GPS Averaging vs Garmin Explore™
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
GPS Averaging
This tool enhances GPS accuracy by averaging multiple readings over time, filtering out positional jumps. It's ideal for precisely determining coordinates for activities like geocaching.
- Averages multiple GPS measurements
- Filters out short position jumps
- Records time-offset measurement series
- Increases coordinate accuracy
- Ideal for geocaching
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With GPS Averaging you can get precise GPS coordinates. From many measurements an average value is formed, which is much more accurate than a single snapshot. The current position is read out every second and a averaged value is calculated. Short jumps of the position can be automatically filtered out. It is also possible to record a plurality of time-offset measurement series to form one coordinate with a increased accuracy. The ideal tool for the exact determination of coordinates for activities like geocaching.
Garmin Explore™
Navigate off-grid with this app, which pairs with a compatible Garmin device for trip planning, mapping, and navigation even without Wi-Fi or cellular service. Plan routes, download maps for offline use, and sync data to the cloud.
- Off-grid navigation
- Trip planning
- Offline map downloads
- Pair and sync with Garmin device
- Activity library
- Cloud storage
- LiveTrack location sharing
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OFF-GRID NAVIGATION When paired with your compatible Garmin device(1), the Garmin Explore app lets you use your mobile device for outdoor navigation, trip planning, mapping and more — with or without Wi-Fi® connectivity or cellular service. SEARCH TOOL Easily locate geographic points — such as trailheads or mountain summits — associated with your adventure. STREAMING MAPS For pre-trip planning, you can use the Garmin Explore app to stream maps when you’re within cellular or Wi-Fi range — saving valuable time as well as storage space on your mobile device. Download maps for offline use when venturing outside cellular range. PAIR, SYNC AND SHARE With Garmin Explore, you can pair your smartphone or tablet with your compatible Garmin device to sync and share data for off-grid adventures. Use downloadable maps for navigation anywhere. EASY TRIP PLANNING Plan your next trip by downloading maps and creating courses. Specify your start and finish points, and automatically create a course you can sync with your compatible Garmin device. ACTIVITY LIBRARY Under the Saved tab, review and edit your organized data, including your saved waypoints, tracks, courses and activities. See map thumbnails to easily recognize your trips. SAVED COLLECTIONS The collections list allows you to quickly find all data related to any trip — making it easy to sort and locate the course or location you’re looking for. CLOUD STORAGE The waypoints, courses and activities you’ve created will automatically sync to your Garmin Explore web account when you’re within cellular or Wi-Fi range, preserving your activity data with cloud storage. A Garmin account is required for storing your data in the cloud. LIVETRACK™ With the use of the LiveTrack™ feature, loved ones can follow your location in real time(2) and see data such as distance, time and elevation. What You Get with Garmin Explore • Unlimited map downloads; access topographic maps, USGS quad sheets and more • Aerial imagery • Waypoints, tracking and route navigation • High-detail GPS trip logging and location sharing • Unlimited cloud storage of routes, waypoints, tracks, and activities • Online trip planning 1. https://explore.garmin.com/appcompatibility 2. When used with your compatible smartphone, the Garmin Explore® app and your compatible inReach® technology-enabled Garmin device. The Bluetooth word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Garmin is under license.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Garmin Explore™ at Free against GPS Averaging's $0.99. Garmin Explore™ also leads on rating (4.1 vs 3.1) and update cadence (monthly vs every 23 months). GPS Averaging's advantage is iOS requirement (8.0 vs 18.4). On review sentiment, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Garmin Explore™ is free to download; GPS Averaging costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Garmin Explore™ holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Garmin Explore™ has 1K ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 50% of GPS Averaging's written reviews are positive against 45% of Garmin Explore™'s, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
GPS Averaging ships an update every 23 months, Garmin Explore™ monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | GPS Averaging | Garmin Explore™ |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 3.1 (15 ratings) | 4.1 (1K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews — better | 45.1% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 15 | 1K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 23 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Best chart rank | — | #96 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 8.0 — better | 18.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 10 MB | 452 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Michael Andreas May | Garmin |
Customer experience
GPS Averaging
Garmin Explore™
Bugs and requests
GPS Averaging
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Garmin Explore™
Reported bugs
4 issues- 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
5 requests- 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
In-app purchases
GPS Averaging
No in-app purchases
Garmin Explore™
No in-app purchases








