# Geocaching® vs Garmin Explore™

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.

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.

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.

Geocaching® ships an update fortnightly, Garmin Explore™ monthly. Both last shipped on October 1, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Geocaching® | Garmin Explore™ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (66K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/geocaching/id329541503/reviews)** | [4.1 (1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/garmin-explore/id1276675721/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **66K** | 1K |
| Positive reviews | **70.2% of reviews** | 45.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#11** | #99 |
| Size | 136 MB | 452 MB |
| Requires iOS | **18.0** | 18.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Groundspeak Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/292242506) | [Garmin](https://appshunter.io/developer/411046952) |

## What reviewers say

### Geocaching®

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/geocaching/id329541503)

**Currently charting:** #11 Top Grossing · Navigation, #50 Top Free · Navigation (US App Store)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Premium Membership | $5.99 | per month |
| Monthly Premium membership | $6.99 | per month |
| 2 Shareables Yearly Subscription | $9.99 | per year |
| 5 Shareables Yearly Subscription | $11.99 | per year |
| 2 Shareables Yearly Subscription | $11.99 | per year |
| 10 Shareables Yearly Subscription | $14.99 | per year |
| 5 Shareables Yearly Subscription | $14.99 | per year |
| 10 Shareables Yearly Subscription | $17.99 | per year |
| Annual Premium Membership | $29.99 | per year |
| Annual Premium membership | $39.99 | per year |
| 3-month membership | $9.99 | one-time |
| 1-year membership | $29.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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™

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

**Currently charting:** #99 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


## Frequently asked 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 October 1, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Geocaching® or Garmin Explore™?

Geocaching® currently peaks at #11 in the App Store charts, and Garmin Explore™ at #99. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*