Maps & Navigation · head to head
Google Maps Platform vs AllTrails
Google Maps Platform
Maps & Navigation
Comprehensive set of APIs and SDKs that allow developers to embed Google
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
AllTrails
Maps & Navigation
Discover the best hiking and biking trails
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only AllTrails has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Google Maps Platform free allowances are per service rather than pooled, at 10,000 events a month for dynamic maps, geocoding and autocomplete; 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.
- They diverge on capability: Google Maps Platform covers Core Functionality, AllTrails covers Trail discovery.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Google Maps Platform and AllTrails actually diverge.
| Attribute | Google Maps Platform | AllTrails |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | Free |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web | Ios, Android, Web |
| Category | Maps & Navigation | Unknown |
| Founded | 2005 | 2010 |
Identical on both: pricing model (freemium), user rating (Not yet rated).
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 Google Maps Platform
- Core Functionality
- User Interface
Only in AllTrails
- Trail discovery
- Offline maps
- GPS navigation
- Activity recording
- Trail reviews
- Apple Health
- Garmin
- Apple Watch
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Google Maps Platform
- Embedding dynamic maps, Street View and photorealistic 3D tiles in an applicationnot AllTrails
- Route computation, navigation and fleet route optimisationnot AllTrails
- Geocoding, place autocomplete and address validationnot AllTrails
- Environmental data including weather, solar, air quality and pollennot AllTrails
- Geospatial analytics through Earth Enginenot AllTrails
AllTrails
- Trail discoverynot Google Maps Platform
- Hiking navigationnot Google Maps Platform
- Outdoor fitness trackingnot Google Maps Platform
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Google Maps Platform
- Free allowances are per service rather than pooled, at 10,000 events a month for dynamic maps, geocoding and autocomplete
- Dynamic Maps cost $7.00 per 1,000 calls at the entry tier
- Geocoding and the Directions API both cost $5.00 per 1,000 calls at the entry tier
- Pricing is tiered by volume, so the effective unit price depends on total monthly usage and is hard to predict in advance
- Billing is usage based with no flat plan, so a traffic spike is a cost spike
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.
Pricing, plan by plan
Google Maps Platform
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Google Maps Platform review.
AllTrails
Free- FreeFree
- Trail search
- Community reviews
- Basic maps
- AllTrails+$35.99/year
- Offline maps
- Real-time navigation
- Trail conditions
Which should you pick?
Choose Google Maps Platform if
- You need core functionality.
- You also want user interface.
Choose AllTrails if
- You need trail discovery.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Ios, Android, Web.
- You also want offline maps.
Questions people ask
- Is Google Maps Platform or AllTrails better?
- Neither clearly leads. Google Maps Platform starts at On request and AllTrails at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Google Maps Platform or AllTrails?
- AllTrails has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Google Maps Platform and Free for AllTrails.
- Does Google Maps Platform or AllTrails run on more platforms?
- Google Maps Platform runs on Web. AllTrails runs on Ios, Android, Web.
- Can I use AllTrails for free?
- Yes. AllTrails has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Google Maps Platform starts at On request.
- What is Google Maps Platform best used for?
- Google Maps Platform is most often used for embedding dynamic maps, street view and photorealistic 3d tiles in an application, route computation, navigation and fleet route optimisation, geocoding, place autocomplete and address validation, environmental data including weather, solar, air quality and pollen. Of those, embedding dynamic maps, street view and photorealistic 3d tiles in an application and route computation, navigation and fleet route optimisation are not what AllTrails is typically brought in for.
- What can Google Maps Platform do that AllTrails cannot?
- Google Maps Platform covers Core Functionality, User Interface. AllTrails covers Trail discovery, Offline maps, GPS navigation, Activity recording.