Softwr

Maps · head to head

Trailforks vs Waze

Trailforks logo

Trailforks

Maps

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Waze logo

Waze

Maps

Community-driven GPS navigation app that uses real-time traffic data from its users

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Trailforks the free tier only allows one offline region downloaded at a time, which is limiting for a rider visiting multiple trail areas.; Waze no offline maps capability, requiring constant internet connectivity
  • They diverge on capability: Trailforks covers Mountain bike trail database, Waze covers Core Functionality.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Trailforks and Waze actually diverge.

Attributes where Trailforks and Waze differ
AttributeTrailforksWaze
Pricing modelFreemium, standalone Pro or bundled with Outside+free
FoundedUnknown2008

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (iOS, Android, Web), 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 Trailforks

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

Only in Waze

  • Core Functionality
  • User Interface

What people use each for

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

Trailforks

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

Waze

  • Real-time navigation and route planning with live traffic updatesnot Trailforks
  • Reporting hazards and roadway conditions to community driversnot Trailforks
  • Finding alternative routes to avoid congestion and accidentsnot Trailforks
  • Connecting with first responders and emergency servicesnot Trailforks
  • Community-driven mapping and road condition improvementsnot Trailforks

Where each one falls short

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

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.

Waze

  • No offline maps capability, requiring constant internet connectivity
  • Routing reliability declined with reports of longer routes and restricted road directions
  • Privacy concerns with location data collection and location-based ads after Google acquisition
  • Stability issues including crashes on CarPlay and slow loading times

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Waze

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Waze review.

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Waze if

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

Questions people ask

Is Trailforks or Waze better?
Neither clearly leads. Trailforks starts at Free and Waze at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Trailforks or Waze?
Trailforks starts at Free and Waze at Free.
Does Trailforks or Waze run on more platforms?
Both run on iOS, Android, Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Trailforks for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Trailforks best used for?
Trailforks is most often used for a mountain biker planning a ride on unfamiliar singletrack who needs direction-of-travel and difficulty data, someone riding in an area with no signal who needs an offline downloaded trail map, a rider checking recent community trail condition reports before heading out, someone comparing several mountain bike regions using the usage heatmap before choosing where to ride. Of those, a mountain biker planning a ride on unfamiliar singletrack who needs direction-of-travel and difficulty data and someone riding in an area with no signal who needs an offline downloaded trail map are not what Waze is typically brought in for.
What can Trailforks do that Waze cannot?
Trailforks covers Mountain bike trail database, Community trail reports, Offline maps, Premium basemaps. Waze covers Core Functionality, User Interface.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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.

Waze: Does Waze work offline?

No, Waze relies on real-time data and does not support offline maps, limiting usability when without internet connectivity.

Source
Trailforks: Who owns Trailforks?

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

Waze: How does Waze handle my location data?

Since Google's 2013 acquisition, Waze shares location history with Google's ad network and serves location-based ads. This differs from privacy-focused alternatives like Apple Maps.

Source
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.

Waze: What platforms can I use Waze on?

Waze is available on iOS and Android mobile apps, and via web through the Live Map feature accessible from any computer or tablet.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on Trailforks

More on Waze

Keep looking

Other head to heads