# Tread® vs Backtrack

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Tread® at none against Backtrack's 3. Tread® also leads on ratings volume (459 vs 115). Backtrack's advantage is review sentiment (80% vs 63%) and chart position (#197 vs unranked). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Backtrack sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $29.99 per year. Tread® asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Tread® against 4.5 for Backtrack. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 459 and 115 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 63% of Tread®'s written reviews are positive against 80% of Backtrack's.

Tread® ships an update monthly, Backtrack fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 12, 2026 and November 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Tread® | Backtrack |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (459 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tread/id1518331465/reviews) | **[4.5 (115 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backtrack-gps-adventure-maps/id1587030105/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **459** | 115 |
| Positive reviews | 63.1% of reviews | **80.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#197** |
| Size | 289 MB | 127 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.5 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Garmin](https://appshunter.io/developer/411046952) | [Slope LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/891801577) |

## What reviewers say

### Tread®

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tread/id1518331465)

Track friends, plan routes, and sync navigation data between your smartphone and powersport device. Access live weather and smart notifications for an enhanced off-road experience.

**Highlights:** Track up to 20 friends on map, Sync waypoints, tracks, and routes, Plan routes on smartphone, Import/export GPX files, Smart notifications, Live weather updates

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Ability to plan routes on phone/tablet
- 🚀 Easy to sync routes to Garmin device
- 👍 Customizable route settings (e.g. adventure mode)
- 👍 Offline maps and navigation
- 👍 Seamless integration with Garmin devices

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Syncing issues between app and Garmin device
- 🐛 Corrupted/altered routes when transferred to device
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and glitches
- 👎 Unintuitive user interface, steep learning curve
- 👎 Limited functionality compared to competitors

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to save/load routes on mobile app
- Inconsistent behavior when importing routes
- Frequent disconnections between app and device
- Lack of metric units and other regional support

**Requested features**

- Web/desktop app for route planning
- Improved offline map coverage
- Collaborative route planning features
- Better organization and folder structure
- Larger text/UI options for accessibility


### Backtrack

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backtrack-gps-adventure-maps/id1587030105)

**Currently charting:** #197 Top Grossing · Navigation (US App Store)

Plan and navigate outdoor adventures like skiing, hiking, and biking with detailed maps and real-time weather. Collaborate with friends on shared routes and access backcountry ski information, including avalanche forecasts. Offers a free version with an optional Pro subscription for advanced features.

**Highlights:** Route planning and drawing, Collaborative map editing, Backcountry ski route information, Avalanche forecast and observations, Multi-layer map overlays, Real-time weather forecasts

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Backtrack Pro | $29.99 | per year |
| Backtrack Pro | $39.99 | per year |
| Backtrack Pro | $49.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Tread® free?

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

### Is Backtrack free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Tread® or Backtrack?

Backtrack is rated higher. Tread® averages 4.5 out of 5 from 459 ratings, while Backtrack averages 4.5 from 115 ratings.

### Do Tread® or Backtrack have ads?

Neither Tread® nor Backtrack shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Tread® or Backtrack?

Tread® ships an update monthly, and Backtrack fortnightly. Most recently, Tread® was updated on November 12, 2026 and Backtrack on November 11, 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.*