Contors vs Spartan Forge
Spartan Forge and Contors are the two apps in this space that bet on computing — and they bet on different layers of the problem. Spartan Forge invests under the map: LiDAR terrain and UAV imagery. Contors invests on top of it: an AI that reads your property and works your map for you.
| Contors | Spartan Forge | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Purpose-built for whitetail — 100% of the product aimed at the deer you actually hunt | Deer-focused mapping built around LiDAR and UAV imagery |
| Pricing | Free plan (no card) · Pro $4.99/mo or $39.99/yr · Unlimited $9.99/mo or $79.99/yr | Free version · Paid $79.99/yr or $12.99/mo, one tier |
| Free trial | 14 days — the longest trial of any app on this page | Varies; free version available |
| State coverage | Every state included on every plan | All states, one price |
| Satellite & base maps | Three satellite providers in one app — Google, Esri, and USDA NAIP aerial — plus full USGS topo; switch per hunt | UAV imagery where covered, satellite elsewhere |
| Lidar / terrain shading | USGS 3DEP lidar shading on every tier — free included — and it layers over both topo and satellite | Proprietary LiDAR layer — 1m resolution for roughly two-thirds of the lower 48, on the paid plan |
| Property lines & owners | Parcel boundaries on every plan — including free; owner & contact info on Unlimited | Private and public land boundaries on paid plan; basic ownership on free |
| AI assistant | Scout acts, not just answers — drops pins, draws routes, plans hunts, grades wind on your terrain, and shows its work | CyberScout assistant (question-and-answer style) |
| AI stand rating | AI stand rating — every stand graded live against wind, thermals and your bedding | Not advertised |
| AI terrain analysis | AI terrain analysis reads your ground for draws, saddles and benches | LiDAR and slope layers for manual terrain reading |
| Buck tracking & trophy room | Buck Tracker & Trophy Room — hit-list profiles with AI age & score from trail-cam photos, sightings linked to your journal | Not advertised |
| Deer prediction / analysis | Buck Refuge Model — a bedding-security heat map computed from your own boundary, cover and pressure | AI deer-movement prediction model |
| Weather | 16-day forecast with wind, thermals and deer-movement conditions | Weather and lunar data |
| In-app support | Two taps to a monitored inbox — feedback and support built into the app, read by the builder | Help center and support channels |
| Referral program | Refer a buddy — you both earn a free month | Not advertised |
| Offline maps | Offline map areas — maps, pins and routes with zero signal | Offline maps on paid plan |
| Platforms | iOS app + full web/desktop | iOS, Android, desktop |
Where Spartan Forge fits
Its LiDAR layer (1m resolution over roughly two-thirds of the lower 48) is well regarded for terrain reading, and its movement-prediction model plus one-price plan are straightforward. UAV imagery coverage is regional — strong where it exists.
Where Contors pulls ahead
CyberScout answers questions; Scout does work. It places stands, draws routes, plans the morning against live wind on your terrain, and shows its reasoning — on mobile and desktop alike. The Buck Refuge Model grades bedding security from your own inputs. Contors starts at half the price ($39.99/yr Pro vs $79.99 single tier), matches at the top with landowner contact data included at $79.99, runs a 14-day trial, and carries a 16-day forecast. For raw terrain, Contors ships USGS lidar-derived hillshade and full topo rather than a proprietary LiDAR layer — that trade is honest, and the trial lets you judge it on your ground.
On imagery, Contors answers the LiDAR layer with lidar-derived terrain shading on every tier — free included — over both topo and all three satellite bases (Google, Esri, USDA NAIP), plus AI that reads that terrain for draws, saddles and benches rather than leaving the reading to you. The Buck Tracker & Trophy Room (AI age and score from trail-cam photos), AI stand ratings, two-tap in-app support and the referral program round out ground Spartan Forge’s materials do not advertise.
Bottom line
If a proprietary LiDAR layer is the feature you would pay for, Spartan Forge has it. For an AI that turns your scouting into decisions — at half the entry price with double-length proof time — that is Contors.
Try Contors Free — 14 Days Longest trial on this page · free plan needs no card
onX® and onX Hunt® are trademarks of onXmaps, Inc. HuntStand® is a trademark of TerraStride Inc. Spartan Forge® is a trademark of Spartan Forge. Contors is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any of these companies. Competitor information reflects each company’s own published materials as of August 2026; features and prices change — verify current details on their websites. “Not advertised” means we did not find the feature in the company’s published materials, not that it does not exist.