Frequently asked questions.

What is OffTrail?

OffTrail is a free iPhone and Android app for following GPX tracks offline. You load a track, the app pre-caches the map tiles around it, and your phone navigates you along the route — even with zero signal. Designed for adventure motorcyclists, enduro and 4×4 riders.

Is OffTrail free?

Yes, free to download and use. There's an optional tip jar, but it's exactly that — optional. Built by a rider, for riders.

Who is OffTrail for?

Anyone navigating off-road on a planned GPX track — adventure bikes, enduro, 4×4, side-by-side. Hiking and cycling work today; a dedicated hiker mode is on the roadmap.

How does OffTrail compare to Komoot, Gaia GPS, or Locus Map?

The OffTrail app follows the GPX tracks you bring and can also generate a route to a destination or a Round Trip. For deliberate planning — multiple stops, your own GPX Tracks — use the OffTrail Route Planner on the web. If you need traffic or social feeds, the alternatives above are better fits.

Does OffTrail do turn-by-turn navigation?

Yes — for routes OffTrail generates (to a destination, or a Round Trip) you get turn-by-turn guidance with voice. Following an imported GPX track, OffTrail shows your position on the line, warns when you drift off and guides you back, with voice alerts.

Which devices does OffTrail run on?

iPhone running iOS 16 or later, and Android phones running Android 7 or later. iPad works via the iPhone build (no dedicated layout yet). Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both supported.

Is there an Android version?

OffTrail is on Google Play for Android, and on the App Store for iOS — same app, same free model.

Does OffTrail work in Apple CarPlay?

Yes. OffTrail supports Apple CarPlay: the offline map, your position and navigation guidance appear on the car's screen. Android Auto is supported too — see OffTrail on Android Auto. More detail: GPX navigation on CarPlay.

Does OffTrail support Android Auto?

Yes. OffTrail supports Android Auto as well as Apple CarPlay.

Does OffTrail work without an internet connection?

Yes — that's the point. Download map tiles for entire countries (offline maps are available for more than 100 countries) while you're on Wi-Fi or cellular at home, then ride with the phone fully offline. More detail: offline GPX navigation.

Does OffTrail work without a GPS signal?

No. OffTrail needs a GPS fix to know where you are on the track. The polyline still draws on the cached map, but the user position, off-track alerts, and ride recording all depend on CoreLocation. In deep canyons, dense forest or tunnels GPS can drop momentarily — the app keeps the last known position visible and resumes when iOS gets a fresh fix.

Can I use satellite imagery offline?

No. Satellite imagery (Esri World Imagery) is online-only by design. The vector basemap with off-road tracks works fully offline; the satellite layer needs network.

How do I get a GPX track into OffTrail?

Open a GPX file from your device's file manager, email, browser or share/open menu and choose OffTrail. On iPhone, AirDrop works too. Up to 5 tracks can be loaded at once, each in its own slot colour.

Can OffTrail generate routes?

Yes. Beyond following an imported GPX track, OffTrail generates routes in the app: off-road routes for adventure motorcycles and 4x4s (tap the map or enter coordinates), on-road Road Fun and Road Fast profiles, and circular round trips. More detail: Off-Road Route Generation.

Can OffTrail create circular routes?

Yes. Round Trip mode generates a circular route from your location: pick a distance up to 200 km and OffTrail generates a loop that brings you back to the start.

Can I export GPX files?

Yes. Every recorded ride is a standard GPX file on your phone — share it via AirDrop, Files, email or any share target. Nothing is locked in.

Does OffTrail track me or send my data anywhere?

Tracks and recordings in the OffTrail app stay on your device; in the web Route Planner, your GPX is processed in your browser and route geometry is sent transiently to build your route — never stored. What leaves the device is opt-in and per-feature: generating a route (the request goes to OffTrail's routing service, nothing kept), live position while in a Group ride session (over OffTrail's own servers, nothing stored long-term), device-to-device sync if you pair a second device (tracks, recordings and routes through OffTrail's protected relay), and basemap tile requests when you have a network. Full policy at offtrailapp.com/privacy.

Does OffTrail need an account?

No. There's nothing to sign up for. The app works without ever knowing who you are.

Does OffTrail change or recalculate my GPX track?

No — never. Your GPX is the master track. OffTrail follows the exact geometry you imported, road by road, and has no rerouting engine that could decide another road is “faster”. The tour you planned is the tour you ride.

What happens when I leave the track?

OffTrail shows an Off Track warning with the distance to the track and a dashed connector pointing back to it (and a Wrong way warning if you are riding the track backwards). When you rejoin, guidance simply continues along the original remaining track — nothing is recalculated. Today OffTrail does not compute a road route back to the track; you ride back by the map and the connector. An on-demand “back to track” route is on the roadmap.

Is that behaviour identical on Apple CarPlay and Android Auto?

Yes. The car screen shows the same map, the same track line, the same off-track warning and connector, and the same guidance as the phone. There is no separate “car mode” with fewer features.

What exactly is visible on the CarPlay / Android Auto screen?

On the car screen:

• the imported GPX track and its original line
• your live position and track-following guidance
• turn instructions on the main screen and in the instrument cluster (on cars that support it)
• Off Track / Wrong way warnings and the connector back to the track
• the remaining original track after you rejoin
• satellite imagery
• offline maps

Not available on either the phone or the car: 3D terrain, elevation relief, contour lines, hill shading.

Which provider supplies the satellite imagery, and does it work on CarPlay?

Esri World Imagery — genuine aerial imagery, not a shaded road map. It works on the phone and on the CarPlay / Android Auto screen, and you can keep it on while following an imported GPX track. It is online-only (see the offline question below).

Does OffTrail have 3D terrain, contour lines or hill shading?

No. OffTrail’s maps are 2D on both the phone and the car. The off-road map emphasises tracks, surface types and mountain peaks instead. Contour lines and relief shading were removed in mid-2026 to keep the map clean; we are reconsidering them.

What works offline, exactly?

Download a country pack and the GPX track, navigation, off-track warnings and CarPlay / Android Auto all work with zero signal, on the vector off-road and base maps. Satellite imagery cannot be downloaded — it needs a network connection.

Which subscription do I need for all of this?

No subscription. OffTrail is free to use — no licence tiers and no trial period. Every feature above is available to everyone, on the phone and in the car.

Can I record my ride?

Yes — recording starts automatically when you open the app and saves on close. The last 30 days of rides live on your phone as GPX files; share them via AirDrop, Files or email whenever you want.

Can I ride together with friends?

Yes, via Group Ride. The host shares a 6-digit code, riders join, and everyone shows up live on the map in real time. Sessions are ephemeral and nothing is stored long-term. Up to 15 riders per session. More detail: Group Ride tracking.