# Back vs Garmin Explore™

The clearest difference is rating: Garmin Explore™ at 4.2 against Back's 3.6. Garmin Explore™ also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (monthly vs every 20 months). Back's advantage is iOS requirement (8.0 vs 18.4). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Back sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Garmin Explore™ asks for nothing beyond the download.

Garmin Explore™ holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Garmin Explore™ has 1.1K ratings behind it against 17, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 41% of Back's written reviews are positive against 46% of Garmin Explore™'s.

Back ships an update every 20 months, Garmin Explore™ monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Back | Garmin Explore™ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.6 (17 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/back-track/id595888131/reviews) | **[4.2 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/garmin-explore/id1276675721/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 17 | **1.1K** |
| Positive reviews | 41.2% of reviews | **45.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 20 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | — | **#113** |
| Size | 14 MB | 457 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 18.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Pilot X](https://appshunter.io/developer/551849165) | [Garmin](https://appshunter.io/developer/411046952) |

## What reviewers say

### Back

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/back-track/id595888131)

This navigation tool uses your device's GPS to help you return to saved locations. Mark spots like parking or hotel locations and easily find your way back. Offers customizable display options and power-saving features.

**Highlights:** Save and return to marked locations, Mark current location or enter coordinates, Customizable user interface styles, HUD for location information, Power saving mode, Unlimited preset destinations

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $0.99 | one-time |


### Garmin Explore™

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

**Currently charting:** #113 Top Free · Navigation (US App Store)

Navigate off-grid with this app, compatible with Garmin devices. Plan trips, download maps for offline use, and track your adventures. Share your location in real-time with loved ones.

**Highlights:** Off-grid navigation with compatible Garmin devices, Trip planning and course creation, Downloadable maps for offline use, Real-time location sharing via LiveTrack, Activity library for saved waypoints and tracks, Cloud storage for trip data

**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 Back free?

Back 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, Back or Garmin Explore™?

Garmin Explore™ is rated higher. Back averages 3.6 out of 5 from 17 ratings, while Garmin Explore™ averages 4.2 from 1.1K ratings.

### Do Back or Garmin Explore™ have ads?

Neither Back nor Garmin Explore™ shows ads.

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

Back ships an update every 20 months, and Garmin Explore™ monthly. Most recently, Back was updated on November 1, 2026 and Garmin Explore™ on November 13, 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.*