# Earthmate — user reviews > 151 indexed App Store user reviews of Earthmate by Garmin, rated 2.70/5 from 271 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/earthmate/id519247758/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/earthmate/id519247758.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 59 · 4★ 31 · 3★ 41 · 2★ 39 · 1★ 101 ## What do users think of Earthmate? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - 🚀 Offline maps - 📡 Satellite communication - 💬 Messaging functionality - 🗺️ Tracking and navigation **Cons** - 🐛 Unreliable Bluetooth connectivity - 🔍 Lacking detailed maps - 🔑 Login/sync issues - 🔧 Buggy and unstable - 🗓️ Frequent app crashes - 💰 Expensive subscription plans **Commonly reported bugs** - Invisible text fields - Disappearing waypoints and tracks - Inability to send preset messages from app - Incorrect wind speed display - Broken map downloads **Most requested features** - Apple Watch integration - Customizable preset messages - Improved map detail and customization - Seamless sync between app and device - Frequent message check intervals ## Newest reviews (20 of 151) ### 2/5 — Unreasonable fees *2026-06-14* I own a Garmin inreach mini and have had several years of good functionality with it, but after not using it for several months and suspending the plan I was shocked to find Garmin want A$70 activation fee on top of the monthly fee - which for me makes it uneconomical and not worth having. Really disappointed with Garmin after being a loyal customer for many many years. On principle I will also be cancelling my Garmin Connect premium subscription and will start to look at alternative watches and navigation products in the future. Poor play Garmin! ### 2/5 — No tracking history *2026-03-16, version 3.2.1* The app is not bad but my biggest problem with this is that you can’t see anything but the most recent tracking. If they fixed this it would be a 4-5 star app for me ### 2/5 — Can’t update firmware *2025-08-06, version 3.1.5* Can we talk about how the app will let you know the firmware of your inreach needs to be updated but can’t actually update the firmware? What in the circusware is this? ### 2/5 — Essential device, poor app *2024-10-22* I have had this app for years and it has a rotating assortment of bugs, glitches, and purposely removed useful features. Take for instance the preset messages. You are allowed to send 3 preset messages from the inreach without cost but you can’t send them from the app only paid messages. The app used to contain useful maps but has slowly removed the good maps (no more NOAA marine charts) as Garmin wants you to buy other devices. And now with the latest update you are not even able to customize the app. It used to be possible to set the banner buttons to be the most useful to you. (I want to be able to see if my device is connected to the inreach but now I have to go to “more” to check the device. I can’t imagine that the compass feature is so highly used that it deserves a main space on the banner.) ### 2/5 — So many ways to improve *2024-10-19* It astonishes me how Garmin has so many apps with overlapping features. Do I use messenger? This app (Earthmate)? Etc. None of these apps feel like they get any amount of dedicated developer resources; they all feel like half-baked, rushed out, clunky MVPs that never should have been submitted to the App Store. As a user, why can I not add or edit contacts with this app? It syncs with the website, but seemingly can only make that data call in one direction? As big of a brand that Garmin is, the way these apps function and are designed is nothing short of disappointing. Sure, they do work, but there’s SO much room for improvement. These apps feel like they ought to be paired with cheap knock-off devices, yet Garmin makes plenty of devices that costs hundreds of dollars, if not more. It’s clear that Garmin is not putting a priority ($$) on the software quality for the devices they make. That’s just sad considering the devices Garmin makes (and their intended use) and simply infuriating as a user. ### 1/5 — Won’t connect *2024-07-08, version 2.12.1* When I select my inReach Explorer’s ID to connect, the app just goes back a screen. I have to carry around an old Android device to be able to connect to this. ### 1/5 — Please fix garmin! *2024-04-21, version 2.12.1* iPhone 15 pro max 2020 trd off road 4Runner factory head unit Issues: garmin has to be re-paired to app every time after a few weeks of no use. Really annoying and the pairing is brutal. CarPlay will say accessory not supported when running Earthmate and make it so the iPhone cant connect with CarPlay. Phone will disconnect and reconnect over and over again. Tried different cables and a separate iPhone without the Earthmate app and my CarPlay is perfectly fine. If isolated this to the app. ### 1/5 — No character count *2024-02-05, version 2.12.1* I can’t see any way of getting a character count when composing messages. This is a massive oversight for an app that communicates with a device that sends messages with limited characters! ### 1/5 — DO NOT UPDATE to 2.12 *2023-10-18, version 2.12* Latest version cannot use any of your PHONE CONTACTS unless the numbering format begins with “+1”. This prefix WAS NOT required prior to this update. If your contacts do not include this prefix, you will need to either ADD “+1” to all your contact numbers or manually type the number when you want to send a text vi inREACH. Some fool at Garmin did not properly test this. ### 3/5 — Help in options *2023-10-10, version 2.11.1* Help in options doesn’t fully load the app page on my iPhone 12 ver 17.0.3. Have reloaded the app but bug still