AllTrails, Gaia GPS, HiiKER, Natural Atlas, Footpath Route Planner, MapMagic and Sidekix lead this shortlist of the best hiking apps in 2026. Together they cover finding a trail, planning a route, navigating offline and recording a hike from start to finish.
A good hiking app needs to do more than show a line on a map: it has to work when there is no signal, give an honest sense of distance and elevation before anyone sets out, and point to a trail that actually matches what someone wants from the day. This list runs from the broadest trail databases through to more specialised route-planning and navigation tools, so hikers can pick based on how they actually plan a trip, not just the biggest name. Several of these apps are worth keeping installed side by side, since a trail database and an offline navigation tool solve different parts of the same hike, and pairing a broad trail database with a dedicated offline navigation tool is a common habit among experienced hikers.
How we picked these hiking apps
Every app on this list is real, currently available, and has its own website or published trail data behind it, not just a one-off idea. The ranking weighs how useful each one is out on an actual trail against how easy it is to plan a hike, what is genuinely free, and how well it holds up once a hiker has no signal. Apps that keep their core safety features, such as offline maps, free were ranked ahead of ones that lock navigation behind a paywall.
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- Capability — how well it covers trail discovery, route planning and navigation
- Ease of use — how quickly someone can plan and start a hike
- Pricing and value — what is included free and what paid plans unlock
- Reliability — how well it performs offline and on unfamiliar terrain
- Who it suits — the type of hiker or trip each app fits best
| Tool | Best for | Key features | Pricing | Free trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AllTrails | Hikers of every level who want the largest trail database with detailed maps, reviews and photos from a huge community. | 100,000+ trails, Community reviews, Offline maps | Free — trail search, maps and community reviews | Free plan |
| Gaia GPS | Backcountry hikers who need detailed offline topo maps and GPS tracking beyond cell signal. | Offline topo maps, Route planning, GPS tracking | Free — basic hiking maps, tracking and navigation | Free plan |
| HiiKER | Hikers who want a dedicated trail-planning app with a genuinely free offline maps promise. | 20,000+ trails, Offline maps, Custom adventures | Free — trail discovery, planning and offline maps | — |
| Natural Atlas | Hikers and naturalists who want trail maps paired with weather, wildlife and plant information for the same spot. | Topo maps, Field notes, Weather overlays | Starter — Free (trip recording, field notes, topo maps) | 7-day free trial |
| Footpath Route Planner | Hikers who want to draw a custom route by hand and get turn-by-turn directions and elevation instantly. | Draw-to-route, Elevation profiles, Turn-by-turn navigation | Basic — Free (up to 5 saved routes) | 7-day free trial |
| MapMagic | Groups planning a hike together who want to build and edit a route collaboratively in real time. | Real-time collaboration, Smart routing, Multi-day planning | Free to start — create and share routes | Free plan |
| Sidekix | Walkers who want curated, interest-based routes in cities and towns rather than remote backcountry trails. | Curated routes, Multi-city coverage, Point-of-interest discovery | Pricing on request | — |
The best hiking apps in 2026
1. AllTrails
Your guide to the outdoors
AllTrails is best for: Hikers of every level who want the largest trail database with detailed maps, reviews and photos from a huge community.
The most widely used hiking app in this list, with a trail database and community large enough to cover almost anywhere someone wants to hike.
Key AllTrails features
- 100,000+ trails — detailed maps, difficulty ratings and elevation profiles worldwide
- Community reviews — recent trail conditions and photos from other hikers
- Offline maps — download routes in advance for areas with no signal
- Custom routes — plan a hike by drawing or combining existing trails
- Trail recording — track pace, distance and elevation gain in real time
AllTrails pricing
- Free — trail search, maps and community reviews
- AllTrails+ — paid membership for offline maps and extra features, pricing on request
- Free trial: Free plan
2. Gaia GPS
The most comprehensive outdoor navigation app for hikers and explorers
Gaia GPS is best for: Backcountry hikers who need detailed offline topo maps and GPS tracking beyond cell signal.
A long-standing favourite for backcountry and off-grid hiking, built around detailed offline maps rather than a social trail feed.
