Record, map and navigate — without a subscription
One by one, the outdoor apps went subscription-only. Komoot moved to a subscription after its 2025 acquisition and retired the old one-time region packs; AllTrails, Gaia GPS and Outdooractive gate their real features behind yearly plans; Avenza's 2026 change put custom-map imports behind a paid tier. If you're looking for a GPS app you can actually *use* without a subscription or an account, that's exactly how NomadTracks is built.
The core is free — not a trial, not a teaser — and there's no account to create. An optional Pro subscription exists for a few extras, but it never gates the things you came for.
What's free, forever — no subscription, no account
Recording with accurate elevation, speed and pace charts. Points of interest with photos and notes. Your own georeferenced paper and PDF maps, unlimited. GPX and GeoJSON import and export with no lock-in. Private sync and backup through your own iCloud or Synology NAS. Standalone Apple Watch recording. Metric, imperial and nautical units. None of that asks for a subscription, and none of it asks for an account — because NomadTracks runs no servers of its own.
Why so many outdoor apps went subscription-only
It's a business model, not a technical necessity: recurring revenue is easier to build a company on. That's a fair choice — but it means the map you need at the trailhead, or the offline download when you lose signal, is increasingly behind a paywall and a login. NomadTracks takes the opposite stance on purpose: the things that keep you found outdoors are the free core, and they stay that way.
What the optional Pro subscription adds (and what it never touches)
NomadTracks Pro is a small, optional subscription — cancel anytime through the App Store — that adds route planning on real trails, Dropbox sync, and Google Maps / OpenStreetMap basemaps. That's it. It does not gate recording, your custom maps, GPX, POIs, iCloud/Synology sync or the Apple Watch app. If you never subscribe, the app you have stays fully useful, forever.
Private by design, not just cheap
"No subscription" is half of it; "no account" is the other half. There's no NomadTracks login and no company database of your movements — your library lives on your devices and in your iCloud, Dropbox or Synology. Free, private, and offline-first are the same decision here, not three separate features.
Related
- What the optional Pro subscription includes
- How NomadTracks works fully offline
- NomadTracks vs. Komoot — no subscription vs. subscription-only
- NomadTracks vs. Avenza — free unlimited map imports
FAQ
Is NomadTracks free without a subscription?
Yes. The core — recording with elevation, your own offline maps, POIs, GPX import/export, iCloud and Synology sync, and the Apple Watch app — is free forever, with no account and no subscription. The optional Pro subscription only adds route planning, Dropbox sync and extra basemaps.
Do I need to create an account?
No. NomadTracks has no accounts and no servers of its own — your data stays on your devices and in your own iCloud, Dropbox or Synology NAS. There's nothing to sign up for.
What do I get if I don't subscribe to Pro?
Everything most people need outdoors: recording, unlimited custom georeferenced maps, offline navigation, POIs with photos, GPX in and out, private sync, and standalone Apple Watch recording. Pro is genuinely optional.
Is Pro a one-time purchase or a subscription?
Pro is a subscription (monthly or yearly, cancel anytime via the App Store). The difference from other apps is that the subscription is optional and small — the core you rely on isn't behind it.
Which hiking apps require a subscription?
Most of the big ones gate their key features behind yearly plans — Komoot (subscription-only since 2025), AllTrails+, Gaia GPS, Outdooractive Pro, and Avenza's paid tiers for custom maps. NomadTracks keeps the equivalent core features free.