# Garmin Explore™ vs RO

The clearest difference is update cadence: Garmin Explore™ at monthly against RO's every 12 months. Garmin Explore™ also leads on chart position (#101 vs unranked). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Garmin Explore™ ships an update monthly, RO every 12 months. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Garmin Explore™ | RO |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.1 (1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/garmin-explore/id1276675721/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 45.8% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 12 months |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Best chart rank | **#101** | — |
| Size | 452 MB | 64 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.4 | 18.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Garmin](https://appshunter.io/developer/411046952) | [Coden ITC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1764118671) |

## What reviewers say

### Garmin Explore™

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

**Currently charting:** #101 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


### RO

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ro-bear/id6652549528)

**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 RO free?

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

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

Neither Garmin Explore™ nor RO shows ads.

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

Garmin Explore™ ships an update monthly, and RO every 12 months. Most recently, Garmin Explore™ was updated on October 19, 2026 and RO on October 2, 2026.

---

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