Comparison

Geocaching® vs Garmin Explore™

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Geocaching®

Discover millions of hidden containers worldwide with this app. It guides you through finding your first geocache with tips and instructions. Navigate using maps, compass, or driving directions, and connect with a global community of treasure hunters.

Highlights
  • View geocache details, activity, and hints
  • Navigate via map, compass, or directions
  • Live Search for nearby geocaches
  • Find traditional geocaches and events
  • Message other players
  • Trackable item management
  • Log geocaches with photos
Features
Read full description

Join the world’s largest treasure-hunting community with the official app for geocaching. Whether you are off to find your first geocache or your ten-thousandth, this app is your ultimate geocaching toolbox. There are millions of clever containers called geocaches hidden in almost every country on Earth, just waiting to be found—there are probably even some near you right now.

 Just getting started? This app walks you through the adventure of finding your first few geocaches. There are tips, hints, and instructions for geocaching as well as using the app.
 Core Features: ● See details with description, recent activity, attributes, and hints for each geocache ● Navigate to the cache using map, compass, or driving directions ● Live Search continuously updates nearby geocaches as you move ● Find all easy Traditional geocaches and geocaching events ● Message other players for tips, hints, and more ● Learn about trackables: geocaching game pieces that travel from geocache to geocache ● Adjust your navigation and distance settings to your personal preference ● Access to GeoTour caches of all cache types and D/T ratings
 Search and Sorting: ● Search for GC codes, locations, landmarks, and neighborhoods ● Search for GeoTours by GT code or see a directory of all GeoTours worldwide ● Sort by distance Trackables: ● Search for trackables ● Log trackables - grab, retrieve, drop, dip, or discover ● View your trackable inventory Logging: ● Log a geocache now or save as a draft for later ● Add photos to share your adventure ● Improve cache quality by reporting geocaches that need maintenance Map Options: ● Street ● Satellite ● Hybrid Unlock even more adventure with Geocaching Premium: ● Find any geocache in the world, including Premium Member Only caches ● Filter geocaches by size, type, difficulty, terrain, and found/owned ● Sort lists of geocaches by distance, Favorite points, or geocache name ● Geocache anywhere, anytime with offline maps ● Take the road less traveled with Trails map ● Plan, add, or edit your next adventure with Lists ● Award Favorite points to geocaches you enjoy most ● Auto-sync Lists and Pocket Queries created on the Geocaching website ● Gain access to all Premium features on the Geocaching website We are committed to building the best tools for geocachers to create, share, and play this game. By joining and maintaining your Premium membership, you are helping to shape the future of Geocaching. In addition to your support of the game, Premium members also get access to more features, more geocaches, and more adventure. You can buy a Premium membership subscription through your iTunes account. Premium membership is available with a monthly or annual subscription. You can subscribe and pay through your iTunes account. Your subscription will automatically renew unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during active subscription period. Terms of use: https://www.geocaching.com/about/termsofuse.aspx

About

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.

Highlights
  • Off-grid navigation
  • Trip planning
  • Offline map downloads
  • Pair and sync with Garmin device
  • Activity library
  • Cloud storage
  • LiveTrack location sharing
Currently charting
Read full description

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.

Screenshots

Geocaching®4 screens
Garmin Explore™4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Geocaching® at 4.8 against Garmin Explore™'s 4.1. Geocaching® also leads on review sentiment (70% vs 45%) and ratings volume (66K vs 1K). Garmin Explore™'s advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 12). On price, update cadence, ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Geocaching® sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Garmin Explore™ asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Geocaching® holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Geocaching® has 66K ratings behind it against 1K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 70% of Geocaching®'s written reviews are positive against 45% of Garmin Explore™'s.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Geocaching® ships an update fortnightly, Garmin Explore™ monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Geocaching® versus Garmin Explore™: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGeocaching®Garmin Explore™
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (66K ratings) — better4.1 (1K ratings)
Positive reviews70.2% of reviews — better45.1% of reviews
Number of ratings66K — better1K
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
Best chart rank#12 — better#96
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.0 — better18.4
Further details — not scored
Size136 MB452 MB
Age rating17+12+
DeveloperGroundspeak Inc.Garmin

Customer experience

Geocaching®

All ratings65,977 ratings
Positive96.6%
Neutral1.2%
Negative2.2%
Written reviews772 reviews
Positive70.2%
Neutral7.4%
Negative22.4%

Garmin Explore™

All ratings1,046 ratings
Positive77.5%
Neutral5.8%
Negative16.6%
Written reviews546 reviews
Positive45.1%
Neutral11.9%
Negative43.0%

User reviews

Geocaching®

From 66K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fun outdoor activity
  • 🌳 Explores new places
  • 👍 Great family activity
  • 🗺️ Useful navigation features
  • 📸 Ability to log finds and photos

Room to improve

  • 💰 Expensive premium subscription
  • 🔒 Locking higher difficulty caches behind paywall
  • 🐛 Occasional app crashes and bugs
  • 🗺️ Inaccurate or limited map features
  • 🔋 High battery consumption

Garmin Explore™

From 1K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 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

Room to improve

  • 🐛 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

Bugs and requests

Geocaching®

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Inability to log trackables from the app
  • Inconsistent performance when zooming and panning maps
  • Unreliable GPS and compass functionality
  • Difficulty canceling premium subscription

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to edit cache descriptions and add images
  • Option to filter by cache placement year
  • Trackable journey tracking on the app
  • Seamless integration with other navigation apps
  • Offline caching data and navigation

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

In-app purchases

12 purchases

Geocaching®

Subscriptions10
  • Monthly Premium Membership$5.991 Month
  • Monthly Premium membership$6.991 Month
  • 2 Shareables Yearly Subscription$9.991 Year
Show 7 more
  • 5 Shareables Yearly Subscription$11.991 Year
  • 2 Shareables Yearly Subscription$11.991 Year
  • 10 Shareables Yearly Subscription$14.991 Year
  • 5 Shareables Yearly Subscription$14.991 Year
  • 10 Shareables Yearly Subscription$17.991 Year
  • Annual Premium Membership$29.991 Year
  • Annual Premium membership$39.991 Year
One-time2
  • 3-month membership$9.99
  • 1-year membership$29.99
None

Garmin Explore™

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Geocaching® free?
Geocaching® is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Garmin Explore™ free?
Garmin Explore™ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Geocaching® or Garmin Explore™?
Geocaching® is rated higher. Geocaching® averages 4.8 out of 5 from 66K ratings, while Garmin Explore™ averages 4.1 from 1K ratings.
Do Geocaching® or Garmin Explore™ have ads?
Neither Geocaching® nor Garmin Explore™ shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Geocaching® or Garmin Explore™?
Geocaching® ships an update fortnightly, and Garmin Explore™ monthly. Most recently, Geocaching® was updated on October 1, 2026 and Garmin Explore™ on September 30, 2026.
Which is more popular, Geocaching® or Garmin Explore™?
Geocaching® currently peaks at #12 in the App Store charts, and Garmin Explore™ at #96. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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