Garmin Explore™ vs PCT Sampling
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
PCT Sampling
This mobile tool simplifies soil sampling fieldwork by allowing users to create, edit, and delete soil plans. It offers robust offline capabilities, enabling work in remote locations and seamless synchronization of changes once back online.
- View, create, edit, and delete soil plans
- Offline work with local content download
- Manage changes and sync with server
- Seamlessly sync offline changes
- Navigate to specific points with precision
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Simplify soil sampling with our mobile app designed for fieldwork! Tailored to complement our desktop application, this tool enables users to: - View, create, edit, and delete soil plans. - Work offline by downloading local content. Access and modify soil plans even without an internet connection. - Use the Local Content page to manage changes and sync with the server. - Seamlessly sync all offline changes—such as new plans, edits, or deletions (once back online). Perfect for users who need to work in the field, the app allows you to make updates on-site and securely synchronize them with the server when you're back in the office. Streamline your soil sampling process with robust offline support and effortless data management! Key Features: Navigate to specific points with precision Offline Capabilities: PCT Sampling App is fully functional offline, so you can continue your work without interruption, even in remote locations
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: PCT Sampling at 5.0 against Garmin Explore™'s 4.1. PCT Sampling also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.4). Garmin Explore™'s advantage is ratings volume (1K vs 2) and chart position (#95 vs unranked). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
PCT Sampling holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Garmin Explore™ has 1K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Garmin Explore™ ships an update monthly, PCT Sampling every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and August 17, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Garmin Explore™ | PCT Sampling |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.1 (1K ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 45.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 1K — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | #95 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.4 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 449 MB | 84 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Garmin | PCT Agcloud |
Customer experience
Garmin Explore™
PCT Sampling
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
PCT Sampling
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Garmin Explore™
No in-app purchases
PCT Sampling
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Garmin Explore™ free?
Is PCT Sampling free?
Which has better reviews, Garmin Explore™ or PCT Sampling?
Do Garmin Explore™ or PCT Sampling have ads?
Which is updated more often, Garmin Explore™ or PCT Sampling?
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