# Garmin Explore™ vs CourseSpeed

The clearest difference is rating: CourseSpeed at 5.0 against Garmin Explore™'s 4.2. CourseSpeed also leads on device support (4 vs 2) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 18.4). Garmin Explore™'s advantage is ratings volume (1.1K vs 3) and chart position (#108 vs unranked). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

CourseSpeed holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Garmin Explore™ has 1.1K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Garmin Explore™ ships an update monthly, CourseSpeed every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Garmin Explore™ | CourseSpeed |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/garmin-explore/id1276675721/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/coursespeed/id1358742605/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.1K** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 45.8% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 4 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#108** | — |
| Size | 452 MB | 12 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.4 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Garmin](https://appshunter.io/developer/411046952) | [David Jennings](https://appshunter.io/developer/1358104370) |

## What reviewers say

### Garmin Explore™

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/garmin-explore/id1276675721)

**Currently charting:** #108 Top Free · Navigation (US App Store)

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.

**Highlights:** Off-grid navigation, Trip planning, Offline map downloads, Pair and sync with Garmin device, Activity library, Cloud storage, LiveTrack location sharing

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 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

**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

**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


### CourseSpeed

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/coursespeed/id1358742605)

This navigation app provides real-time course, speed, and position data on a clear display. It offers turn-by-turn navigation with voice prompts, map overlays, and the ability to save tracks and points of interest. Additional features include sunrise/sunset times, horizon distance calculation, and specialized functions for sailing and geocaching.

**Highlights:** Real-time course, speed, and position display, Turn-by-turn navigation with voice prompts, Map view with track history and waypoints, Save and load track history and points of interest, GPX file export for computer viewing, Sunrise/sunset times and horizon distance calculator, Anchor watch and geocaching search functions

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Garmin Explore™ free?

Garmin Explore™ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is CourseSpeed free?

CourseSpeed is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Garmin Explore™ or CourseSpeed?

CourseSpeed is rated higher. Garmin Explore™ averages 4.2 out of 5 from 1.1K ratings, while CourseSpeed averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do Garmin Explore™ or CourseSpeed have ads?

Neither Garmin Explore™ nor CourseSpeed shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Garmin Explore™ or CourseSpeed?

Garmin Explore™ ships an update monthly, and CourseSpeed every 4 weeks. Most recently, Garmin Explore™ was updated on November 2, 2026 and CourseSpeed on October 29, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*