Smartphones have become the go-to navigation tool for most walkers, but choosing the right app is crucial. With reliable GPS tracking, clear topographic maps, and offline modes when the signal fades behind a ridge, the differences between apps can be vast, and the "best" one really depends on where you're walking and how you plan your adventures. Here, we've ranked our top 6 walking apps, providing a quick comparison table along with essential tips for when your phone becomes your GPS.
Our top 6 walking apps
Visorando: The French Community Favourite
Visorando is well-known among walkers in France, offering thousands of routes reviewed and rated by the community, complete with detailed guides, duration, elevation and starting points. It works offline, warning you if you stray from the path. The free version suits casual walkers, while subscribing unlocks downloadable official IGN maps. If you're looking for "routes to try this weekend" without creating your own, this app is ideal.
IGN Maps: The Best Free Option
The official app from Ordnance Survey, France's public mapping agency, brings their renowned 1:25 000 topographic maps directly to your phone — free of charge. You can plan routes, import GPX files, compare map and satellite views, and share your location. Although less guided than Visorando (no community route database), for sheer cartographic quality without spending a penny, it's unrivalled in France.
AllTrails: The Global Giant
With hundreds of thousands of trails worldwide, AllTrails shines thanks to its community: recent photos, trail condition reviews, and filters by difficulty, duration, or popularity. The most user-friendly interface compared — ideal for beginners. Offline mode and some advanced maps require a subscription, and French coverage is less detailed than local apps: perfect for those who explore both the Verdon and Tuscany.
Komoot: The Multi-day Adventure Planner
Komoot specialises in stage-based planning: its planner builds multi-day routes, estimates times based on your fitness, and provides turn-by-turn voice navigation like a car GPS. A favourite with long-distance walkers and bikepackers, it uses OpenStreetMap instead of IGN and sells offline map packs by region. Its stage-planning logic is a real asset for longer journeys or trekking routes.
Iphigénie: The Pure Topo Experience
Iphigénie focuses on seamlessly displaying IGN Géoportail maps, recording your routes and managing offline access by downloading zones. No community or route guides — it's for walkers who can read a map and want the best topographic data at any given moment, with a modest subscription.
Gaia GPS: For Adventures Beyond Europe
Gaia GPS excels for treks outside Europe, with global map layers (topo, satellite, trails), map overlay capabilities and precise route management, making it a favourite for significant adventures, particularly used in North America. Most features require a subscription, and the interface has a learning curve — the trade-off for serious mapping at the world's end.
Comparison Table: Which App for Which Walker?
Every app has its niche. Identify your profile in the "ideal for" column — it's more indicative of the best walking app for you than any absolute ranking. And there's nothing stopping you from using more than one — many walkers plan with one and navigate with another.
| Application | Ideal for | IGN Maps | Offline Access | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visorando | Finding routes in France | Yes (subscription) | Yes | Freemium |
| IGN Maps | The go-to free option in France | Yes, free | Partial | Free |
| AllTrails | The largest global community | Subscription-based | Subscription | Freemium |
| Komoot | Plan staged adventures | No (OSM) | Purchased maps | Freemium |
| Iphigénie | Topo map enthusiasts | Yes (subscription) | Yes | Subscription |
| Gaia GPS | Overseas treks | No | Subscription | Freemium |
Using Your Phone as a GPS: Essential Tips
The best app in the world is useless if your phone's battery is down to 3% at the base of the hill. Continuous GPS tracking, a lit-up screen, and the cold can drain a battery surprisingly fast: expect about half a day of battery life under active navigation. The tricks: download offline maps the day before, switch to airplane mode on the trail (the GPS still works without a network), and carry a way to recharge it — an external battery pack for the day, a solar charger attached to your rucksack for multi-day adventures. We've reviewed models in our guide on the best solar charger for hiking.
Another game-changer in the field: accessibility. A phone buried at the bottom of your backpack is never handy — you won’t check the map at crossroads, you'll delay checking “until the next break”, and you'll realise you're off track three kilometres too late. Seasoned walkers' rule: you should access your device in less than five seconds without unstrapping the pack or stopping. A belt pouch or dedicated case keeps it at hand, protected from rain and impacts. Here’s the connected walker’s gear, chosen from our range of walking accessories and gear, among the most popular models with our customers:
When the Phone Just Isn’t Enough
All mountain guides say it: a phone is a fantastic tool but a fragile assurance. A frozen screen, a fall on rocks, a drained battery—and your only map is gone. On a challenging outing, a paper map and compass remain the safety net that never fails, and knowing how to navigate without a screen is a basic skill detailed in our beginner's guide to hiking:
The last link in the safety chain: having the ability to alert even without a signal or battery. Rescue services don’t always get called by phone—in many valleys, it simply doesn’t pick up a signal, and shouting wears you out without reaching anyone. Three whistle blasts are the universal distress signal in the hills, audible over hundreds of metres above the wind, where your voice is lost around the first bend. A few grams accessory that should definitely find a place in your bum bag, next to the phone:
Powerful Survival Whistle 180db
£21.99
Pay in 4× instalments of £5.50 with Shop Pay
Proper planning actually starts the evening before, on your living room table: offline maps downloaded, GPX track uploaded, battery topped up, compass and whistle packed in the bum bag—five minutes of prep that make all the difference on the trail. And for longer treks, our range of portable solar chargers enhances your gear: the panel charges on the go, keeping your phone as a trusty navigator from dawn till dusk.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best free app for walking? Cartes IGN: the official app of the French cartographic institute offers free topographic maps at 1:25,000 scale, route plotting, and GPX file import. For a catalogue of curated walks, the free version of Visorando complements it nicely.
What is the best website for hiking? Visorando is top in France with its community-rated route database, also accessible online. For international trips, AllTrails has the widest global reach. Both are researched on a browser before switching to the app on hike day.
Komoot or Visorando: which hiking app is best? It depends on your needs. Visorando is better for day loops in France with its detailed community trails and IGN maps. Komoot excels for multi-day escapades with its unparalleled multi-day planner and voice guidance. Many walkers use both, depending on the trip.
What is the best free hiking site? In France, the most effective free pairing remains Visorando (free version, for a described itinerary) and Cartes IGN (for quality maps). Abroad, the free version of AllTrails or the community site Wikiloc meet most needs.
