# GPS Tracks vs Garmin Explore™

The clearest difference is review sentiment: GPS Tracks at 88% against Garmin Explore™'s 45%. GPS Tracks also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.1) and ratings volume (18K vs 1K). Garmin Explore™'s advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3). On price, update cadence, ads and chart position there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. GPS Tracks sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $29.99 per year. Garmin Explore™ asks for nothing beyond the download.

GPS Tracks holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: GPS Tracks has 18K ratings behind it against 1K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 88% of GPS Tracks's written reviews are positive against 45% of Garmin Explore™'s.

GPS Tracks ships an update fortnightly, Garmin Explore™ monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | GPS Tracks | Garmin Explore™ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (18K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gps-tracks/id425589565/reviews)** | [4.1 (1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/garmin-explore/id1276675721/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **18K** | 1K |
| Positive reviews | **88.1% of reviews** | 45.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#73** | #98 |
| Size | 107 MB | 449 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 18.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [David Morneault](https://appshunter.io/developer/385491802) | [Garmin](https://appshunter.io/developer/411046952) |

## What reviewers say

### GPS Tracks

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gps-tracks/id425589565)

**Currently charting:** #73 Top Grossing · Navigation, #180 Top Free · Navigation (US App Store)

This app allows users to track outdoor activities like hiking, biking, and running. It enables navigation to waypoints, storage of favorite destinations, and offers advanced features for route planning and data export with a subscription.

**Highlights:** Track hiking, biking, running, and walking routes, Navigate to saved waypoints, Store and manage favorite destinations, Offline map downloads, Export tracks and waypoints (GPX, KML, CSV), Real-time track sharing, Apple Watch app for direct activity tracking

**Features:** Siri integration, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| GPS Tracks Pro | $29.99 | per year |
| GPS Tracks Premium | $49.99 | per year |
| Datum Add-On Pack | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Accurate GPS tracking
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 💡 Versatile features for various activities
- 🚀 Responsive customer support
- 👍 Reliable and consistent performance

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or glitches
- 🔋 Battery drain issues
- 🔒 Concerns about privacy and data security
- 👎 Offline maps not fully functional

**Reported bugs**

- Tracks disappearing after updates
- GPS coordinates not always accurate
- Difficulty deleting unwanted waypoints

**Requested features**

- Ability to edit waypoint names
- Improved map synchronization across devices
- Integration with popular fitness apps
- Landscape map view option
- Automatic activity tracking without user interaction


### Garmin Explore™

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

**Currently charting:** #98 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 GPS Tracks free?

GPS Tracks 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, GPS Tracks or Garmin Explore™?

GPS Tracks is rated higher. GPS Tracks averages 4.7 out of 5 from 18K ratings, while Garmin Explore™ averages 4.1 from 1K ratings.

### Do GPS Tracks or Garmin Explore™ have ads?

Neither GPS Tracks nor Garmin Explore™ shows ads.

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

GPS Tracks ships an update fortnightly, and Garmin Explore™ monthly. Most recently, GPS Tracks was updated on September 23, 2026 and Garmin Explore™ on September 24, 2026.

### Which is more popular, GPS Tracks or Garmin Explore™?

GPS Tracks currently peaks at #73 in the App Store charts, and Garmin Explore™ at #98. 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.*