Maps · head to head
AllTrails vs SW Maps
SW Maps
Maps
Free Android GIS data collector that pairs with external RTK GNSS receivers
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- 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.; SW Maps android only. There is no iOS version and no sign of one, which rules it out for organisations that issue iPhones and iPads to field staff.
- They diverge on capability: AllTrails covers Trail discovery, SW Maps covers Custom feature layers.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which AllTrails and SW Maps actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 SW Maps
- Custom feature layers
- External GNSS support
- Offline basemaps
- Geospatial PDF layers
- Vector import
- Photo and media capture
- Export formats
- NTRIP client
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
AllTrails
- Trail discoverynot SW Maps
- Hiking navigationnot SW Maps
- Outdoor fitness trackingnot SW Maps
SW Maps
- An NGO or municipal utility mapping water points, pipe networks or road assets on a budget that cannot absorb per-user GIS subscriptionsnot AllTrails
- A survey team pairing a low-cost RTK receiver with Android tablets to collect centimetre-accurate attributed features without buying field software seatsnot AllTrails
- A university field course teaching GNSS data collection where every student needs the tool on their own devicenot AllTrails
- A consultant doing a one-off asset inventory who needs shapefile or GeoPackage output and does not want to start an annual subscription for a three-week jobnot 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.
SW Maps
- Android only. There is no iOS version and no sign of one, which rules it out for organisations that issue iPhones and iPads to field staff.
- There is no back end: no user management, no central project sync, no audit trail. Data lives on the device until someone exports it, and a lost tablet is lost data.
- No commercial support contract exists, so an organisation with a compliance requirement for vendor support cannot use it for regulated work regardless of technical fit.
- It is maintained by a small consultancy as a side product of its own project work, so the roadmap follows Softwel’s needs and a feature you depend on may never be prioritised.
- Form logic is basic compared with dedicated survey platforms: no meaningful skip logic, validation or multi-user assignment, so complex questionnaires quickly outgrow it.
Pricing, plan by plan
AllTrails
Free- FreeFree
- Trail search
- Community reviews
- Basic maps
- AllTrails+$35.99/year
- Offline maps
- Real-time navigation
- Trail conditions
SW Maps
Free- SW MapsFree
- All features included
- External RTK GNSS support
- Unlimited layers and exports
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.
Choose SW Maps if
- You need custom feature layers.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Android.
- You also want external gnss support.
Questions people ask
- Is AllTrails or SW Maps better?
- Neither clearly leads. AllTrails starts at Free and SW Maps at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, AllTrails or SW Maps?
- AllTrails starts at Free and SW Maps at Free.
- Does AllTrails or SW Maps run on more platforms?
- AllTrails runs on Ios, Android, Web. SW Maps runs on Android.
- Can I use AllTrails for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- 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 SW Maps is typically brought in for.
- What can AllTrails do that SW Maps cannot?
- AllTrails covers Trail discovery, Offline maps, GPS navigation, Activity recording. SW Maps covers Custom feature layers, External GNSS support, Offline basemaps, Geospatial PDF layers.
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.
SourceSW Maps: Is SW Maps really free?
Yes. It is free with no advertising and no paid tier. There is no subscription and no feature paywall.
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.
SourceSW Maps: Does it support RTK receivers?
Yes, over Bluetooth or USB serial, with NTRIP correction support, antenna height and per-point fix quality recording.
SW Maps: Is there an iOS version?
No. Android only.
SW Maps: Who maintains it?
Softwel, an engineering consultancy in Kathmandu, Nepal, which built it for its own infrastructure projects.
SW Maps: Can we get support?
Not contractually. There is no commercial support agreement, which is the main reason organisations with compliance obligations choose a paid alternative.
Related pages
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