Garmin Explore™ vs ShareSyncGo
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.
ShareSyncGo
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ShareSyncGo draws a live breadcrumb trail of your walk or ride on your Garmin watch. Share an address from Apple Maps or Google Maps → straight to your Garmin, with turn arrows and the distance to the next maneuver layered on top. Your phone stays in your pocket. WHY SHARESYNCGO • Breadcrumb trail on the watch — see exactly where you have been. The path you walked or rode is drawn behind you, so you can retrace your steps or spot when you have drifted off-route at a glance. • Works with the watches you already own — Fenix, Forerunner, Edge, Venu, vívoactive, Instinct, Epix, and more (any Connect IQ device). • Share to start. Send an address from Maps, Google Maps → pick walk or bike → go. • Real turn-by-turn — not just a compass bearing. Arrows, street names, and the exact distance to the next turn. • Smart haptics. Customizable vibration patterns for turns, arrival, and session start/stop so you can keep your eyes up. HOW IT WORKS 1. Pair your Garmin watch with Garmin Connect Mobile. 2. Share a destination to ShareSyncGo from Apple Maps or Google Maps, or pick a place inside the app. 3. Choose walking or cycling and tap Start. 4. Follow the turns on your wrist. Your phone can stay locked. SUPPORTED WATCHES Any Garmin watch that supports Connect IQ apps, including: Fenix 6 / 7 / 8 series · Forerunner 255 / 265 / 955 / 965 · Edge 530 / 540 / 830 / 840 / 1030 / 1040 / 1050 · Venu 2 / 3 · vívoactive 4 / 5 · Instinct 2 / 3 · Epix · Enduro · MARQ · Descent G1 / Mk3. PRIVACY ShareSyncGo runs on-device. Locations are used only to compute and follow your route; nothing is sent to our servers. No analytics, no ads, no third-party SDKs collecting your trips. REQUIREMENTS • iPhone running iOS 17 or later. • A Garmin watch paired through Garmin Connect Mobile. • The free ShareSyncGo companion app installed on the watch (one tap from Connect IQ Store). Made by a small team that walks and cycles for fun, and got tired of pulling the phone out at every corner. Feedback and feature requests are welcome — write to us through the in-app support link.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: ShareSyncGo at every 2 days against Garmin Explore™'s monthly. Garmin Explore™'s advantage is chart position (#112 vs unranked). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Garmin Explore™ ships an update monthly, ShareSyncGo every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Garmin Explore™ | ShareSyncGo |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.1 (1K ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 45.8% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 1K — better | — |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Best chart rank | #112 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 18.4 — better | 18.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 452 MB | 6 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Garmin | Tom Birnkammer |
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
ShareSyncGo
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Garmin Explore™
No in-app purchases
ShareSyncGo
No in-app purchases









