# Earthmate vs Hiker Trash

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Hiker Trash at 100% against Earthmate's 22%. Hiker Trash also leads on rating (5.0 vs 2.6) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). Earthmate's advantage is ratings volume (273 vs 2). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Hiker Trash holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Earthmate has 273 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 22% of Earthmate's written reviews are positive against 100% of Hiker Trash's.

Earthmate ships an update monthly, Hiker Trash fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Earthmate | Hiker Trash |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.6 (273 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/earthmate/id519247758/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hiker-trash/id6760950294/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **273** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 21.6% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 92 MB | 29 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Garmin](https://appshunter.io/developer/411046952) | [Willard Blevins Jr](https://appshunter.io/developer/1886976542) |

## What reviewers say

### Earthmate

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/earthmate/id519247758)

Connect your satellite communicator to your mobile device for text messaging, navigation, and trip planning. Access offline maps, track your location, and share your adventures globally. Stay connected and safe on any outdoor expedition.

**Highlights:** Send/receive text messages, Offline topographic maps, Waypoint and route navigation, Tracking and location sharing, Trip logging and planning, Cloud storage for trips, Control inReach device features

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Offline maps
- 📡 Satellite communication
- 💬 Messaging functionality
- 🗺️ Tracking and navigation

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Unreliable Bluetooth connectivity
- 🔍 Lacking detailed maps
- 🔑 Login/sync issues
- 🔧 Buggy and unstable
- 🗓️ Frequent app crashes

**Reported bugs**

- Invisible text fields
- Disappearing waypoints and tracks
- Inability to send preset messages from app
- Incorrect wind speed display
- Broken map downloads

**Requested features**

- Apple Watch integration
- Customizable preset messages
- Improved map detail and customization
- Seamless sync between app and device
- Frequent message check intervals


### Hiker Trash

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hiker-trash/id6760950294)

This app is a tactical logbook and tramily tracker for long-distance hikers. It allows users to record daily logs, mileage, notes, and photos, even offline. It also features smart location sharing designed to conserve battery life and a tramily dashboard to keep up with friends.

**Highlights:** Offline trail logging, Hiker resume builder, Smart location sharing, Tramily dashboard, User-controlled privacy, Public profile sharing

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Earthmate free?

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

### Is Hiker Trash free?

Hiker Trash is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Earthmate or Hiker Trash?

Hiker Trash is rated higher. Earthmate averages 2.6 out of 5 from 273 ratings, while Hiker Trash averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Earthmate or Hiker Trash have ads?

Neither Earthmate nor Hiker Trash shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Earthmate or Hiker Trash?

Earthmate ships an update monthly, and Hiker Trash fortnightly. Most recently, Earthmate was updated on November 5, 2026 and Hiker Trash on October 31, 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.*