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Maps · head to head

AllTrails vs CARTO

AllTrails logo

AllTrails

Maps

Discover the best hiking and biking trails

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
CARTO logo

CARTO

Maps

Location Intelligence Platform

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only AllTrails has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: AllTrails the App Store listing shows AllTrails is a free download with an in-app Pro subscription; the visible listing text does not state the Pro price, so the reader must check in-app purchases for the current rate.; CARTO no prices are published; the committed tiers are all quote-only
  • They diverge on capability: AllTrails covers Trail discovery, CARTO covers Spatial Analysis.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which AllTrails and CARTO actually diverge.

Attributes where AllTrails and CARTO differ
AttributeAllTrailsCARTO
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreemiumquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsIos, Android, WebWeb
Founded20102012

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Maps).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in AllTrails

  • Trail discovery
  • Offline maps
  • GPS navigation
  • Activity recording
  • Trail reviews
  • Apple Health
  • Garmin
  • Apple Watch

Only in CARTO

  • Spatial Analysis
  • Interactive Maps
  • Data Observatory
  • Workflows
  • APIs
  • Snowflake
  • BigQuery
  • PostgreSQL

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

AllTrails

  • Trail discoverynot CARTO
  • Hiking navigationnot CARTO
  • Outdoor fitness trackingnot CARTO

CARTO

  • Spatial analysis over data already in a cloud warehousenot AllTrails
  • Building interactive maps and location dashboardsnot AllTrails
  • Geocoding and routing through location data servicesnot AllTrails
  • Site selection and territory planningnot AllTrails
  • Self-hosted geospatial analytics for regulated environmentsnot AllTrails

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

AllTrails

  • The App Store listing shows AllTrails is a free download with an in-app Pro subscription; the visible listing text does not state the Pro price, so the reader must check in-app purchases for the current rate.

CARTO

  • No prices are published; the committed tiers are all quote-only
  • Metered on four separate axes: workflow runs, map loads, API calls and location data service operations
  • API access and tokens are limited on pay-as-you-go and unlimited only from the Strategic tier
  • Self-hosting is available on Enterprise and included only on the Custom tier
  • The 14 day trial explicitly forbids production use

Pricing, plan by plan

AllTrails

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Trail search
    • Community reviews
    • Basic maps
  • AllTrails+$35.99/year
    • Offline maps
    • Real-time navigation
    • Trail conditions

CARTO

On request
  • Pay As You Go$null/mo
    • Metered, capped location data services
    • Limited API access and tokens
    • Standard support
  • Enterprise$null/mo
    • Limited location data services with quota
    • Limited API access and tokens
    • Standard or Premium support
  • Strategic$null/mo
    • Unlimited API access and tokens
    • Premium or Elite support
    • Custom branding
  • Custom$null/mo
    • Up to unlimited location data services
    • Unlimited API access and tokens
    • Elite support

Which should you pick?

Choose AllTrails if

  • You need trail discovery.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Ios, Android, Web.
  • You also want offline maps.
AllTrails review

Choose CARTO if

  • You need spatial analysis.
  • You also want interactive maps.
CARTO review

Questions people ask

Is AllTrails or CARTO better?
Neither clearly leads. AllTrails starts at Free and CARTO at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, AllTrails or CARTO?
AllTrails has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for AllTrails and On request for CARTO.
Does AllTrails or CARTO run on more platforms?
AllTrails runs on Ios, Android, Web. CARTO runs on Web.
Can I use AllTrails for free?
Yes. AllTrails has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. CARTO starts at On request.
What is AllTrails best used for?
AllTrails is most often used for trail discovery, hiking navigation, outdoor fitness tracking. Of those, trail discovery and hiking navigation are not what CARTO is typically brought in for.
What can AllTrails do that CARTO cannot?
AllTrails covers Trail discovery, Offline maps, GPS navigation, Activity recording. CARTO covers Spatial Analysis, Interactive Maps, Data Observatory, Workflows. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

AllTrails: Is AllTrails free to use?

AllTrails offers both free and paid membership options. The basic free tier allows users to explore trails, see maps, and access core features for discovering hiking and outdoor activities.

Source
CARTO: What CARTO pricing tiers are available?

CARTO offers Pay As You Go (monthly, consumption-based), Enterprise (annual commitment with limited quotas), Strategic (annual with unlimited API access), and Custom (annual with full services for large enterprises). Enterprise and higher require contacting sales.

Source
AllTrails: Can I create custom routes on AllTrails?

Yes, AllTrails allows users to build and edit custom trails. The platform provides route converter tools and options to print custom maps for your own trail designs.

Source
CARTO: Does CARTO have a free version?

CARTO does not advertise a free tier. The Pay As You Go plan requires monthly payments based on consumption with capped services.

Source
CARTO: What is included in the CARTO Strategic plan?

Strategic tier includes unlimited API access and tokens, premium or elite support, custom branding, audit logs, and usage metrics. It requires an annual commitment and custom pricing quote.

Source
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