Softwr

Maps · head to head

SW Maps vs Verizon Connect

SW Maps logo

SW Maps

Maps

Free Android GIS data collector that pairs with external RTK GNSS receivers

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite
Verizon Connect logo

Verizon Connect

Fleet Management

See clearly. Act quickly. Drive change.

From
$40/month
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only SW Maps has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: SW Maps android only. There is no iOS version and no sign of one, which rules it out for organisations that issue iPhones and iPads to field staff.; Verizon Connect no transparent pricing published; requires contacting sales representatives
  • They diverge on capability: SW Maps covers Custom feature layers, Verizon Connect covers Real-time GPS tracking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which SW Maps and Verizon Connect actually diverge.

Attributes where SW Maps and Verizon Connect differ
AttributeSW MapsVerizon Connect
Starting priceFree$40/month
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsAndroidWeb, Ios, Android, Api
CategoryMapsFleet Management
FoundedUnknown2018

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 SW Maps

  • Custom feature layers
  • External GNSS support
  • Offline basemaps
  • Geospatial PDF layers
  • Vector import
  • Photo and media capture
  • Export formats
  • NTRIP client

Only in Verizon Connect

  • Real-time GPS tracking
  • Route optimization
  • Driver behavior monitoring
  • ELD/HOS compliance
  • IFTA reporting
  • Fuel management
  • Maintenance alerts
  • Dispatch management

What people use each for

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

SW Maps

  • An NGO or municipal utility mapping water points, pipe networks or road assets on a budget that cannot absorb per-user GIS subscriptionsnot Verizon Connect
  • A survey team pairing a low-cost RTK receiver with Android tablets to collect centimetre-accurate attributed features without buying field software seatsnot Verizon Connect
  • A university field course teaching GNSS data collection where every student needs the tool on their own devicenot Verizon Connect
  • A consultant doing a one-off asset inventory who needs shapefile or GeoPackage output and does not want to start an annual subscription for a three-week jobnot Verizon Connect

Verizon Connect

  • Fleet visibilitynot SW Maps
  • Route optimizationnot SW Maps
  • Compliance managementnot SW Maps
  • Driver safetynot SW Maps
  • Cost reductionnot SW Maps

Where each one falls short

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

SW Maps

  • Android only. There is no iOS version and no sign of one, which rules it out for organisations that issue iPhones and iPads to field staff.
  • There is no back end: no user management, no central project sync, no audit trail. Data lives on the device until someone exports it, and a lost tablet is lost data.
  • No commercial support contract exists, so an organisation with a compliance requirement for vendor support cannot use it for regulated work regardless of technical fit.
  • It is maintained by a small consultancy as a side product of its own project work, so the roadmap follows Softwel’s needs and a feature you depend on may never be prioritised.
  • Form logic is basic compared with dedicated survey platforms: no meaningful skip logic, validation or multi-user assignment, so complex questionnaires quickly outgrow it.

Verizon Connect

  • No transparent pricing published; requires contacting sales representatives
  • No free trial or freemium option mentioned
  • No feature-specific or a la carte pricing breakdown
  • Vague ROI claims without implementation cost or timeline details

Pricing, plan by plan

SW Maps

Free
  • SW MapsFree
    • All features included
    • External RTK GNSS support
    • Unlimited layers and exports

Verizon Connect

$40/month
  • Reveal$40/month
    • GPS tracking
    • Trip history
    • Geofencing
  • Reveal Plus$60/month
    • Everything in Reveal
    • ELD compliance
    • IFTA reporting
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Full platform access
    • Video telematics
    • Custom integrations

Which should you pick?

Choose SW Maps if

  • You need custom feature layers.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Android.
  • You also want external gnss support.
SW Maps review

Choose Verizon Connect if

  • You need real-time gps tracking.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
  • You also want route optimization.
Verizon Connect review

Questions people ask

Is SW Maps or Verizon Connect better?
Neither clearly leads. SW Maps starts at Free and Verizon Connect at $40/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, SW Maps or Verizon Connect?
SW Maps has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for SW Maps and $40/month for Verizon Connect.
Does SW Maps or Verizon Connect run on more platforms?
SW Maps runs on Android. Verizon Connect runs on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
Can I use SW Maps for free?
Yes. SW Maps has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Verizon Connect starts at $40/month.
What is SW Maps best used for?
SW Maps is most often used for an ngo or municipal utility mapping water points, pipe networks or road assets on a budget that cannot absorb per-user gis subscriptions, a survey team pairing a low-cost rtk receiver with android tablets to collect centimetre-accurate attributed features without buying field software seats, a university field course teaching gnss data collection where every student needs the tool on their own device, a consultant doing a one-off asset inventory who needs shapefile or geopackage output and does not want to start an annual subscription for a three-week job. Of those, an ngo or municipal utility mapping water points, pipe networks or road assets on a budget that cannot absorb per-user gis subscriptions and a survey team pairing a low-cost rtk receiver with android tablets to collect centimetre-accurate attributed features without buying field software seats are not what Verizon Connect is typically brought in for.
What can SW Maps do that Verizon Connect cannot?
SW Maps covers Custom feature layers, External GNSS support, Offline basemaps, Geospatial PDF layers. Verizon Connect covers Real-time GPS tracking, Route optimization, Driver behavior monitoring, ELD/HOS compliance.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

SW Maps: Is SW Maps really free?

Yes. It is free with no advertising and no paid tier. There is no subscription and no feature paywall.

Verizon Connect: How much does Verizon Connect cost?

Verizon Connect does not publish pricing on its website. Contact sales at (866) 844-2235 or request a callback for a custom quote. Plans are tailored to Small Business, Mid Market (50+ vehicles), and Enterprise.

Source
SW Maps: Does it support RTK receivers?

Yes, over Bluetooth or USB serial, with NTRIP correction support, antenna height and per-point fix quality recording.

Verizon Connect: Does Verizon Connect offer a free trial?

The website does not mention a free trial or freemium option. Contact sales directly to inquire about trial availability.

Source
SW Maps: Is there an iOS version?

No. Android only.

Verizon Connect: What payment options are available?

Payment options and billing terms are not disclosed on the public website. Contact Verizon Connect sales to discuss custom payment arrangements for your organization's needs.

Source
SW Maps: Who maintains it?

Softwel, an engineering consultancy in Kathmandu, Nepal, which built it for its own infrastructure projects.

SW Maps: Can we get support?

Not contractually. There is no commercial support agreement, which is the main reason organisations with compliance obligations choose a paid alternative.

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