# West Coast Trail vs LAB Studios

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: LAB Studios at none against West Coast Trail's 4. West Coast Trail's advantage is device support (3 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. West Coast Trail sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per year. LAB Studios asks for nothing beyond the download.

West Coast Trail ships an update every 2 weeks, LAB Studios every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 21, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | West Coast Trail | LAB Studios |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (18 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/west-coast-trail/id6469055680/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **18** | — |
| Positive reviews | 96.8% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 147 MB | 38 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Orca Labs LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1710826755) | [The Lab Yoga Westshore Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1454055985) |

## What reviewers say

### West Coast Trail

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/west-coast-trail/id6469055680)

This app provides essential planning tools for backpackers preparing for the West Coast Trail. It offers customizable trip details, tide calculations, an interactive map with points of interest, and daily summaries. An optional upgrade unlocks offline access, on-trail navigation, and weather forecasts.

**Highlights:** Customizable trip planning, Automatic tide calculations, Interactive trail map, Daily hike summaries, Campsite details and satellite images, Sunrise/sunset times, Offline map and navigation (PRO)

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| West Coast Trail PLUS | $19.99 | per year |
| West Coast Trail Pro | $29.99 | per year |
| PRO Pass for 2027 Season | $29.99 | one-time |
| PRO Pass for 2026 Season | $29.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Invaluable for planning
- 🗺️ Accurate real-time trail conditions
- 🌊 Indispensable tide planning
- 📍 Real-time location tracking on trail
- 📚 Comprehensive information

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Sneaky auto renewal charged double
- 🤔 Misled about GPS functionality
- 📍 No real GPS functionality
- 🗺️ No live map view
- ❓ Wondered if missed turn off

**Reported bugs**

- Login screen freezes
- Incompatible with older devices
- Auto-renewal charged twice

**Requested features**

- Ability to print hard copies
- Extend calendar window past Sept 30/Oct 1
- More accurate inland route planning for Thrasher junction
- Elevation gain (ascent) for beach and forest routes
- Dark mode option


### LAB Studios

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lab-studios/id6761487951)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is West Coast Trail free?

West Coast Trail is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is LAB Studios free?

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

### Do West Coast Trail or LAB Studios have ads?

Neither West Coast Trail nor LAB Studios shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, West Coast Trail or LAB Studios?

West Coast Trail ships an update every 2 weeks, and LAB Studios every 3 weeks. Most recently, West Coast Trail was updated on October 21, 2026 and LAB Studios on October 21, 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.*