# Garmin Explore™ vs r.485

The clearest difference is rating: Garmin Explore™ at 4.2 against r.485's 2.0. Garmin Explore™ also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ratings volume (1.1K vs 4). r.485's advantage is update cadence (every 10 days vs monthly) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. r.485 sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.99 per year. Garmin Explore™ asks for nothing beyond the download.

Garmin Explore™ holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Garmin Explore™ has 1.1K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 46% of Garmin Explore™'s written reviews are positive against 50% of r.485's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Garmin Explore™ ships an update monthly, r.485 every 10 days. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Garmin Explore™ | r.485 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.2 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/garmin-explore/id1276675721/reviews)** | [2.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/r485-navigation-and-more/id1502830009/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.1K** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 45.8% of reviews | **50.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | **#99** | — |
| Size | 452 MB | 25 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.4 | **9.3** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Garmin](https://appshunter.io/developer/411046952) | [r.485](https://appshunter.io/developer/1502646091) |

## What reviewers say

### Garmin Explore™

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

**Currently charting:** #99 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


### r.485

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/r485-navigation-and-more/id1502830009)

Plan routes with multiple stops and import GPX files. This lightweight navigator is designed for watch-based navigation, prioritizing battery life over advanced features like offline maps or automatic route recalculation.

**Highlights:** Multi-waypoint route creation, GPX file import, Lightweight watch navigation, Battery life optimization, Detailed driving instructions (with subscription)

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock all features | $9.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Garmin Explore™ free?

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

### Is r.485 free?

r.485 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Garmin Explore™ or r.485?

Garmin Explore™ is rated higher. Garmin Explore™ averages 4.2 out of 5 from 1.1K ratings, while r.485 averages 2.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do Garmin Explore™ or r.485 have ads?

Neither Garmin Explore™ nor r.485 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Garmin Explore™ or r.485?

Garmin Explore™ ships an update monthly, and r.485 every 10 days. Most recently, Garmin Explore™ was updated on November 3, 2026 and r.485 on November 3, 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.*