Comparison

Garmin Explore™ vs WAFFAPP

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Off-grid navigation
  • Trip planning
  • Offline map downloads
  • Pair and sync with Garmin device
  • Activity library
  • Cloud storage
  • LiveTrack location sharing
Currently charting
Read full description

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.

About

WAFFAPP

Discover and report hazards, prohibitions, and points of interest for outdoor activities. This collaborative app helps users stay safe by sharing real-time information about their routes, with an optional subscription for enhanced safety features and loved one tracking.

Highlights
  • Hazard and prohibition reporting
  • Points of interest discovery
  • Real-time route alerts
  • Collaborative community updates
  • Optional loved one tracking
  • Offline route planning
Features
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"Do you enjoy outdoor activities to relax or discover a region? Would you like to know which areas to avoid (prohibited dogs, patous, hunting zones, impassable or dangerous passages, ....)? and would you like to know where to find drinking water, panoramic views, remarkable natural sites, gites, ... on your route? in complete safety and to reassure your loved ones? We're offering you the chance to find all these points in a free collaborative application, thanks to all WaffAppers! WaffApp is dedicated to nature sports enthusiasts of all levels - runners, trail runners, Nordic walkers, hikers, mountain bikers, etc. .... - who want to ensure the safety of their activities by identifying and signalling dangers on their routes (dangerous dogs, active hunting zones, obstacles on the path, impassable trails, etc.) and who want to know more about places to see and drinking water refills. The principle is simple! 1- Use our geolocated map to find out about potential hazards or prohibitions, as well as useful information such as panoramic views or drinking water refills. 2- During your outing, the app alerts you when you reach the area. Report or validate hazards or useful information, in real time or after your outing 3- After your outing, you can update other WaffAppeurs.ses with photos or comments, and if necessary the information will be passed on to the Suricate network in France for action (impassable passages, repair of road signs, ....). Track+ is the subscription-based module for practicing your outdoor activities in complete safety, reassuring your trusted friends and family during your outdoor activities with or without network coverage: - No application to install or account to create for your loved ones: just a secure web link open on phone, tablet, PC, ... , - Data hosted in France and destroyed after the outing (data neither resold nor saved), - Tracking of the last GPS point only (battery saving and respect for your privacy), - Possibility of adding a planned GPS track or map photo to your outing for added security, - Alert your family and friends if you don't return on time with a message reminding them of your planned route and your last known GPS position, - Send a pre-written text message to a rescue number if you are in difficulty, indicating your last known GPS position. Terms of Use https://www.waffapp.fr/cgu Privacy Policy https://www.waffapp.fr/termes-et-conditions EULA (Standard Apple Terms of Use) https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/EULA

Screenshots

Garmin Explore™4 screens
WAFFAPP4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Garmin Explore™ at none against WAFFAPP's 2. Garmin Explore™ also leads on chart position (#101 vs unranked). WAFFAPP's advantage is review sentiment (72% vs 46%) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.4). On price, update cadence, ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. WAFFAPP sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per year. Garmin Explore™ asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Garmin Explore™ ships an update monthly, WAFFAPP every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Garmin Explore™ versus WAFFAPP: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGarmin Explore™WAFFAPP
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (1.1K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews45.8% of reviews72.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.1K — better—
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
Best chart rank#101 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.415.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size452 MB110 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperGarminRH5

Customer experience

Garmin Explore™

All ratings1,046 ratings
Positive77.5%
Neutral5.8%
Negative16.6%
Written reviews958 reviews
Positive45.8%
Neutral11.3%
Negative42.9%

WAFFAPP

Written reviews29 reviews
Positive72.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative27.6%

Bugs and 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

WAFFAPP

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Garmin Explore™

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

WAFFAPP

Subscriptions2
  • Waffapp ad free$4.991 Year
  • Waffapp Protec$10.491 Year

Questions

Is Garmin Explore™ free?
Garmin Explore™ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is WAFFAPP free?
WAFFAPP is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Garmin Explore™ or WAFFAPP have ads?
Neither Garmin Explore™ nor WAFFAPP shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Garmin Explore™ or WAFFAPP?
Garmin Explore™ ships an update monthly, and WAFFAPP every 3 weeks. Most recently, Garmin Explore™ was updated on October 24, 2026 and WAFFAPP on October 17, 2026.

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