# Garmin Explore™ vs PCT Sampling

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Garmin Explore™ | PCT Sampling |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/garmin-explore/id1276675721/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pct-sampling/id6511208417/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 45.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#95** | — |
| Size | 449 MB | 84 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.4 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Garmin](https://appshunter.io/developer/411046952) | [PCT Agcloud](https://appshunter.io/developer/1755469946) |

## What reviewers say

### Garmin Explore™

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

**Currently charting:** #95 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


### PCT Sampling

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pct-sampling/id6511208417)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Garmin Explore™ free?

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

### Is PCT Sampling free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Garmin Explore™ or PCT Sampling?

PCT Sampling is rated higher. Garmin Explore™ averages 4.1 out of 5 from 1K ratings, while PCT Sampling averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Garmin Explore™ or PCT Sampling have ads?

Neither Garmin Explore™ nor PCT Sampling shows ads.

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

Garmin Explore™ ships an update monthly, and PCT Sampling every 3 weeks. Most recently, Garmin Explore™ was updated on September 25, 2026 and PCT Sampling on August 17, 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.*