# Tree Trails vs National Forest Explorer

The clearest difference is rating: National Forest Explorer at 4.5 against Tree Trails's 3.5. National Forest Explorer also leads on ratings volume (736 vs 4). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

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

National Forest Explorer holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: National Forest Explorer has 736 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 33% of Tree Trails's written reviews are positive against 30% of National Forest Explorer's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Tree Trails ships an update every 2 months, National Forest Explorer every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Tree Trails | National Forest Explorer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.5 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tree-trails/id775890015/reviews) | **[4.5 (736 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/national-forest-explorer/id1207062438/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **736** |
| Positive reviews | **33.3% of reviews** | 30.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 125 MB | 109 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Texas A&M Forest Service](https://appshunter.io/developer/775890018) | [Toby Bloom](https://appshunter.io/developer/1396540802) |

## What reviewers say

### Tree Trails

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tree-trails/id775890015)

Discover and learn about trees in your local area. Create interactive trails to share with others and explore the benefits of various tree species. Integrates with conservation education activities.

**Highlights:** Interactive trail creation, Tree benefits exploration, Local tree species identification, Conservation education integration, Shareable trails

**In-app purchases:** none


### National Forest Explorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/national-forest-explorer/id1207062438)

Discover U.S. Forest Service lands and heritage sites with this official exploration tool. Access detailed information, offline maps, and recreational opportunities for your next adventure. Stay updated on closures and events with push notifications.

**Highlights:** Discover nearby forests and grasslands, Explore points of interest, Access forest facts and heritage information, Offline and GPS maps, Information on recreational opportunities, Educational audio tours, Push notifications for alerts

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great information
- 🗺️ Helpful maps and GPS
- ⭐ Wonderful experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and freezes
- 🤔 Incomplete and inaccurate information
- 📥 Difficult to download and access content
- 🤯 Confusing and cumbersome user interface

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues
- Compatibility problems with older devices
- Broken links and missing content

**Requested features**

- More national forests and recreation areas
- Offline maps and content
- Better search and filtering options
- Integration with other outdoor apps


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Tree Trails free?

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

### Is National Forest Explorer free?

National Forest Explorer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Tree Trails or National Forest Explorer?

National Forest Explorer is rated higher. Tree Trails averages 3.5 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while National Forest Explorer averages 4.5 from 736 ratings.

### Do Tree Trails or National Forest Explorer have ads?

Neither Tree Trails nor National Forest Explorer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Tree Trails or National Forest Explorer?

Tree Trails ships an update every 2 months, and National Forest Explorer every 3 months. Most recently, Tree Trails was updated on October 23, 2026 and National Forest Explorer on October 20, 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.*