A good hiking app can be the difference between a relaxed, well-planned walk and a stressful scramble to figure out where you are when the trail markers disappear. With so many options available, the best hiking app for you really depends on where you’re walking and how much detail you want from your maps, so here’s a look at the strongest choices currently available.
AllTrails is probably the most widely used hiking app globally, and for good reason. It has an enormous crowdsourced database of routes, complete with reviews, photos, difficulty ratings, and recent trail conditions submitted by other walkers, which is genuinely useful for spotting muddy sections or closures before you set off. The free version covers route discovery well, while AllTrails+ adds offline maps, which are essential for anywhere without reliable phone signal.
For UK walkers specifically, OS Maps from Ordnance Survey remains the gold standard for map detail. It uses official OS mapping data, the same trusted format found on paper OS maps for decades, showing footpaths, bridleways, contour lines, and rights of way with a level of precision that crowdsourced apps often can’t match. A subscription unlocks offline downloads of full OS map tiles, making it particularly well suited to walking in remote areas of the UK where mobile signal is unreliable.
komoot has built a strong following among hikers who want route planning as much as navigation. Its route planner suggests paths based on your fitness level and preferred surface type, and it automatically generates detailed turn-by-turn voice navigation, which is handy for walkers who don’t want to be constantly checking their phone screen. Its Sports and Trip highlights, submitted by other users, work similarly to AllTrails’ community features, helping you discover points of interest along a route.
Gaia GPS is popular with more serious backcountry hikers and those venturing into genuinely remote terrain, offering an unusually wide range of map layers, including satellite imagery, topographic detail, and specialist overlays for things like public land boundaries. It’s a favourite among long-distance and off-trail hikers who need more flexibility than a standard walking app typically provides.
Whichever app you choose, downloading offline maps before you set off is one of the most important habits to build, since mobile signal drops out unpredictably in hilly and remote areas exactly where you’re most likely to need reliable navigation. It’s also worth carrying a paper map and compass as a backup on longer or more remote hikes; phone batteries can fail, and no app is a substitute for basic navigation skills in genuinely difficult conditions.
For casual walks on well-marked trails, AllTrails’ community features and ease of use make it hard to beat. UK hikers heading into more detailed terrain will likely appreciate the precision of OS Maps, while those who want guided, spoken navigation should look at komoot. Serious backcountry hikers venturing off well-trodden paths will get the most value from Gaia GPS’s extensive map layers. Testing the free tiers of two or three before committing to a paid subscription is generally the best way to find your fit.
Battery life is a genuine practical concern when relying on any hiking app for navigation over a full day out. GPS tracking and screen use drain a phone battery considerably faster than normal use, so carrying a portable power bank, enabling low power or battery-saving mode, and reducing screen brightness are all sensible precautions on longer routes, alongside downloading offline maps in advance so your phone isn’t repeatedly searching for a signal.
For group hikes, several of these apps also include location-sharing features that let walking companions or people at home see your live position on the trail, which adds a genuine layer of safety for solo hikers or anyone walking in more remote areas. This is worth setting up before you leave rather than relying on remembering to do it once you’re already out on the trail with patchy signal.
