In recent years, the use of GPX files has become increasingly popular among outdoor enthusiasts who want to track and share their routes. These files contain GPS data that can be used to create maps and tracks of all kinds of activities, from hiking and cycling to boating and driving. As a result, a variety of GPX apps have emerged to meet the growing demand for tools that can help users manage and analyze their GPS data. This article will explore some of the best GPX apps for Android devices, examining their features, functionality, and user feedback.
We have compiled a list of 6 Best Gpx App For Android for your consideration, which have undergone rigorous testing and evaluation by our team of experts.
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6 Best Gpx App For Android
1. Google Maps
Google Maps is a navigation tool that allows users to navigate around the world with ease. The platform maps over 220 countries and territories, and provides information on a vast number of businesses and places, enabling users to explore local neighborhoods and find places to eat, drink, and visit no matter where they are in the world.
One key feature of Google Maps is the real-time updates it provides, which enable users to save time and avoid traffic by receiving automatic rerouting suggestions based on live traffic, incidents, and road closures. Additionally, users can access real-time transit information to catch their bus, train, or ride-share, and can obtain real-time ETAs and traffic conditions to beat traffic and reach their destination faster.
Another useful feature of Google Maps is its local discovery capabilities, which allow users to explore local restaurants, events, and activities that are tailored to their interests. Users can also avail themselves of Your Match, a feature that rates how likely they are to enjoy a place, as well as group planning tools that enable them to share options and vote in real-time.
Google Maps also provides users with offline maps for navigation without an internet connection, as well as Street View and indoor imagery for restaurants, shops, museums, and other locations. Indoor maps are also available for large venues like airports, malls, and stadiums. However, it should be noted that some features may not be available in all countries, and Google Maps is not intended for use by oversized or emergency vehicles.
2. OsmAnd — Maps & GPS Offline
OsmAnd is an offline world map application that uses OpenStreetMap (OSM) as its base. The app allows users to navigate using preferred roads and vehicle dimensions without an internet connection. Additionally, OsmAnd is an open-source application that does not collect user data. Users have full control over what data the app can access.
The app offers various features, including a map view that displays different places under categories such as attractions, food, and health. Users can search for places using different parameters and choose from various map styles depending on their activity. Other features include shading relief, contour lines, and the ability to overlay different sources of maps.
OsmAnd also provides GPS navigation, allowing users to plot a route to a place without an internet connection. Customizable navigation profiles are available for various vehicles, and users can change the constructed route, taking into account the exclusion of certain roads or surfaces. Information widgets about the route are also available, displaying details such as distance, speed, and remaining travel time.
The app offers route planning and recording features, allowing users to plot a route point by point using one or multiple navigation profiles. Users can also record routes using GPX tracks and manage them by displaying their own or imported tracks on the map. Visual data about the route, such as descents/ascents and distances, are available, and users can share GPX tracks in OpenStreetMap.
3. Strava: Track Running, Cycling & Swimming
Strava is a fitness tracking app that allows users to record their routes, map their favorite bike trails or running paths, and analyze their training statistics for free. Whether training for a marathon or just enjoying a bike ride, Strava can be used as a sophisticated cycle or running tracker on a mobile phone.
There are three main ways to train smarter with Strava: recording routes, tracking running and analyzing the data, mapping routes, and participating in training challenges. The distance tracker and mile counter feature lets users track their performance over time for running, cycling, and swimming. The app also allows users to connect and share their progress with friends and followers through the Strava feed, sharing route maps and photos of their latest bike ride.
With a Strava subscription, users can set their fitness goals and get customizable training plans, as well as live feedback to help them train safer and perform better. The app can also be used for a variety of other sports, including swimming, skiing, hiking, crossfit, kayaking, rock climbing, surfing, yoga, indoor running, indoor cycling, gym workouts, and more.
It is important to note that Strava depends on GPS for recording activities, and some devices may experience poor location estimation behavior. If this occurs, users can try updating their operating system or checking the support site for more information. Some devices may not be compatible with the app, such as the Samsung Galaxy Ace 3 and Galaxy Express 2.
4. GPX Viewer
GPX Viewer is an app designed to provide users with a variety of features beyond the ability to view gpx, kml, kmz, and loc files. Among its features are the ability to edit tracks, routes, and waypoints metadata, a file browser that opens multiple files with support for favorite files and history, and the ability to compress gpx and kml files into zip archives.
The app also provides users with detailed trip stats, including the ability to analyze information and statistics for tracks and routes, view graphs like elevation profile and speed profile for tracks and routes, and view graphs of other track data like cadence, heart rate, power, and air temperature. Users can analyze information for waypoints and adjust their icons, change track and route color, and colorize track and route line by elevation, speed, cadence, heart rate, or air temperature.
GPX Viewer provides access to online maps such as Google Maps, Mapbox, HERE, Thunderforest, and others based on OpenStreetMap data. Users can also add custom online TMS or WMS maps and OpenWeatherMap weather layers and overlays. The app includes a simple navigation tool that shows the current GPS position on a map, follows GPS position continuously by adjusting map position, and rotates the map according to device orientation sensor or movement direction data from GPS. Users can receive a notification when GPS position is near a waypoint with adjustable distance.
5. GPX Viewer PRO
GPX Viewer PRO is a feature-rich GPS locator, GPS tracks viewer, editor, analyzer, recorder, tracker and simple navigation tool for outdoor activities. It allows users to view tracks, routes, and waypoints from gpx, kml, kmz, and loc files. The app also enables users to edit tracks, routes, and waypoints metadata, compress gpx files into gpz, and kml files into kmz files.
The app provides detailed trip statistics such as graphs of elevation profile, speed profile, cadence, heart rate, power, and air temperature for tracks and routes. Users can also analyze information for waypoints and adjust their icons, change track and route color, and colorize track and route line by elevation, speed, cadence, heart rate, or air temperature.
GPX Viewer PRO lets users access online maps such as Google Maps, Mapbox, HERE, Thunderforest, and others. The app also supports OpenWeatherMap weather layers and overlays, as well as custom online TMS or WMS maps. The app’s simple navigation tool shows the current GPS position on a map, follows GPS position continuously by adjusting map position, and rotates the map according to device orientation sensor or movement direction data from GPS.
In addition, GPX Viewer PRO allows users to synchronize tracks and waypoints created on Trackbook, an online platform for outdoor activities.
6. Routes
Routes is a user-friendly app that enables users to load GPX and KML files in a modern and ad-free interface. It allows users to explore the environment on selected offline and online maps and even start a simulation to preview the environment, plan tours, and preload online maps. The app’s navigation feature guides users along the loaded route and alerts them when the route has deviated. Simultaneously, a recording of the trip is made. Navigation can run in the background, with headphones, or with the display always on.
Routes also boasts a voice assistant that supports users in handling the app during navigation. The app can be utilized without a preloaded route through its recorder function, which enables users to find their way and save completed tracks for later. Additionally, users can enter coordinates (latitude/longitude) to navigate to a specific location. Other useful features of Routes include altitude profile, auto-GPX interpretation, individual display settings, landscape and portrait mode, picture-in-picture navigation, geocaching, and dark mode, among others.
Routes supports various file formats, including GPX and KML, and allows users to load their planned routes or those provided by popular portals such as Google, AllTrails (Gpsies), Polar, and Garmin. The app guides users along their chosen track and notifies them when they go off-course. Users can focus on their route and the beautiful things around them without having to always keep an eye on the display.