GPS Coordinate Converter vs Garmin Explore™
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
GPS Coordinate Converter
Easily convert between various geographic coordinate formats, measure distances and bearings between points on a map, and access an onboard database of aviation navigation aids. Includes a specialized keyboard for accurate data entry and the ability to save favorite locations.
- Coordinate format conversion (decimal degrees, DMS, UTM, MGRS, etc.)
- Distance and bearing measurement on a map
- Onboard database of airports and navigation aids
- Save and recall frequently used coordinates
- Specialized keyboard for accurate data entry
- Time zone and postal address lookup (requires internet)
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GPS Coordinate Converter is an advanced, yet simple to use mobile application designed for converting geographic coordinate formats, and for measuring distance and bearing between coordinates. Convert ===================== Easily and quickly convert between coordinate formats including decimal degrees, degrees-minutes-seconds, degrees and decimal minutes, UTM, MGRS, ARINC 424, and FMS style coordinates. Measure ===================== The app measures distance and bearing between two coordinates by placing them on a map and tracing a line that follows the curvature of the Earth between them. The distance and bearing information are displayed below the map in Nautical Miles, Nautical Miles UK, Kilometers and Statute Miles. Time zone and postal address are also shown when an internet connection is available. Onboard database ===================== Included is a built-in database useful for finding the coordinate of an airport, heliport, and radio navigation aids, including VOR, VORTAC, NDB, and DME. Bookmarks ===================== Save and recall frequently used coordinates. Specialized Keyboard ===================== We added a new on-screen keyboard built specifically for working with geographic coordinates. This new keyboard will guide and help you avoid common data entry mistakes. Yes, copy and paste works too, and we'll validate and adjust what you paste accordingly. We think you are going to love this new keyboard. It makes it easy to do the right thing, and hard to do the wrong thing. .
Garmin Explore™
Navigate off-grid with this app, which pairs with a compatible Garmin device for trip planning, mapping, and navigation even without Wi-Fi or cellular service. Plan routes, download maps for offline use, and sync data to the cloud.
- Off-grid navigation
- Trip planning
- Offline map downloads
- Pair and sync with Garmin device
- Activity library
- Cloud storage
- LiveTrack location sharing
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OFF-GRID NAVIGATION When paired with your compatible Garmin device(1), the Garmin Explore app lets you use your mobile device for outdoor navigation, trip planning, mapping and more — with or without Wi-Fi® connectivity or cellular service. SEARCH TOOL Easily locate geographic points — such as trailheads or mountain summits — associated with your adventure. STREAMING MAPS For pre-trip planning, you can use the Garmin Explore app to stream maps when you’re within cellular or Wi-Fi range — saving valuable time as well as storage space on your mobile device. Download maps for offline use when venturing outside cellular range. PAIR, SYNC AND SHARE With Garmin Explore, you can pair your smartphone or tablet with your compatible Garmin device to sync and share data for off-grid adventures. Use downloadable maps for navigation anywhere. EASY TRIP PLANNING Plan your next trip by downloading maps and creating courses. Specify your start and finish points, and automatically create a course you can sync with your compatible Garmin device. ACTIVITY LIBRARY Under the Saved tab, review and edit your organized data, including your saved waypoints, tracks, courses and activities. See map thumbnails to easily recognize your trips. SAVED COLLECTIONS The collections list allows you to quickly find all data related to any trip — making it easy to sort and locate the course or location you’re looking for. CLOUD STORAGE The waypoints, courses and activities you’ve created will automatically sync to your Garmin Explore web account when you’re within cellular or Wi-Fi range, preserving your activity data with cloud storage. A Garmin account is required for storing your data in the cloud. LIVETRACK™ With the use of the LiveTrack™ feature, loved ones can follow your location in real time(2) and see data such as distance, time and elevation. What You Get with Garmin Explore • Unlimited map downloads; access topographic maps, USGS quad sheets and more • Aerial imagery • Waypoints, tracking and route navigation • High-detail GPS trip logging and location sharing • Unlimited cloud storage of routes, waypoints, tracks, and activities • Online trip planning 1. https://explore.garmin.com/appcompatibility 2. When used with your compatible smartphone, the Garmin Explore® app and your compatible inReach® technology-enabled Garmin device. The Bluetooth word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Garmin is under license.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: GPS Coordinate Converter at 100% against Garmin Explore™'s 46%. GPS Coordinate Converter also leads on rating (4.6 vs 4.2) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 18.4). Garmin Explore™'s advantage is price (Free vs $8.99) and update cadence (monthly vs every 8 months). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Garmin Explore™ is free to download; GPS Coordinate Converter costs $8.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
GPS Coordinate Converter holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Garmin Explore™ has 1.1K ratings behind it against 12, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of GPS Coordinate Converter's written reviews are positive against 46% of Garmin Explore™'s.
GPS Coordinate Converter ships an update every 8 months, Garmin Explore™ monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | GPS Coordinate Converter | Garmin Explore™ |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $8.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.6 (12 ratings) — better | 4.2 (1.1K ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better | 45.8% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 12 | 1.1K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Best chart rank | — | #103 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 — better | 18.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 8 MB | 452 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Aviation Mobile Apps, LLC. | Garmin |
Customer experience
GPS Coordinate Converter
Garmin Explore™
Bugs and requests
GPS Coordinate Converter
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Garmin Explore™
Reported bugs
4 issues- Sync failures between app and Garmin devices
- Disappearing or corrupted user data
- Compatibility issues with newer iOS/Android versions
- Unreliable offline map downloads
Requested features
5 requests- 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
In-app purchases
GPS Coordinate Converter
No in-app purchases
Garmin Explore™
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is GPS Coordinate Converter free?
Is Garmin Explore™ free?
Which has better reviews, GPS Coordinate Converter or Garmin Explore™?
Do GPS Coordinate Converter or Garmin Explore™ have ads?
Which is updated more often, GPS Coordinate Converter or Garmin Explore™?
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