Geocaching is a pretty fun hobby – looking for little treasures in hidden places while seeing new and exciting places – what could be more fun? Well, one of the best tools for modern geocachers is their phone – without GPS and the right app to lead them to stashes, modern geocaching wouldn’t be all it’s cracked up to be. There are plenty of choices out there for fans of geocaching, and we made a list.
Best Free Apps
c:geo
One of the most popular geocacher apps out there, this free and open-source program does not use the official geocaching API. This can cause issues as updates don’t necessarily happen immediately and don’t translate to the app directly. It does support functions like importing lists of caches, searching for nearby ones, and saving relevant info. It’s easy to use and, all in all, a solid choice especially for a casual geocacher.
Locus Map Free
This app isn’t geocaching-specific – it’s for generic outdoor navigation. The offline maps are great if you lose connectivity and the app is integrated with the official Geocaching API. It lets you import your tracks and GPS location. The map is quite accurate and detailed, and you can turn individual caches on and off at will.
GCC – GeoCache Calculator
GCC is a complete tool that offers all sorts of help with puzzles and the like. It has calculators, converters, en- and de-crypting tools and more, but you’ll need a map-tool to go along with it. You’ll be able to solve all sorts of puzzles with relative ease – this one is definitely a must-have for any dedicated geocaching puzzler.
Best Paid Apps:
Geocaching
This is the official geocaching app directly from Groundspeak. While it is somewhat pricy, it also provides a complete experience. Updates and changes go live immediately, and functions like pas logs, hints and more are all available. It also supports offline use and has a built-in compass – just about everything you could want from this sort of app. It isn’t too intuitive to use though, so if you are just starting out, you may want to go with a free option before committing to this one.
CacheMaid
This one has a 30-day demo so that you can try the app before you buy it. It uses the official geocaching API and is a pretty basic app. It features lists, details and a map as well as a compass, but not much more. It’s simple enough to use, but if you are looking for a fully-featured app, there are some simpler choices out there. For casual use, this is a great cheaper alternative to the official Groundspeak app though!
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