Garmin Explore is a comprehensive mobile trip planning solution that pairs with compatible Garmin devices for seamless data sync, offline maps, and real-time location sharing. It leverages Garmin’s ecosystem for off-grid navigation, streaming and offline maps, cloud storage, and Livetrack to plan, store, and share adventures across devices. With 1,000,000+ total downloads and 27K in the last 30 days, it holds strong position in TRANSPORTATION across BE, PL, and IT.
Pros & Cons
Strong Garmin ecosystem integration with device pairing and data sync
Unlimited map downloads and cloud storage for routes, waypoints, and activities
LivetTrack enables real-time location sharing with contacts
Streaming and offline maps support for planning and navigation offline
Cloud storage requires a Garmin account beyond basic app usage
Extensive permission set (location, SMS, call logs, accounts, storage, background services) may raise privacy and safety considerations
Some features rely on pairing with Garmin devices, which may limit full functionality on non-Garmin hardware
About Garmin Explore™
Garmin Explore™ is a maps & navigation app developed by Garmin.
Download Statistics
Garmin Explore™ has been downloaded 2.3 million times. In the last 30 days, the app was downloaded 27 thousand times. It is ranked in the top 100 maps & navigation apps.
User Ratings
Garmin Explore™ is rated 3.53 out of 5 stars. The rating is based on 5.4 thousand ratings.
App Information
Garmin Explore™ is FREE to download. The APK download size is 140.09 MB. The latest version available is 4.15. The last update was on August 18, 2026.
Technical Requirements
The app has a content rating of Everyone. The app has been available on Google Play since October 2018.
Description
PAIR, SYNC AND SHARE With Garmin Explore, you can pair your smartphone or tablet1 with your compatible Garmin device2 to sync and share data for off-grid adventures. Use downloadable maps for navigation anywhere. • Garmin Explore needs SMS permission to allow you to receive and send SMS text messages from your Garmin devices. We also need call log permission to display incoming calls on your devices. • Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life.
OFF-GRID NAVIGATION When paired with your compatible Garmin device2, 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.
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 device2.
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 time3 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 See compatible devices at Garmin.com/BLE 2 See a full list of compatible devices at explore.garmin.com/appcompatibility 3 When used with your compatible smartphone, the Garmin Explore® app and when used with your compatible inReach-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.
Recent changes: • Explore trails with new 3D Maps. • Plan your courses and preview elevation changes in 3D. • Review your activities with immersive 3D views. • Bug fixes and performance improvements.
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For the 2nd time this week, I could program a route from start to finish while sitting on the BART train to the starting point. The route planner with popularity map plus my course preferences made it very easy. Thanks Garmin!
★★★★☆Sam P· Apr 18, 2026
Nice to see trails have been added to this app but the way Garmin Trails look in Garmin Connect is much better than this app. They need to make them look the same. Also would be able to add other search filters like "snowshoe" also, rather than going into the Garmin trails section it would be better to use the search magnifier. Also with All trail now being so cheap and compatible with Rogers Satellite I think Garmin needs to rethink their pricing. Will this app ever work on Rogers Satellite?
★★★★★Jesse Cole· Apr 10, 2026
It took a little getting used to. Not a huge learning curve. I wish it would do breadcrumb tracking without needing a second devise. It uses your phones' gps feature already to show location in real time so why not add the tracking. The rest of the features are spot on. Offline maps are very handy. Route building with the option to share the gpx is outstanding. Too much to list in just 500 characters. Stay safe out there and EXPLORE my friends!
★☆☆☆☆Wyatt Ribarich· Aug 30, 2026
I guess I missed the sign-up for the 3-week course on using this overly complex app to perform simple navigation, or even download the selected map layers to offline maps! While lost in the Unitas mtns last week another hiker showed me her FREE GAIA map with significant detail and contour lines and even ALL the names of the nearby lakes which were unnamed on Garmin Explore!!! Was this app designed by college drop-outs? Or have they never left the cushy office and taken a hike in the mtns?
★☆☆☆☆rob grey· Jul 12, 2026
Garmin explore purposely makes it difficult to use their garmin in reach mini 2 without allowing garmin to harvest your data. Unusable. I returned the in reach mini 2. I bought it to have the ability to send simple messages to reassure family when I'm in the wilderness to keep them happy. Just one contact. I don't want Garmin harvesting my contacts and messages. I don't need their maps, I carry a map in my pocket. They want all your phone data.
★☆☆☆☆Matteo Johnson· Jun 27, 2026
Moved previously free offline maps function behind a paywall. I already gave you quite a lot of money for a watch with said functions.
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Trust & Safety: The app requests a broad set of permissions (location, background access, SMS, call logs, storage, accounts, etc.) to support pairing, Livetrack, and cloud storage. A Garmin account is required for cloud storage, which users should consider when reviewing privacy and data handling.
Each subscription will automatically renew 3 days before the expiration date for
the same time period. Subscriptions can be cancelled at any time before the renewal.
