# Earthmate vs The SPOT App

The clearest difference is rating: Earthmate at 2.6 against The SPOT App's 2.0. Earthmate also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months) and review sentiment (22% vs 13%). On price, ratings volume, 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.

Earthmate holds the better App Store score, 2.6 against 2.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 273 and 160 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 22% of Earthmate's written reviews are positive against 13% of The SPOT App's.

Earthmate ships an update monthly, The SPOT App every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Earthmate | The SPOT App |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[2.6 (273 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/earthmate/id519247758/reviews)** | [2.0 (160 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-spot-app/id787229677/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **273** | 160 |
| Positive reviews | **21.6% of reviews** | 12.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 92 MB | 22 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Garmin](https://appshunter.io/developer/411046952) | [SPOT LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/423066537) |

## 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


### The SPOT App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-spot-app/id787229677)

This app displays messages and GPS locations from satellite devices, allowing users to track progress and monitor assets beyond cellular coverage. It offers various map views, message filtering, and customizable display options for a comprehensive overview of device activity.

**Highlights:** Display messages with GPS locations on maps, Filter messages by date, type, or device, Zoom to most recent message, Select GPS coordinate display format, Auto-delete messages within the app, Set message check frequency

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Helpful for tracking location
- 🚀 Accurate GPS tracking
- 💡 Useful for emergency situations

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Notifications don't work
- 🔍 Limited functionality
- 🔋 Battery issues
- 🤔 Confusing user interface
- 🚫 Doesn't work with newer devices

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes frequently
- Inconsistent data display
- Tracking points randomly disappear
- Login issues

**Requested features**

- Ability to update custom messages
- Geofencing capabilities
- Improved map view with color-coded pins
- Notifications for device status changes


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Earthmate free?

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

### Is The SPOT App free?

The SPOT App is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Earthmate or The SPOT App?

Earthmate is rated higher. Earthmate averages 2.6 out of 5 from 273 ratings, while The SPOT App averages 2.0 from 160 ratings.

### Do Earthmate or The SPOT App have ads?

Neither Earthmate nor The SPOT App shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Earthmate or The SPOT App?

Earthmate ships an update monthly, and The SPOT App every 3 months. Most recently, Earthmate was updated on October 30, 2026 and The SPOT App on October 23, 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.*