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Maps · head to head

Ride with GPS vs TomTom

Ride with GPS logo

Ride with GPS

Maps

Cycling route planning and navigation with a genuinely usable free tier and two paid tiers above it

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
TomTom logo

TomTom

Maps

Global leader in navigation and mapping products, offering maps, traffic information, navigation

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Ride with GPS turn-by-turn navigation and offline maps are locked behind the paid tiers, so the free tier alone is not enough for navigation in an area without signal.; TomTom free app lacks specific feature details on landing page
  • They diverge on capability: Ride with GPS covers Route builder, TomTom covers Core Functionality.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Ride with GPS and TomTom actually diverge.

Attributes where Ride with GPS and TomTom differ
AttributeRide with GPSTomTom
Pricing modelFreemium, per user per monthfree
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidiOS, Android
FoundedUnknown1991

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 Ride with GPS

  • Route builder
  • Global heatmap
  • Turn-by-turn navigation
  • Offline maps
  • Garmin sync
  • Extra map layers

Only in TomTom

  • Core Functionality
  • User Interface

What people use each for

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

Ride with GPS

  • A cyclist planning a multi-day touring route who needs offline maps for areas without signalnot TomTom
  • Someone who wants turn-by-turn voice navigation on unfamiliar roads rather than checking a screennot TomTom
  • A rider who wants to see popular local routes via the heatmap before committing to a paid tiernot TomTom
  • A cyclist syncing custom routes directly to a Garmin computer for a big ridenot TomTom

TomTom

  • Turn-by-turn car navigation with offline downloadable mapsnot Ride with GPS
  • Live traffic rerouting and incident/hazard alertsnot Ride with GPS
  • Speed camera and speed-limit warningsnot Ride with GPS
  • Truck-specific routing (vehicle dimensions, hazardous cargo restrictions, rest stops) via GO Expertnot Ride with GPS
  • EV charging station location and fuel price lookup (Android)not Ride with GPS

Where each one falls short

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

Ride with GPS

  • Turn-by-turn navigation and offline maps are locked behind the paid tiers, so the free tier alone is not enough for navigation in an area without signal.
  • There are two separate paid tiers rather than one, and some navigation-adjacent features are split between Basic and Premium in ways that are easy to misjudge before subscribing.
  • It is general cycling focused, not mountain-bike trail specific, so a trail rider is better served by Trailforks for singletrack detail.
  • The web-based route builder is more capable than the mobile app for planning, so serious route creation is awkward to do purely from a phone.
  • Exact free-tier limits, such as any cap on saved routes, are not clearly published, so a heavy free-tier user may hit an undocumented limit unexpectedly.

TomTom

  • Free app lacks specific feature details on landing page
  • Monetization model not transparent
  • No published pricing for premium features
  • No information about subscription tiers or in-app purchases

Pricing, plan by plan

Ride with GPS

Free
  • StarterFree
    • Route creation
    • Ride recording
    • Global heatmap access
  • Basic$7.99/month
    • Turn-by-turn navigation
    • Offline route maps
    • ETA and advanced route planning
  • Premium$9.99/month
    • Everything in Basic
    • Extra map layers: wind, air quality, cell coverage

TomTom

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the TomTom review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Ride with GPS if

  • You need route builder.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want global heatmap.
Ride with GPS review

Choose TomTom if

  • You need core functionality.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android.
  • You also want user interface.
TomTom review

Questions people ask

Is Ride with GPS or TomTom better?
Neither clearly leads. Ride with GPS starts at Free and TomTom at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Ride with GPS or TomTom?
Ride with GPS starts at Free and TomTom at Free.
Does Ride with GPS or TomTom run on more platforms?
Ride with GPS runs on Web, iOS, Android. TomTom runs on iOS, Android.
Can I use Ride with GPS for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Ride with GPS best used for?
Ride with GPS is most often used for a cyclist planning a multi-day touring route who needs offline maps for areas without signal, someone who wants turn-by-turn voice navigation on unfamiliar roads rather than checking a screen, a rider who wants to see popular local routes via the heatmap before committing to a paid tier, a cyclist syncing custom routes directly to a garmin computer for a big ride. Of those, a cyclist planning a multi-day touring route who needs offline maps for areas without signal and someone who wants turn-by-turn voice navigation on unfamiliar roads rather than checking a screen are not what TomTom is typically brought in for.
What can Ride with GPS do that TomTom cannot?
Ride with GPS covers Route builder, Global heatmap, Turn-by-turn navigation, Offline maps. TomTom covers Core Functionality, User Interface.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Ride with GPS: Is Ride with GPS free?

A free Starter tier exists with route creation and the heatmap, but turn-by-turn navigation and offline maps require the Basic or Premium paid tier.

TomTom: Is the TomTom app free to download and use?

Yes, the TomTom app is available as a free download. The page states 'Download for free' with no mention of paid tiers on the landing page.

Source
Ride with GPS: What is the difference between Basic and Premium?

Premium includes everything in Basic plus extra map layers such as wind, air quality and cell coverage.

TomTom: Are there paid features or premium tiers for TomTom?

The landing page does not disclose any pricing information for premium features or subscription tiers. Users must download the app to discover any in-app monetization details.

Source
Ride with GPS: Is it mountain-bike specific?

No, it is general road, gravel and touring focused; Trailforks is the mountain-bike trail specific option.

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