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Maps · head to head

TomTom vs Trailforks

TomTom logo

TomTom

Maps

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Trailforks logo

Trailforks

Maps

Mountain-bike-specific trail database and navigation app owned by Outside Inc

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: TomTom free app lacks specific feature details on landing page; Trailforks the free tier only allows one offline region downloaded at a time, which is limiting for a rider visiting multiple trail areas.
  • They diverge on capability: TomTom covers Core Functionality, Trailforks covers Mountain bike trail database.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which TomTom and Trailforks actually diverge.

Attributes where TomTom and Trailforks differ
AttributeTomTomTrailforks
Pricing modelfreeFreemium, standalone Pro or bundled with Outside+
PlatformsiOS, AndroidiOS, Android, Web
Founded1991Unknown

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 TomTom

  • Core Functionality
  • User Interface

Only in Trailforks

  • Mountain bike trail database
  • Community trail reports
  • Offline maps
  • Premium basemaps
  • Heatmap overlay
  • Weather and fire overlays

What people use each for

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

TomTom

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

Trailforks

  • A mountain biker planning a ride on unfamiliar singletrack who needs direction-of-travel and difficulty datanot TomTom
  • Someone riding in an area with no signal who needs an offline downloaded trail mapnot TomTom
  • A rider checking recent community trail condition reports before heading outnot TomTom
  • Someone comparing several mountain bike regions using the usage heatmap before choosing where to ridenot TomTom

Where each one falls short

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

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

Trailforks

  • The free tier only allows one offline region downloaded at a time, which is limiting for a rider visiting multiple trail areas.
  • Pro pricing appears to be shifting toward bundling with the wider Outside+ media subscription, making the standalone price less stable and worth checking directly before buying.
  • Its focus on mountain biking means it is a weaker choice than Ride with GPS for road or gravel route planning.
  • Trail data quality depends on community contribution, so newer or less-ridden regions can have sparse or outdated information.
  • Being owned by a media company with a broader outdoor content bundle strategy introduces some uncertainty about how the standalone app product is prioritised long term.

Pricing, plan by plan

TomTom

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the TomTom review.

Trailforks

Free
  • Trailforks FreeFree
    • Trail database access
    • Basic basemaps
    • One offline region at a time
  • Trailforks Pro$undefined/year
    • Unlimited offline regions
    • Premium basemaps including Gaia and ArcGIS satellite
    • Heatmap, weather and fire overlays

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Trailforks if

  • You need mountain bike trail database.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want community trail reports.
Trailforks review

Questions people ask

Is TomTom or Trailforks better?
Neither clearly leads. TomTom starts at Free and Trailforks at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, TomTom or Trailforks?
TomTom starts at Free and Trailforks at Free.
Does TomTom or Trailforks run on more platforms?
TomTom runs on iOS, Android. Trailforks runs on iOS, Android, Web.
Can I use TomTom for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is TomTom best used for?
TomTom is most often used for turn-by-turn car navigation with offline downloadable maps, live traffic rerouting and incident/hazard alerts, speed camera and speed-limit warnings, truck-specific routing (vehicle dimensions, hazardous cargo restrictions, rest stops) via go expert. Of those, turn-by-turn car navigation with offline downloadable maps and live traffic rerouting and incident/hazard alerts are not what Trailforks is typically brought in for.
What can TomTom do that Trailforks cannot?
TomTom covers Core Functionality, User Interface. Trailforks covers Mountain bike trail database, Community trail reports, Offline maps, Premium basemaps.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
Trailforks: Is Trailforks free?

A free tier exists with trail data and one offline region at a time; Pro removes that limit and adds premium map layers.

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
Trailforks: Who owns Trailforks?

Outside Inc, which also owns Pinkbike and CyclingTips, acquired it in 2021.

Trailforks: Is it only for mountain biking?

Mountain biking is the core focus, though it has secondary support for hiking, gravel and motorised trail use.

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