Polarsteps review

Polarsteps is the trip app for the part after planning. It does plan: you can add stays and activities, generate an itinerary and add planned steps. Its real strength is tracking. The app records your route automatically, keeps tracking offline, and typically uses less than 4% battery a day, according to Polarsteps. Family and friends can follow along for free, and you decide whether a trip is private, for friends or public. Afterward you get travel stats, a scratch map and Trip Reels, and you can order a printed Travel Book. Polarsteps says planning, tracking, sharing and following stay free. Polarsteps Plus adds 3D maps, step stats with elevation, more map styles, up to 10 Travel Buddies and 20% off Travel Books on the yearly plan, with no free trial at the moment. Plus showed EUR prices from our location, so the USD price is pending. Polarsteps does not manage reservations or flight alerts, so pair it with TripIt or Tripsy for bookings.

Who it is for

Long-trip travelers who want to plan, track and share their route with family and friends.

Price

See vendor pricing (USD check pending).

US price check pending. See the vendor pricing page.

Key features

• Plan trips, generate an itinerary and add planned steps
• Automatic route tracking that keeps working offline
• Share trips with followers, the public or keep them private
• Travel stats, scratch map and Trip Reels
• Printed Travel Books, with 20% off for yearly Plus members

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Planning, tracking and sharing are free
• Strength: Tracking uses typically less than 4% battery per day, per Polarsteps
• Strength: Ad-free
• Weakness: Stronger at tracking and sharing than at managing bookings
• Weakness: Plus features such as 3D maps and step stats cost extra
• Weakness: Plus showed only EUR prices from our location

Key facts

• Free plan: Yes, plan, track, share and relive
• Travelers: 23M+, per Polarsteps
• Plus trial: None currently
• Travel Buddies: 5 free, 10 with Plus
• Ads: None

Where it ranks

Polarsteps is No. 8 in our Best Trip Planner Apps verdict.