Reviews of Garmin Explore™

By: Garmin App

List of user reviews and ratings for Garmin Explore™

Total ratings

3.58 (Rating count: 5,513)

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Review summary

User reviews for Garmin Explore on Android are mixed. Many praise Garmin ecosystem integration and waypoint management in principle, and some report stability gains after updates. However, the majority cite serious reliability and UX issues: frequent crashes, unpredictable behavior, and data loss (waypoints deletion; offline data not accessible). Map details and offline maps are inconsistent or unreliable, and route planning features fall short for some users. Additionally, the subscription price and recent updates that remove features (messenger, weather) fuel dissatisfaction. Overall, the app works for some but has notable regressions that hinder critical backcountry use.

Pros

Solid Garmin device integration and data syncing (e.g., syncing hunts from Alpha handheld) and waypoint management capabilities.
Helpful waypoint management UI on supported devices (clear UI for managing waypoints).
Overall usability for some users and peace of mind on solo adventures.
Updates have, for some users, improved functionality and usefulness.

Cons

Frequent crashes and reliability issues (app closes on launch; crashes during sync; laggy).
Poor UI/UX with non-intuitive organization and inconsistent behavior (inconsistent zoom/UI) .
Maps/offline data quality and reliability problems (names not showing, offline data inaccessible, map details unreliable).
Data loss risks such as waypoints being deleted or not syncing properly.
Subscription price/value concerns and recent updates that remove features or degrade functionality (e.g., messenger, weather).

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User Reviews

Recent rating average: 3.10

All time rating average: 3.58

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41% (67)

Date	Author	Comment
2026-08-10	Da*****	Terrible, it can't find places in foreign countries, it keeps searching in my local country.
Terrible, it can't find places in foreign countries, it keeps searching in my local country.
2026-08-01	L *****	Trying to get the free trial started for my fenix 8 shuts down the app, there isn't even an option to skip the trial and buy it, so how can I get it to work? Subscription required, check subscription, lmfao, checking wifi... This is nuts.
Trying to get the free trial started for my fenix 8 shuts down the app, there isn't even an option to skip the trial and buy it, so how can I get it to work? Subscription required, check subscription, lmfao, checking wifi... This is nuts.
2026-07-31	Ra*****	Super aplicația. Felicitări echipei! Mi-ar placea că pentru waypoints sa avem un Beer icon, sa pun pe crasmele ce îmi sunt dragi.
Super aplicația. Felicitări echipei! Mi-ar placea că pentru waypoints sa avem un Beer icon, sa pun pe crasmele ce îmi sunt dragi.
2026-07-30	NT*****	There are significant limitations to creating a route. Plot any route anywhere and you will discover in time that the algorithm applied follows snap-to line technology. This will frequently choose an illogical route when you encounter a section on the map deemed to be inaccessible by the algorithm. It will snap elsewhere or refuse to accept your dropped waypoint. This fault is both irritating and limiting to the products usefulness.
There are significant limitations to creating a route. Plot any route anywhere and you will discover in time that the algorithm applied follows snap-to line technology. This will frequently choose an illogical route when you encounter a section on the map deemed to be inaccessible by the algorithm. It will snap elsewhere or refuse to accept your dropped waypoint. This fault is both irritating and limiting to the products usefulness.
2026-07-28	St*****	great so far
great so far
2026-07-24	Se*****	Why is this app now checking Google Play Integrity on my phone? There is no reason for this Garmin app to be spying on devices. Plus, Google Play Integrity is monopolistic and anti-competitive. If Garmin wants to verify devices, they should use hardware-based attestation features that are a standard part of the Android Open Source Project.
Why is this app now checking Google Play Integrity on my phone? There is no reason for this Garmin app to be spying on devices. Plus, Google Play Integrity is monopolistic and anti-competitive. If Garmin wants to verify devices, they should use hardware-based attestation features that are a standard part of the Android Open Source Project.
2026-07-23	Ni*****	good
good
2026-07-22	Jo*****	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!
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!
2026-07-22	Ev*****	Sync to my Garmin Instinct 2 works really well, and this app is great for pulling out mid-run or -hike to get a better map view. Unfortunately, the cartography on the basic map is pretty bad: overused pattern fills on things like forested areas and low contrast on contour lines are examples of it being frustratingly hard to read, esp. compared to competitors like Gaia or OnX.
Sync to my Garmin Instinct 2 works really well, and this app is great for pulling out mid-run or -hike to get a better map view. Unfortunately, the cartography on the basic map is pretty bad: overused pattern fills on things like forested areas and low contrast on contour lines are examples of it being frustratingly hard to read, esp. compared to competitors like Gaia or OnX.
2026-07-19	HM*****	it does not contain basic roads, the map shall be updated (experienced in Morocco)
it does not contain basic roads, the map shall be updated (experienced in Morocco)