How to switch from Avenza Maps to NomadTracks (bring your maps across)

⏱ About 5 minutes · Applies to NomadTracks for iPhone, iPad, Mac & Apple Watch

Since Avenza's March 2026 change, the free tier no longer imports custom maps at all, and Plus ($34.99/year, per device) caps you at 20. If that's why you're here: the maps you use in Avenza are standard GeoPDF/GeoTIFF files, and NomadTracks imports them unlimited and free — no account, no per-device limit. Here's the clean way to move over.

Get NomadTracks free on the App Store

Round up your map files

The maps you imported into Avenza are ordinary GeoPDF/GeoTIFF files — you already have them, or can re-download them free from the source (USGS, BLM, national parks, agencies). Gather the ones you actually use into Files or iCloud Drive.

Import them into NomadTracks

Share each file to NomadTracks, or import from the Maps tab. Files with embedded georeferencing (most GeoPDFs) align automatically — your live position appears on the map, offline. There's no limit on how many you add.

A georeferenced map imported into NomadTracks, shown as a live overlay

Georeference anything that isn't already

Have a plain PDF, a scan, or a photo of a paper map? Set a few control points and NomadTracks aligns it in about two minutes, with a live accuracy readout — something Avenza can't do at all.

Bring your placemarks and tracks

In Avenza, export your placemarks/features as KML or GPX, then import them into NomadTracks. Names, notes and coordinates come across, so your saved spots aren't left behind.

Maps you bought in Avenza's store

Store purchases are licensed to the Avenza app and don't transfer — but the same official maps are very often free GeoPDFs from the original publisher (USGS quads, BLM sheets, park handouts). Re-download those from the source and import them the same way.

Tip: Do the whole import at home on Wi-Fi before your next trip — then everything's on-device and works with zero signal. Unlike Avenza's tiers, there's no map count to worry about.

FAQ

Can I move my Avenza maps to NomadTracks?

Yes — the maps you imported into Avenza are standard GeoPDF/GeoTIFF files. Import them into NomadTracks (unlimited and free) and they work offline with your live position. Maps you bought inside Avenza's store are licensed to that app, but the same official titles are usually available as free GeoPDFs from the publisher.

Will my Avenza placemarks and features transfer?

Yes — export them from Avenza as KML or GPX, then import into NomadTracks; names, notes and coordinates come across. Nothing is locked in either direction.

Is there a limit on how many maps I can import?

No. Unlimited custom map imports are part of the free NomadTracks core — no per-device cap, no yearly fee, no account.

What does NomadTracks do that Avenza doesn't?

It georeferences maps that aren't already georeferenced — a scan, a plain PDF, even a photo of a paper map — with a live accuracy readout, and wraps a full GPS recorder, POIs with photos, route planning and standalone Apple Watch recording around the map viewer. See the full NomadTracks vs. Avenza comparison.

Related guides

Get NomadTracks on the App Store