Many activities are often done while traveling to make the experience of discovering a new landscape more dynamic and enjoyable. A large number of you are looking for ways to make your hikes more fun!
Very often, people turn to travel apps to help with various needs such as public transport, finding the best restaurants, or payment solutions abroad.
But did you know that some of these apps are specialized in hiking and outdoor activities? Many people are passionate about nature excursions, and if you’re one of them, check out our list of top hiking apps that will be extremely useful for your next adventure!
AlpineQuest: A Top Free Hiking App
One of the best free GPS hiking apps out there, AlpineQuest is a must-have. Available only on Android, it allows access to a wide range of geographic maps, even in remote areas without network coverage—thanks to offline map storage on your phone’s SD card.
You’ll always have the right map on hand and can save your favorite routes without needing a web connection.
Whether you're in France or abroad, AlpineQuest remains handy. The free version offers great features like a compass, GPS status, and a full barometric display to help with orientation wherever you are.
Upgrade to the Paid Version
If you want full access to all tools and services, the paid version at €7.99 is a smart investment. It offers detailed statistics, dynamic charts from your hikes, and powerful GPS tracking—making AlpineQuest an excellent hiking companion.
Fatmap: A Highly Detailed Hiking App
Fatmap offers a smooth interface and easy navigation tailored to hikers, walkers, and skiers. This highly reputable app lets you explore stunning mountain landscapes with peace of mind.
Even with the free version, you can find mountain hiking trails thanks to its built-in map. It provides extensive data such as slope gradients, distances, altitudes, and even avalanche risk assessments based on terrain.
For €30 per year, the premium subscription unlocks more tools, global maps, and detailed weather information.
Fatmap is a very complete and intuitive app that suggests routes based on your preferences, with detailed steps for each trail. We recommend the premium version as a long-term investment.
IGNrando: The Most Comprehensive for Route Planning
Love the outdoors and wondering where to get free IGN maps? Download IGNrando on your mobile device—it makes hiking a breeze!
A Data-Rich Catalog
With 150,000 GPS tracks in its database, you can visualize and plan all kinds of routes—whether hiking on foot, with snowshoes, or skiing.
Though the basic version is free and unlimited, there’s a premium plan called “Cartes IGN Liberté” that gives offline access to all IGN maps. With its many strong features, IGNrando is a must-have for your hiking toolkit.
iPhiGénie: Best App for 3D Terrain Modeling
A sophisticated French app available on Android and iOS, iPhiGénie uses Geoportail maps to display your real-time position and offers 3D visualization of terrain, especially mountain relief.
To import/export GPS tracks, a subscription is required: €5.99/month or €14.99/year.
iPhiGénie excels in mobility and instant access—ideal for serious map users. It's essential for hikers in France or abroad.
Wikiloc: The Largest Outdoor Activity Community
Wikiloc gathers a community of nearly 10 million outdoor activity enthusiasts. Perfect for all kinds of nature excursions, including international hikes, it relies on user-submitted data to offer a wide range of recorded trails from around the world.
A Powerful Free Version
The free version is easy to use and allows you to search for and save trails using various filters: distance, elevation, region, etc. It even offers several offline maps.
Also Available in a Paid Version
After creating an account, you can download GPX files of trails to import into any GPS device or smartwatch. The GPX feature is a major asset.
The premium version unlocks full app features, including advanced navigation, better filters, and an ad-free experience.
Gaia GPS: Enjoy the Best Offline Trails
Gaia GPS offers detailed maps of trails worldwide. Its features include topographic maps, satellite imagery, and even nautical maps, so you can confidently plan your hikes.
You can also download maps for offline use, ensuring you stay on track even without an internet connection.
Komoot: A Freemium Hiking App
Komoot provides detailed maps and trail info for hikes around the globe. It includes turn-by-turn navigation, altitude profiles, and even 3D maps to help you plan effectively.
You can log your hikes, track your progress, and share photos and stories with other hikers. It’s a great app to download to your phone right now!
Visorando: Personalization-Centered Hiking App
Visorando helps you find and share trails in your area, with a database of over 10,000 routes. You can search by location or activity type, and follow other users for hike recommendations.
Track your hikes with detailed metrics like elevation and distance, and share your experiences publicly or with friends.
The app also offers offline maps for the most popular trails. Available on iOS and Android, the annual subscription costs €24.27.
