# Garmin Explore™ — user reviews > 544 indexed App Store user reviews of Garmin Explore™ by Garmin, rated 4.10/5 from 1,015 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/garmin-explore/id1276675721/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/garmin-explore/id1276675721.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 658 · 4★ 123 · 3★ 61 · 2★ 52 · 1★ 121 ## What do users think of Garmin Explore™? Overall sentiment: neutral **Pros** - 👍 Easy to use - 🚀 Excellent for planning routes and activities - 💡 Great for offline navigation with downloaded maps - 👍 Seamless integration with Garmin devices - 👍 Useful for tracking and sharing adventures **Cons** - 🐛 Sync issues with Garmin devices - 🔍 Lacking detailed map options in some regions - 🔍 Confusing interface and terminology - 🐛 Crashes and performance issues - 🔒 Requires login and internet connection for full functionality **Commonly reported bugs** - Sync failures between app and Garmin devices - Disappearing or corrupted user data - Compatibility issues with newer iOS/Android versions - Unreliable offline map downloads **Most requested features** - Ability to edit waypoint coordinates - More customization options for map layers and displays - Improved route planning and navigation features - Better syncing and data management between app and devices - Support for more Garmin device models ## Newest reviews (10 of 544) ### 4/5 — Endlich modernisiert ‼️ *2026-08-21* Endlich sind skalierbare 3D Karten integriert. Die App ist zwar immer noch etwas „fummelig“ aber in Verbindung mit meinem Garmin Montana 750i oder der Fenix 8 eine gute Kombi. Das TopoActive Kartenmaterial ist gewöhnungsbedürftig, aber dafür sehr informativ. Danke an die Entwickler für die Pflege der App. ### 4/5 — 使い心地 *2026-08-20* 使いやすいですよ。 ### 2/5 — Poor Concept *2026-08-15* Not sure if “concept” is the right word, but there is a massive issue with the way this app functions. Every single time I use this app in the backcountry without internet, it seems to lack some sort of feature and the app says: “a-ha! Told You so!!! You should have downloaded this (or that) BEFORE your trip!” Whether it logs you out during updates (and then you can’t log in without internet?!), or the maps somehow disappear and you loose your regional package (then you end up using Google Maps)…these are fundamental flaws making this app completely unreliable, which is unfortunate because the Garmin devices are so great. 1. Stop relying so much on internet for this app to function. 2. This app needs to be accessible without logging in. 3. The map needs to work completely or not at all. ### 4/5 — Etwas Altmodische App *2026-07-21* Gute App die funktioniert, ein neueres Design und einfachere Bedienung wären hilfreich. ### 2/5 — Doesn't work for my average quality watch... *2026-07-12, version 4.14.1* I was looking forward to this, my watch is a 1 year old Forerunner 265, which I think of as an okay & somewhat newer watch. But this is only for premium devices, plus it looks like Garmin charges for everything... of course. I'm a little disappointed by Garmin. I've had other similar experiences. I might be going back to my apple watch at some point.... ### 4/5 — Used world wide *2026-07-10, version 4.14.1* Pretty good but specific to its devices. Still believe Gaia (outside wilderness)is the best with Google Maps for urban and quick fix ### 3/5 — Needs work *2026-06-10, version 4.14.1* I should be able to put satellite and parcel maps and other maps the subscription includes. For the Montana 700i and 7xx devices. Instead Garmin gate keeps that. Why? I see know why people are selling devices. Since the manufacturers are greedy and want to gate keep everything from their devices. ### 2/5 — Not great off grid *2026-06-04, version 4.3.1* I just finished a 9 mile run in the Frozen head state park near Knoxville. It was close enough to society that I wasn’t really nervous, but I went a mile off course because I thought my location was updating on the map. It wasn’t updating for some reason. It was also paired to my remix epix so not sure why it wouldn’t update! So frustrating. I was able to just relay on the map on my watch and put the phone away. I’m also very confused about why I need this app and what I’m supposed to do with it. Base map needs a 3D option. ### 4/5 — Almost great *2026-05-11, version 4.14* I love the app, however a bit disappointed that it does not work with my Edge MTB cycle computer. Makes no sense it works with the watches but not all Garmin products. ### 2/5 — New and Inferior with Broken Features and Buggy Performance *2026-05-02, version 4.10.1* I legitimately cannot believe that you could have made such a bad product out of such an amazing product. The routing features became worse. You moved the routing engine to the cloud (you do realize people use this in the backcountry???) and yet you made the app take up MORE space with less functionality. It loads slower. Seriously Garmin devs, what gives?! ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — 同期できない *2026-08-02* デバイスがビジー状態です。と表示されて同期されない。アクテビティとか何もやってない状態なのに、、。アプリを入れ直したり、コネクトからもデバイス削除して入れ直してみたり、色々試したけど同じ表示がされて同期しない。 ### 1/5 — Buggy and crashes *2026-07-13, version 4.14.1* Buggy and crashes ### 1/5 — Not useful in Australia *2026-06-27, version 4.14.1* No Garmin Trails feature in Australia. All you get is a map you can little download offline from Google maps. So why pay for a feature in Australia if you aren’t adding the Garmin Trails feature for the many great hiking trails here in Australia? ### 1/5 — Offline Maps Disappeared While On A Journey *2026-06-27, version 4.14.1* I only needed the topographical map that’s included at no extra cost and successfully downloaded it and started using it on our journey in the remote North. However, the offline map data disappeared and now it’s not available for redownload. NOT RECOMMENDED IF YOU HAVE TO RELY ON IT. ### 1/5 — Unusable after new update *2026-06-16* I’ve been using this app for a couple years and it’s always been slow and buggy, but the most recent update made it unusable. Suddenly I can’t do anything without it crashing. I open the app, it crashes and quits. Then I just tried 3 times in a row to add a new route and it crashed on me every time. I’m on my home WiFi too, not even out in the backcountry where I might have spotty service. It’s worse in the backcountry now too. Last weekend, when I was on a long trail run with spotty cell service, I was following a complex “Garmin Trails” route that kept blinking and disappearing from the map. This has never happened to me in the past, and I’ve relied on this app for navigation in the wilderness in previous years. Yet another app that keeps getting worse over time while the subscription push coincidentally gets more aggressive. ### 1/5 — Just awful to use *2026-06-16, version 4.14.1* The UI on this app is a total joke. It’s obvious the dev team don’t go outside and use their own product. ### 1/5 — The app crash after a few seconds *2026-06-16* The garmin app maze. Very frustrating when you need to send important messages that the app simply freezes. Ive try the messenger app too and it also freezes. By the way why would anyone use the garmin messenger app to send anything else than gps messages. What is the point? ### 1/5 — Could not download a map *2026-06-06, version 4.14.1* No go ### 1/5 — Amazing potential, impossible to fathom! *2026-05-09, version 4.14* Just can’t work out how it all works . Complicated inter Garmin app processes. All I want to do is download a gpx file to my Eipix gen 2 ????? ### 1/5 — Stuck in settings menu *2026-05-05* Stuck in the backlight menu and can't get out of it. Not frozen just can't go back. And can't connect to my Inreach Mini 2. Keeps saying sync failed but everything looks fine. Spent so much money on my Garmin and we get sub-par Garmin interface and apps. Not good. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Great addition to my outdoor kit *2026-08-24* Had a spot messenger years ago, didn’t really like it much. The Garmin messages and explore apps paired with the inreach mini2 gives me the freedoms to go where I want and keep my family in the loop. Any adventure away from home should have this set up. Thank you Garmin for another amazing product and service. ### 5/5 — Good so far. *2026-07-31, version 4.14.1* Working good for me so far ### 5/5 — Harold 😎 *2026-07-31, version 4.14* Living and hunting Alaska the Gps map66i is a great tool . Thanks! ### 5/5 — Explorer is awesome *2026-07-17, version 4.14.1* Love it ### 5/5 — Simple et efficace *2026-07-10* Interface intuitive, fonds de carte clairs et connexion avec la montre fluide ### 5/5 — Great Product *2026-07-06, version 4.14.1* This is a great app, especially on road trips. Thai app needs to be rebooted once in a while, but great overall. ### 5/5 — Perfect Pairing *2026-07-04, version 4.14.1* What a perfect pairing with Garmin devices. The maps are better than paid apps. I love the simplicity of everything once synched across from device. 10/10 ### 5/5 — good *2026-05-21* very convenient ### 5/5 — Maps for India *2026-05-03* Quite useful for planning tours. ### 5/5 — Love this app *2026-05-02* Very easy to use and pair with gps : phone --- *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 2026-09-09.*