Garmin Explore™
Garmin Navigation iPhoneiPadiPod touch
Garmin Explore™ is a free Navigation app for iPhone and iPad by Garmin. Rated 4.2/5 from 1,100 ratings. Requires iOS 18.4. Updated September 29, 2026.
- Rating
- 4.2
- 1.1K ratings
- Price
- Free
- on the App Store
- Size
- 452 MB
- Age 12+
- Updated
- Sep 29
- 2026 · v4.16
Screenshots
About Garmin Explore™
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.
Ratings & reviews
4.2
1.1K ratings
What’s new
Version 4.16 · Updated September 29, 2026
• View activities older than 7 days as activity points on the map • Use “Show on Map” to display an activity’s full line • Added the ability to filter out activities from the main map • Bug fixes and performance improvements
App privacy
The developer, Garmin, reported these privacy practices to Apple.
Data Linked to You
The following data, which may be collected and linked to your identity, may be used for the following purposes:
- Location: Precise Location
- Contact Info: Email Address, Name
- Contacts: Contacts
- Identifiers: User ID
Used for: App Functionality
Data Not Linked to You
The following data, which may be collected but is not linked to your identity, may be used for the following purposes:
- Usage Data: Product Interaction
- Diagnostics: Crash Data, Performance Data, Other Diagnostic Data
Used for: Analytics, App Functionality
Alternatives to Garmin Explore™
Looking for apps like Garmin Explore™? Here are 6 similar apps on the App Store. The highest rated is CalTopo: Backcountry Mapping (4.8/5), and all 6 are free to download.
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CalTopo: Backcountry Mapping
4.8
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Gaia GPS: Mobile Trail Maps
4.8
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Trailforks: Offline Bike Maps
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onX Backcountry: 3D Trail Maps
4.8
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FarOut: Hike, Bike, Paddle
4.8
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GPS Tracks
4.7
| App | Rating | Price | Last updated | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garmin Explore™ | 4.2 / 5 (1,100 ratings) | Free | September 29, 2026 | |
| CalTopo: Backcountry Mapping | 4.8 / 5 (7,583) | Free | Sep 26, 2026 | Compare |
| Gaia GPS: Mobile Trail Maps | 4.8 / 5 (32,292) | Free | Oct 21, 2026 | Compare |
| Trailforks: Offline Bike Maps | 4.7 / 5 (16,448) | Free | Oct 30, 2026 | Compare |
| onX Backcountry: 3D Trail Maps | 4.8 / 5 (6,553) | Free | Oct 19, 2026 | Compare |
| FarOut: Hike, Bike, Paddle | 4.8 / 5 (26,815) | Free | Sep 15, 2026 | Compare |
| GPS Tracks | 4.7 / 5 (17,782) | Free | Oct 31, 2026 | Compare |
Compare Garmin Explore™ with the top alternatives: ratings, updates, ASO score and keyword gaps →