exists. Thanks, if you can get onto it. ### 2/5 — What are we paying for? *2023-08-01, version 2.11.1* I really want to know how Garmin can charge so much for something that only works half the time if your lucky. What’s the point of putting out an update if you can’t update the device itself. They have so many different apps you have to download just to see where your device falls. So I’m asking garmin WHAT AM I PAYING FOR IF THE THE DEVICE DOESNT DO WHAT ITS SUPPOSED TO? ### 3/5 — Functional enough for emergencies and redundancy *2023-07-20* Garmin Explore is a bit clunky sometimes to view and review tracks or other information you might have synced across platforms, but it does serve some purpose and function. It works well enough to use the message system when paired with an InReach. Would love to see smartwatch integration. For example, I often mount the device to my motorcycle to take advantage of the minimal info on it’s screen and give it a good clear view of the sky. I would like to have the option to send an SOS/message via Phone/InReach by a smartwatch app if it were hard to get closer to the motorcycle in an accident to access either my phone, also mounted to the mounted to the motorcycle, or InReach. There are always task specific apps that excel, but Garmin’s range of apps add function to their devices. ### 2/5 — Great for messages, but map downloads don’t work on iPhone 13. Tried reinstalling. *2023-06-25, version 2.11.1* I spent the past hour trying to download maps and still at 0% progress. I tried turning off Wi-Fi, reinstalling the app, trying a different Wi-Fi, etc. nothing worked. Good thing I have GAIA for navigation. ### 1/5 — Drops Bluetooth connection *2023-06-11, version 2.11.1* As many others have noted, this once reliable app now constantly says it is disconnected from Bluetooth despite the fact that both my phone and the inreach report a connection. When this happens the app becomes useless. Only fix is to disconnect Bluetooth and then reconnect but that only works sometimes. ### 1/5 — Refused to pair and connect with app *2023-04-22, version 2.11.1* It would say it had paired to my iPhone (11 pro) but I couldn’t the app to open via the ‘connect’ button. Hopeless, gave up. ### 1/5 — Doesn’t work *2023-01-18, version 2.11.1* Device paired to phone, subscription extorted, drive and explore apps working. Zumo xt paired as well. This app won’t recognize pairing and says I have no account. Verified this is a big fail. Waste of time. ### 1/5 — Criminally bad. *2022-12-25, version 2.11.1* This company should be held accountable for their terrible products and services. People’s lives are at stake and they don’t care that their products and software don’t work at all. I would never in my life but a Garmin product again. ### 2/5 — Jeff *2022-12-20* The Earthmate app keeps telling me I don’t have an active subscription but doesn’t allow me to set on up…igor633333 ### 2/5 — Not Happy *2022-10-16, version 2.11.1* I am going to join the ranks of the disgruntled here. The InReach Mini seems to be a fine piece of hardware. But so far the App and the Explore Garmin Website stink. Its a clunky arrangement to have to use the web based Explore Garmin site to configure messaging in the App and device. But the biggest gripe so far is I cannot log into my Garmin account and the reset password option is not working. Tried two different browsers. Something is really messed up. Just got the InReach. Hope to use it on a trip tomorrow. But can’t fully set it up. If it does not fix , I will probably be returning it. More later. Garmin could do so much better ### 4/5 — Needs a watch app *2022-09-09, version 2.11* This would be even better if I could could text from my Apple Watch when I leave my phone behind. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Garmin Lost a Customer *2026-06-06, version 3.2.2* Impossible to use. My inreach is now an expensive paperweight. Will not connect, will not work, JUNK! ### 1/5 — GPS location not updating *2026-02-16, version 3.2.1* For a while now, the app will not update your current location, compass stuck, altitude just says zero. Definitely would not trust the app anymore when compared to my in reach device. ### 1/5 — Failed during actual emergency. *2025-12-16, version 3.2* On a motorcycle ride deep in the mountains my engine blew up. No worries, I have my garmin inreach+ with me. I sent a text to my wife to call a tow truck. No reply in 3 hours. Thats not like her. Long story short come to find out that there was an update that the device needed and it bricked it until the device was updated. So it can be up to date and if garmin decides to push out an update while your out it make the device unusable until you can get it updated again. Total garbage. ### 1/5 — Do they even test their changes? *2025-11-23, version 3.2* Just ‘upgraded’ to v3.2, wish I hadn’t. It will work for maybe 4, 5 seconds, then lock up and be unresponsive for some apparently random amount of time. Has become basically useless, and if this issue isn’t fixed I’m off to another sat sos solution. My Mini is largely useless without Earthmate. ### 1/5 — App issues *2025-11-12, version 3.1.6* App really needs to be updated. Not user friendly at all! ### 1/5 — Where are my maps? (iPad v 3.1.5) *2025-09-25, version 3.1.5* I've used this app for years, ho-hum but it works. Or worked. Now I have to login when opening, and all my maps have disappeared. I've spent untold hours downloading maps, and now I have to start over. I no longer use my inreach mini for tracking, as I've been unable to sync the app, mini, and account for years. I'll keep my mini, for now, but this is another step backwards for