Disclosure: this blog is published by Offgrid66, which is a map app itself and still in testing. That is why every fact comes from the makers' own websites or the Finnish App Store, and we say separately what we could not confirm.
First: what do you need
The choice gets easier once you answer three questions.
- Will you be where the signal ends? In Lapland and many national parks the answer is yes. Then an offline map is not an extra but a basic requirement.
- Will you record a track for hours with the screen locked? If recording stops when the phone goes into your pocket, you lose the whole day's route.
- Do you want to pay once or subscribe? A one-time purchase is cheaper in the long run; a subscription usually brings more features.
The apps side by side
| App | NLS topographic map | Offline maps | Track recording | GPX | Price (Finland) | App Store FI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karttaselain (AccelBit Oy) | yes, free | Plus only | yes, free | import and export | free; Plus €10.49 / 2 months or €40.49 / 12 months | 4.5 (6.1k) |
| Lokimaps (Shingle Oy) | official Finnish topographic map | yes, for supported maps without PRO | yes, also in the background | import and export | free; PRO purchases €4.99–29.99, lifetime €99.99 | 4.5 (1.8k) |
| Topo GPS (RDZL B.V.) | yes, 1:20,000 and 1:50,000 | yes, for purchased maps | yes, also with the screen locked (Android manual) | import and export | one-time: 1:20,000 €3.99 or 1:50,000 €2.99 | 4.4 (956) |
| Map of Finland (Fioni Oy) | yes, named by the maker | not mentioned | yes | not mentioned | €4.99/month or €19.99/year | 5.0 (4) |
| Outdooractive | Finnish NLS map listed | yes, Pro | yes | not mentioned | Pro €29.99, Pro+ €59.99 | 4.3 (223) |
| Luontoon (Metsähallitus) | yes, also as a download | yes, free beta | not mentioned | route GPX download | free | 3.8 (12) |
| AllTrails | not mentioned | Plus and Peak | yes | export from the website | Plus €35.99, Peak €79.99 (yearly) | 4.7 (455) |
| komoot | not mentioned | first region free, others paid | yes | import and export | regions one-time, World Pack €29.99, Premium €59.99/year | 4.5 (850) |
| Retkikartta.fi / Excursionmap.fi (Metsähallitus, web) | as background map | no | no | not confirmed | free | no app |
| Karttapaikka (NLS, web) | yes | not mentioned | no | not mentioned | free | no app |
| Offgrid66 (test version) | yes | Pro | Pro, also with the screen locked | Pro | free; Pro €3.99/month or €29.99/year | not yet in the App Store |
The features are as stated by the makers; we did not test the apps for this comparison. "Not mentioned" means we found no information on the maker's site or in the app store, not that the feature is missing. Prices and ratings were read in the Finnish App Store on 16 Oct and checked again on 18 Oct 2026. App store prices can change.
What the table does not tell you
Karttaselain is Finland's best-known map app, and its free version has a lot: the topographic map, aerial photos, berry and mushroom maps and track recording. Offline maps, route drawing and sync need the Plus subscription. There is no monthly plan; the shortest period is two months. Karttaselain's help centre has its own article about track recording cutting out on Android devices.
Lokimaps (previously listed in the App Store as Maastokartta – Suomi) is an iPhone app where offline downloads work for supported maps without a PRO purchase. It also covers the official topographic maps of Sweden and Norway. The App Store does not show whether the PRO prices are one-time purchases or subscription periods, so check that before buying.
Topo GPS is a Dutch app where the Finnish maps are bought once: the basic map 1:20,000 costs €3.99 and the 1:50,000 map €2.99. They are separate products, and you do not need both. A one-time purchase with updates included is one of the cheapest ways in this comparison to get the National Land Survey map offline. The app is available in Finnish and English, but its description mentions no features of its own for Lapland needs such as huts or 112 information.
Luontoon is Metsähallitus's free app for national parks and other destinations. It has the National Land Survey topographic map, structures from Metsähallitus and the LIPAS database, and GPX downloads for trails. Offline maps are a free beta on both iPhone and Android. If you mainly need reliable destination information and a map without a network, start here.
AllTrails and komoot are international trail services that also list Finnish trails, for example in Oulanka and Urho Kekkonen National Park. Neither says it uses the National Land Survey topographic map. They are good for finding ready-made routes, but in the Lapland wilderness the detailed Finnish topographic map is often the better base.
Retkikartta (Excursionmap.fi in English) is Metsähallitus's free web map with huts, lean-tos and trails. Metsähallitus's own presentation from 2022 says it has no offline use and is not a service for navigating in the terrain. It is excellent for planning at home, but it does not replace an app in the wilderness.
Karttapaikka is the National Land Survey's free web service with no registration. You can print the map view for free, and it shows the coordinates recommended for emergency calls. It does not mention offline use.
Offgrid66: what it does differently
Offgrid66 is made for trips in Lapland. Its free tier includes the online map, your own places, measuring, sunset and the time back along your track, and an emergency card that shows your position in two formats and calls 112. Pro adds offline maps and route corridors, track recording with the screen locked, huts and lean-tos from the LIPAS database, aurora and weather, and GPX.
Offgrid66 is still a test version and is not in the App Store. If you want to try it, request a test invite.
Our pick by how you hike
- Occasional day hike within coverage: the free Karttaselain or Karttapaikka is enough.
- A trek in Lapland on a budget: Luontoon for free, a Topo GPS one-time purchase, or Lokimaps.
- You already use AllTrails or komoot at home: fine for finding trails, but download the Finnish topographic map in another app as well.
- All Finnish maps and forestry data in one app: Karttaselain Plus.
- A Lapland trip where safety matters most: see what Offgrid66 does.
Whatever you pick, download the map area to your phone at home on wifi and test it in airplane mode before you leave.
Sources (read 16 Oct 2026, checked 18 Oct 2026): Karttaselain features, Karttaselain prices, Karttaselain help: recording on Android, Lokimaps App Store, Topo GPS, map of Finland, Map of Finland App Store, Outdooractive App Store, Luontoon App Store, Luontoon: offline maps on Android (in Finnish), Fioni, Map of Finland, AllTrails App Store, komoot, Metsähallitus: Retkikartta presentation 2022 (in Finnish), National Land Survey, MapSite.