
  • Machine control model preparation
  • Mass haul and earthwork
  • Point layout and stakeout
  • Live field to office link
  • Standard format exchange

What people use each for

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

Polaris Navigation GPS

  • Land surveyingnot Topcon MAGNET
  • Search and rescuenot Topcon MAGNET
  • Geocachingnot Topcon MAGNET
  • Field data collectionnot Topcon MAGNET

Topcon MAGNET

  • A civil contractor running Topcon grade control that needs design models prepared and pushed to machines from one environmentnot Polaris Navigation GPS
  • A survey crew doing construction layout with Topcon total stations and wanting field data to reach the office without a memory cardnot Polaris Navigation GPS
  • An earthworks estimator producing takeoff quantities and mass haul plans from engineering drawingsnot Polaris Navigation GPS
  • A firm standardising on one manufacturer end to end to reduce the number of software packages its crews have to learnnot Polaris Navigation GPS

Where each one falls short

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

Polaris Navigation GPS

Nothing recorded yet. See the Polaris Navigation GPS review.

Topcon MAGNET

  • MAGNET is built around Topcon and Sokkia hardware, so a firm running mixed instrument brands will not get the field workflows it expects and is better served by manufacturer-independent field software.
  • Topcon does not publish a rate card and sells through dealers, so two customers can pay materially different prices for the same licences depending on region and negotiation.
  • Cloud connectivity through MAGNET Enterprise is commonly bundled for the first year and then charged, which surprises firms that budgeted only for the licence.
  • Office capability is spread across modules and disciplines rather than sold as one product, so getting from data collection to machine control model preparation can require more than one purchase.
  • The office desktop software is Windows only and the wider line has been reorganised more than once, so buyers should confirm which specific product name their dealer is quoting and how long it will be supported.

Pricing, plan by plan

Polaris Navigation GPS

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Basic GPS tracking
    • Waypoint management
    • Multiple coordinate formats
  • Pro$5.99/one-time
    • NMEA output
    • External GPS support
    • Waypoint averaging

Topcon MAGNET

On request
  • MAGNET Field$undefined/year
    • Data collector licence
    • Sold through Topcon dealers
    • Annual service plan renewals available
  • MAGNET Office$undefined/year
    • Desktop licence with modules by discipline
    • Includes cloud connectivity for a first year
    • Renewal quoted separately
  • MAGNET Enterprise$undefined/year
    • Cloud project storage and field to office exchange
    • Subscription renewed annually
    • Bundled initially with Office licences

Which should you pick?

Choose Polaris Navigation GPS if

  • You need precision gps.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Android.
  • You also want multiple coordinate systems.
Polaris Navigation GPS review

Choose Topcon MAGNET if

  • You need magnet field.
  • You work on Windows, Android, Web.
  • You also want magnet office.
Topcon MAGNET review

Questions people ask

Is Polaris Navigation GPS or Topcon MAGNET better?
Neither clearly leads. Polaris Navigation GPS starts at Free and Topcon MAGNET at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Polaris Navigation GPS or Topcon MAGNET?
Polaris Navigation GPS has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Polaris Navigation GPS and On request for Topcon MAGNET.
Does Polaris Navigation GPS or Topcon MAGNET run on more platforms?
Polaris Navigation GPS runs on Android. Topcon MAGNET runs on Windows, Android, Web.
Can I use Polaris Navigation GPS for free?
Yes. Polaris Navigation GPS has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Topcon MAGNET starts at On request.
What is Polaris Navigation GPS best used for?
Polaris Navigation GPS is most often used for land surveying, search and rescue, geocaching, field data collection. Of those, land surveying and search and rescue are not what Topcon MAGNET is typically brought in for.
What can Polaris Navigation GPS do that Topcon MAGNET cannot?
Polaris Navigation GPS covers Precision GPS, Multiple coordinate systems, Waypoint averaging, Area measurement. Topcon MAGNET covers MAGNET Field, MAGNET Office, MAGNET Enterprise, Machine control model preparation.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Topcon MAGNET: Does MAGNET work with Trimble or Leica instruments?

Not as a practical daily workflow. It exchanges standard file formats but the field software is designed for Topcon and Sokkia hardware.

Topcon MAGNET: Is pricing published?

No. MAGNET is sold through Topcon dealers with quotes varying by region and configuration.

Topcon MAGNET: Is the cloud service included?

Typically for a first year with a licence, then renewable as a paid subscription.

Topcon MAGNET: Can I get my data out at project closeout?

Yes, through LandXML, DXF and standard survey exchange formats, though field-specific configuration does not transfer to a competitor.

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