Key Gaia GPS features
- Offline topo maps — download detailed terrain maps for areas with no signal
- Route planning — plot custom routes and waypoints before setting out
- GPS tracking — record a hike and retrace it exactly if needed
- Multiple map layers — switch between topo, satellite and public land boundaries
- Free to start — core hiking maps and navigation cost nothing
Gaia GPS pricing
- Free — basic hiking maps, tracking and navigation
- Outside+ membership — unlocks premium Gaia GPS maps and content, pricing on request
- Free trial: Free plan
3. HiiKER
We help people explore the outdoors with confidence
HiiKER is best for: Hikers who want a dedicated trail-planning app with a genuinely free offline maps promise.
Stands out for keeping offline maps completely free, which matters most exactly when hikers need them.
Key HiiKER features
- 20,000+ trails — discover, plan and navigate hikes worldwide
- Offline maps — always free, with no subscription required
- Custom adventures — build routes from local maps for areas without existing trails
- PRO+ maps — unlocks Ordnance Survey and other premium map layers
- 3D terrain — preview elevation and terrain before setting out
HiiKER pricing
- Free — trail discovery, planning and offline maps
- PRO+ — EUR 5.99/month or EUR 34.99/year
4. Natural Atlas
An evolving, nationwide map of the outdoors
Natural Atlas is best for: Hikers and naturalists who want trail maps paired with weather, wildlife and plant information for the same spot.
Goes beyond navigation to help hikers understand the landscape, weather and wildlife around a trail, not just how to walk it.
Key Natural Atlas features
- Topo maps — detailed, regularly updated maps of public land and trails
- Field notes — record sightings, conditions and photos on the trail
- Weather overlays — 48-hour forecasts for precipitation, wind and wildfire smoke
- Wildlife and plant guides — identify species tied to a specific location
- Offline access — download maps and guides for use without signal
Natural Atlas pricing
- Starter — Free (trip recording, field notes, topo maps)
- Plus — paid plan with offline maps and weather overlays, 7-day free trial
- Free trial: 7-day free trial
5. Footpath Route Planner
Running, Hiking, Bike Maps
Footpath Route Planner is best for: Hikers who want to draw a custom route by hand and get turn-by-turn directions and elevation instantly.
The quickest way to turn a rough idea for a hike into an exact distance and elevation profile.
Key Footpath Route Planner features
- Draw-to-route — sketch a path with a finger and it snaps to roads and trails
- Elevation profiles — see climb and descent for a route before starting
- Turn-by-turn navigation — follow a planned route step by step
- Distance measuring — get accurate mileage for any custom route
- Multi-activity — built for running, hiking and biking alike
Footpath Route Planner pricing
- Basic — Free (up to 5 saved routes)
- Elite — unlimited routes and premium features, pricing on request
- Free trial: 7-day free trial
6. MapMagic
Route planner for explorers with real-time collaboration
MapMagic is best for: Groups planning a hike together who want to build and edit a route collaboratively in real time.
A natural fit for group trips, since it is one of the few hiking apps built around planning a route with other people at once.
Key MapMagic features
- Real-time collaboration — plan a route together with hiking partners at once
- Smart routing — suggests paths based on terrain and trail data
- Multi-day planning — map out overnight and multi-stage hikes
- Points of interest — mark water sources, campsites and viewpoints
- Free to start — create and share routes at no cost
MapMagic pricing
- Free to start — create and share routes
- Pricing on request for additional features
- Free trial: Free plan
7. Sidekix
The ultimate navigation app for walking
Sidekix is best for: Walkers who want curated, interest-based routes in cities and towns rather than remote backcountry trails.
Less suited to remote trail hiking and more useful for exploring a new neighbourhood or city on foot.
Key Sidekix features
- Curated routes — suggested walks based on personal interests
- Multi-city coverage — available across a range of cities
- Point-of-interest discovery — surfaces spots worth a detour along the way
- Turn-by-turn navigation — guided directions built for walking, not driving
- Simple onboarding — set interests once and get new routes automatically
Sidekix pricing
- Pricing on request
Which hiking app should you choose?
Hikers who want the biggest trail database and the most reviews to check before heading out should start with AllTrails. Anyone heading into the backcountry where signal disappears will get more value from Gaia GPS or HiiKER, both built around detailed offline maps rather than a social feed. Hikers who also want to understand the weather, wildlife and plant life around a trail should look at Natural Atlas.
For hand-drawing a custom route and seeing its elevation profile before committing to it, Footpath Route Planner is the fastest option, while groups planning a hike together will find MapMagic‘s real-time collaboration genuinely useful. And for exploring on foot somewhere more urban than remote, Sidekix‘s curated city walks are a better match than a backcountry trail app.
