AllTrails Review: Is the Paid Plan Worth It?
The most complete trail database in the US, and the one travel app we would install before a trip to almost any destination.
- August 2026
- The Modern Rutter Editorial
- 8.7 / 10
AllTrails is the default trail app for good reason: the catalog is enormous, the reviews are recent, and the filters match how travelers actually pick a hike. The free tier is genuinely usable; the paid plan earns its keep the moment you lose signal.
- Finding a hike near a city trip
- Trip reports on current conditions
- Offline navigation in parks
- Largest US trail catalog with photos and dated trip reports
- Filters for length, elevation, dogs, kids, shade, and crowds
- Offline maps plus wrong-turn alerts on the paid plan
- Recorded activities sync cleanly across devices
- Offline maps and live share are paid-only
- Crowd-sourced conditions can lag after storms or closures
- Popular trails skew the recommendations toward busy options
What it costs
- Free: search, browse, basic navigation with signal
- Paid plan: about $36 per year for offline maps, wrong-turn alerts, and live share
- Worth buying for a single trip if you will hike in a park without coverage
What you get
Living with it on a trip
Search-first and hard to get lost in. The only friction is that free-tier users hit paywall prompts right when they are about to leave coverage.
What else to consider
Tours & Attractions
For guided outdoor experiences when you would rather not navigate at all.
Install the free tier for every trip. Buy the paid plan for any trip where you will hike more than twice or lose signal.
Common questions
Who should use AllTrails?
Anyone who wants one good hike per trip, and anyone traveling to a national park where cell service disappears at the trailhead.
How much does it cost?
Free: search, browse, basic navigation with signal Paid plan: about $36 per year for offline maps, wrong-turn alerts, and live share Worth buying for a single trip if you will hike in a park without coverage
Is it easy to use?
Search-first and hard to get lost in. The only friction is that free-tier users hit paywall prompts right when they are about to leave coverage.
Related research
Amtrak Review: When the Train Is Actually the Better Choice
Corridor rail is one of the most underrated travel decisions in the US. Long-haul routes are a different product entirely.
Avis Review: Paying More to Skip the Counter
A newer fleet, faster pickup, and the most dependable one-way inventory among the majors.
Amtrak vs Driving
For a 300 mile corridor trip between two downtowns, here is how the two options actually compare.