Help!  Should I use AllTrails or Gaia?

We often get asked about different apps and which ought to be used.  Here is one of our latest dialogues.  Feel free to join the discussion in the comments below!

AnaMaria:

I need your opinion. I have been using the AllTrails app forever, and I’ve paid for the pro for the last year. I just recently signed up for Gaia, because it seems most of the leaders use that app. I am rethinking the monthly costs and trying to figure out if I really need this expense ($80 cost) 🙄.

At this point, I don’t know how to compare and decide what I need and what I don’t need. I used AllTrails (free version) for years, so I feel most comfortable with it.  I started with the pro ($32.51 just so I could copy the maps), but I haven’t really used them like I thought I would).  From a safety perspective, I carry two charged batteries so my phone never dies, and if I am hiking by myself I don’t usually go off the regular trails.

What questions should I be asking myself so I can make the right decision if I need to be paying for the services they offer?

I just recently had an experience with Gaia when my husband and I got turned around on a road trip and when we were out of cell range.  Gaia showed the streets so confirmed we were going in the right direction.  I’ve never tried that with the all trails, so I don’t know if all trails shows street maps as well?  As you can see I don’t use the AllTrails app like I should I guess, so at this point I need to figure out one app and learn how to use it to its full potential.

So which one is best?

Justis:
I pay for both because they work better for different things unfortunately. AllTrails is best if you want to follow a trail and Gaia is best if you want to plan your own trip or go off trail.

Eric:
I agree 100% with Justis. AllTrails is good for more casual hikes on trails. Gaia is best for backcountry hikes, more serious mountains, and more detailed and technical maps/conditions.

Alex:
All trails doesn’t have those features.

Eric:
Well, you can download road maps for offline use on AllTrails, but it’s not very detailed at all.

Alex:
I have subscriptions to both and find Gaia to be far more valuable for the things I like doing. I sometimes use them in tandem but if I had to choose it would be Gaia hands down.

Cheri:
I would answer similar to Alex. One other thing that I LOVE about Gaia is that all my tracks are mapped on the same page, so if I zoom out, I can see many of the trails I’ve hiked across the state in one view. Sometimes tracks overlap when you’ve been there before. I have explained it to people that I feel like AllTrails is great for beginners, and Gaia is for the steps beyond.

Alex:
I also love Gaia for the fact that you can take a photo in the app and it will drop a pin with link to photos. You can drop pins with icons of your choosing to mark different types of spots/features. It’s particularly great for marking cool camping spots and mushroom spots.

What do you think?   Add your thoughts to the comments below!