My Experience with AllTrails: Is This Hiking App Really Worth It?

AllTrails has been my hiking companion for many years. I used the free version for a long time, but when I went hiking in Saxon Switzerland National Park with my parents last summer, I opted for the paid version so I could navigate offline. My verdict? I didn’t regret it.

AllTrails – Free Version vs Paid Version

AllTrails is now available in three versions. Completely free, AllTrails Base already provides access to the essentials, such as viewing and saving routes, or navigating various trails.

For those who want to go further, AllTrails Plus unlocks access to offline navigation, map printing, nearby trail search, and 3D preview.

As for the AllTrails Peak version, it takes it a step further and is clearly aimed at outdoor enthusiasts with its terrain-based planning feature, its advanced trail creation and customization tool, its “heatmap,” and the ability to identify plants along the way.

Review on AllTrails – Base Version (Free)

The free version of AllTrails offers two major advantages: saving routes and navigating routes. This means that even before you go hiking, you can study the different routes in an area to choose the one that suits you best. You will be able to see the type of route (out-and-back or loop), the distance, the elevation gain, the difficulty level, as well as the estimated duration. And since it’s a kind of social network, you can read community comments on the route and see its five-star rating.

All the information needed to plan a hike is therefore accessible for free. You can even see photos taken by community members and points of interest along the route.

For anyone hiking once or twice a year, the free version is more than enough. Its main limitation is with the offline mode. Since you can’t download maps and routes, you won’t have access to your trails without an internet connection. And on the mountain, cell service is often hard to find.

Fortunately for us, the paid versions allow you to download routes and access them at all times.

Review on AllTrails – Plus Version (Paid)

The main appeal of the AllTrails Plus version is that it not only allows offline navigation but also map printing. Because although offline navigation mode is very useful, it’s very power-intensive. Make sure you have a spare power bank if you plan to use it for the entire duration of your hike. Map printing is therefore a particularly useful option, especially if you plan to hike for several days.

What I like about route tracking with the paid version is that it also allows you to receive off-route notifications. No need to have your phone constantly with you; you can leave it in your pocket and turn up the volume to be notified in case of a detour. It even lets you view IGN maps and preview routes in 3D (in addition to offering an ad-free experience).

Another rather interesting point – but one I haven’t used myself yet – is the ability to find hiking trails near you. I imagine that for people living near a forest or a mountain, this is a practical option.

Review on AllTrails – Peak Version (Paid)

The AllTrails Peak version is the one that offers the most benefits. For people who go on long hikes, it’s a must-have. Why? Because it allows you to plan in real-time based on terrain conditions, in addition to creating and customizing your own route. You can therefore create or modify any of the 450,000 routes available in the app.

This feature completely transforms how you plan your hikes. The principle is particularly simple: AllTrails first locates the most popular routes in your area, then allows for real-time customization. You could, for example, shorten an overly ambitious route, extend a disappointing loop, or incorporate a detour to a point of interest. Although I had some reservations about this feature at first, it’s actually well-designed and easy to use.

The ability to identify plants and insects along the way is another feature offered by AllTrails Peak. It’s not necessarily a feature one expects from a hiking app, but it’s a nice bonus.

Finally, recently, the premium version also allows you to see on the map where other community members have been, thanks to the new heatmap. It’s a practical feature when you’re wondering which path to take. Just like the real-time planning and modification feature, the heatmap significantly enhances the added value of the Peak subscription.

Bottom Line – AllTrails Review

After several years of intensive use, I can say that the answer to “Is the paid version of AllTrails worth it?” is yes. The paid version of AllTrails fully justifies its cost. For occasional hikers, AllTrails Plus offers the essentials with offline navigation and map printing. The annual investment of 35.99 CAD proves negligible compared to the services provided.

For outdoor enthusiasts, AllTrails Peak represents a remarkable qualitative leap. Custom route creation, the heatmap, and terrain-based planning literally transform the user experience. These advanced tools position AllTrails as the best outdoor navigation app, far surpassing its competitors.

The app also excels beyond hiking: running, mountain biking, or cross-country skiing all benefit from this constantly updated database. With 450,000 routes covering the entire world, AllTrails establishes itself as the universal tool for outdoor activities.

Review on AllTrails – Frequently Asked Questions