Garmin. ### 1/5 — Failure during an emergency *2025-07-22* The app was a total failure during a real emergency. I had used it successfully before while out of range to send texts to family via my Garmin InReach, but this time during a real emergency, I couldn’t get into the app to send a message. When I opened the app I was prompted to re-login - which of course I couldn’t do without access to internet or cell signal. Duh, that’s what the Garmin InReach device is for!! It’s idiotic for the provider to require you to re-login when you can’t. As a result I couldn’t use the app during an emergency. I’ll likely get rid of my InReach because of this incident, and because luckily, my iPhone came with emergency satellite messaging which worked great. ### 1/5 — App not functioning, no support, planned obsolescence *2025-02-21, version 3.1.2* Beyond disappointed in garmin’s abandonment of inreach customers and inreach mini customers. Clearly, their lack of software updating for the inreach products is a marketing ploy to require you to buy a new product. After years of using my inreach products, I am now unable to pair it with my account or make it work. I have tried everything. Resets, updates, etc. Garmin support hours are extremely limited and almost nonexistent. ### 1/5 — Unreliable *2024-11-02, version 3.1* Occasionally a message actually comes through 8 + hours later. Inconvenient and non-intuitive apps. Loses connection to the iPhone. Can’t give it a zero rating. Will be deactivated as soon as I get home from this hunting trip to Adak Island. ### 1/5 — Garmin’s new motto, “Money over Safety” *2024-09-24, version 3.0.1* New plans are too expensive. I’ll be switching when my plan comes due. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Works great!! *2022-08-16, version 2.11* The earthmate app & in reach worked great. I used it with in on reach on a 6 day rafting trip on the middle fork of the salmon river; deep canyon walls, zero cell service for the entire trip. The only thing that I couldn’t get to work was an alert on my iPhone 13 but the inreach alerts user when a new message is available. ### 5/5 — NOAA CHARTS! *2022-07-27, version 2.11* I would have been 100% onboard with getting the mini2, HOWEVER! The removal of NOAA charts was a deal breaker for me. And TBH think I like the older digital compass. I’ll live with the shorter battery, it’s already good enough. If Garmin wants me to go to the mini 2 it should haven’t taken features away from the mini2 ### 5/5 — Great Nav App *2021-12-28* I use this app on my phone for navigating backcountry snowmobiling. I always carry my inreach in my pack for emergency use only. I use Earthmate on my phone for navigating. The downloadable topo maps have saved me many times, and have also helped me find new rideable areas as well. It seems many people have given negative reviews due to the inreach not linking up properly to their phone. I don’t usually ever mess with that. I keep it powered off in my pack. Using it for nav would be clumsy compared to using Earthmate. I save it incase my phone battery runs out or if I need to communicate while out of cell service for some reason. My only complaint about it would be that it only saves a certain amount of tracks. I’m not sure if it’s time or total mileage, but after a while old tracks will disappear. That said it stand by my five star rating, just for the fact of how many times it has helped me either get out of trouble or find new areas to get into more trouble. (Haha) ### 5/5 — Amazing inReach!! *2021-12-20, version 2.9.1* Love the gadget! I have a zumu xt gps unit and it’s amazing how the different devices share the information, way points and sync etc! Was easy to set up, activate and messaging works great. Love the technology really! Works with my iPhone no issues. Also desktop PC. Great instructions all round! Not a huge price to pay to keep safe if you are a regular! ### 5/5 — ***UPDATED REVIEW **** *2021-10-26, version 2.9.0* Cannot sync updated preset messages and contacts. Keeping getting error sayin MEID is not active. Have reported issue to garmin. Hope it can be resolved. Having to update contacts and preset messages from computer is a bummer especially when your out in the field. ***Update*** 10/26/21 Garmin solved issue. I need to edit my my phones name on iPhone. Sounds crazy, but if you have a space after you iPhone name it will not allow you to sync through Earthmate and will receive an error. After deleting the space. It works. Garmin has full details if you are having a hard time! Thanks guys! ### 5/5 — Help no longer visible under help tab. *2020-12-05, version 2.9.0* Options>help no information is visible. Thanks. ### 5/5 — Вопрос *2020-02-27* Скажите, а с garmin gpsmap 66i и с garmin gpsmap 86i прога работает? ### 5/5 — InReach Explorer *2019-08-06, version 2.8.3* We love our InReach Explorer we live off grid and have used it for a few years now to communicate with friends and family. It also gives our family a way to see where we are and know that we are okay, especially in the winter when we don’t go to town. It took a little getting used but not a big deal ### 5/5 — Катамаран Мана Мана *2019-05-01* Хорошая прога, крепкая. Я с инричем уже пять раз через океан сходил, удобно. ### 5/5 — I love it *2018-10-15, version 2.7.2* I use Earthmate almost ten months out of the year, out in the middle of the pacific. I love how easy it is to use with my iPad and iPhone for texting family back home from my Garmin Explorer+. It’s so easy to stay in contact with my loved ones now. Only wish it was easier to sync contacts. Other than that, I love it. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-11.*