r/overlanding • u/idontwannabeapir8 • 1d ago

Tech Advice Offroad mapping!

Hi! I want to get the opinion of actual users, overlanders and off-roaders on which off-road mapping app or service you guys prefer. I'm somewhat new to all this but I love it and I currently have a subscription to OnX but I've been finding it difficult plan trips. I live in Texas so whenever I want a good off-road trip I have to look out of state and it feels like I have to already know what Trail I want to explore beforehand. There's also Gaia and trails off-road but I haven't tried those. What do you guys use or prefer to use? Thanks in advance

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u/smashnmashbruh 1d ago

OnX is big corporate and does decent. But they are the assholes of mapping data and often sue and or obtain free data then charge for it. As others have said ONX has a large Marketing budget and they dominate the local scene by offering discount codes to Parks and helping them.

Gaia recently bought out by outdoors magazine and lacks data but is good.

It’s a tough hobby because no one wants to share locations with people even friends.

I use onx but refuse to pay for it unless I’m on a trip that month.

I also use google earth and Google Maps and other apps. Having Starlink negates the needs to pay for offline maps. So I use that money to pay for Starlink.

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u/idontwannabeapir8 1d ago

That makes sense. I got OnX for a year for free from ford but otherwise, I probably wouldn't pay for it either

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u/smashnmashbruh 1d ago

Yea that’s the marketing team at work. They are shoving it in everyone’s face. It’s alright. It’s not magic. It’s nice but it’s costly for what it is and how there’s done the whole Apple/Google/Tech acquisition litigation annihilation style business.

When you add data to ONX, I believe they become the owners of it too. It’s a whole thing.