Unlocking Adventure in 2025: onX Offroad vs. Gaia GPS Navigation Tools

When you are considering investing in an off-road navigation tool, you want tech that gives you the most reliable trail data without features that take away from the experience. And sure, while paper maps will always have their place in our rigs (or maybe just our hearts), the best navigation app can totally change how we discover, explore, and safely navigate America's trail systems.

Here at Goats Trail, we always want to keep you up to date on the latest off-road technology on the market - which is why we’ve put both onX Offroad and Gaia GPS through their paces to see which ones should hold the title of top GPS for offroading in 2025.

Both of these GPS apps have earned their reputation in the off-road community, but they serve different needs. Just like choosing the right vehicle modifications, the best app for you depends on how and where you wheel.

We've tested these apps across public lands, private trails, and everything in between to give you a straightforward comparison based on real-world use. From offline capabilities to trail ratings, land ownership details to weather overlays – we're breaking down what actually matters when you're on the trail.

onX Offorad vs Gaia GPS At-A-Glance

Before we dive into the details on each tool, here's what matters most when you're planning your next trail run:

As you can see, both options offer the features you’ll likely want in a GPS for offroading or trail riding. But the real differences become more apparent when you're actually using them on the trail.

While both are solid choices, your specific needs – whether that's detailed property boundaries for dispersed camping or comprehensive topographic data for technical trails – will help determine which is right for you.

onX Offroad - Built for the Off-Road Life

• ● Purpose-built for off-road vehicles with real-time trail intelligence and dedicated 4x4 features
• ● Detailed land ownership information and property boundaries make it essential for navigating public/private land transitions
• ● Two-tier pricing ($34.99 Premium/$59.99 Elite annually) with straightforward off-road focused features

If there's one thing that stands out about onX Offroad , it's that it was clearly designed by people who actually wheel.

The app is intuitive and brings you exactly what matters when you're out on the trails, and it shows in every feature. Without giving away all the fun parts of a new app, let’s break down the features you’ll want to know work before you buy.

onX Offers Vehicle-First Navigation

One of the key features of onX is the new My Garage feature . This app features is excellent for anyone running multiple rigs - and gamifies the experience a bit as a “collection.” My Garage lets you store your vehicle profiles and filters trails based on what your specific setup can handle.

Whether you're in a modified Jeep or running stock, you'll only see trails rated for your capability level. This means no more showing up to a trail only to find out your rig isn't ready for it. Plus, there’s no better feeling than logging in to add a new rig to your app!

Land Access & Ownership

One of onX's strongest features is that comes packed with detailed land ownership information. For those who wheel in areas with mixed public and private land, this data matters – to keep you safe and keep you from running afoul of a property owner or the local authorities.

The onX offers:

• ● Clear property boundaries and landowner names
• ● Instant identification of public vs. private land
• ● Detailed information about land ownership and acreage
• ● Critical for finding legal camping spots and trail access points

Real-Time Trail Intelligence

It’s an AI world, right? So it makes sense that your app should be always updating and thinking on those data streams. The latest updates to onX have added features that make the most of real-time updates:

• ● Live weather and trail conditions
• ● Wildfire smoke mapping and air quality data
• ● Precipitation radar for avoiding muddy trails
• ● Historic wildfire information to help anticipate trail conditions

But what about when you aren’t “plugged in”? The onX Offroad has seen some recent updates that have really improved the offline experience:

• ● Offline routing now available for iOS (Android coming soon)
• ● The ability to download large areas for offline use
• ● Offline route sharing with your group through Nearby Share
• ● Full functionality even without cell service

Trail Planning & Navigation

Now to the good stuff – how does the onX perform on the trails? In our time with it, we’ve noticed that the onX does pretty well at keeping you in the know while out on the trail – with features that give you plenty to look at as you drive:

• ● Landscape mode for dash mounting
• ● CarPlay and Android Auto integration
• ● Trail difficulty ratings specific to vehicle types
• ● Snap-to-trail routing for accurate navigation

Where It Could Improve

To be fair, there are a few areas where onX could step up its game - particularly when it comes to the steeper learning curve as well as some limitations to the topographic details and trail difficulty ratings. Here are some of our notes on where the onX Offroad could be a bit better:

• ● Some users report occasional glitches with CarPlay integration
• ● Trail difficulty ratings can be inconsistent between regions
• ● The learning curve might be steep for new users
• ● Limited topographic detail compared to some competitors

Those small negatives aside, the onX Offroad works incredibly well for an app built specifically for off-road enthusiasts. If your primary focus is finding and navigating off-road trails while staying legal and safe, this app delivers exactly what you need without unnecessary complications.

Gaia GPS - The All-Terrain Navigator

• ● Comprehensive outdoor navigation platform with 250+ specialized map layers and detailed topographic data
• ● Versatile route planning tools that work across multiple outdoor activities from off-roading to hiking
• ● Premium starts at $39.99/year with Outside+ bundle at $89.99/year including additional outdoor content

While onX Offroad zeroes in on the off-road experience, Gaia GPS takes a broader approach to the entire experience that may be both a strength and a weakness for serious wheelers. Just like we did with the onX Offroad, we put the Gaia GPS to work in similar situations – and here’s what we found:

The Gaia GPS Offers Map Layer Mastery

Where Gaia truly shines is in its extensive map collection – which means you’re getting a ton of topographical and other map layer data packed into a GPS. Here’s just a few different data points we were able to uncover:

• ● 250+ specialized map layers
• ● USFS Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUM)
• ● National Geographic Trails Illustrated
• ● Detailed slope angle overlays
• ● Historical wildfire data
• ● Multiple satellite imagery options

This huge variety outpaces the onX - and means you can layer different types of information to get a complete picture of your route, from terrain challenges to seasonal closures.

Route Planning & Analysis

Gaia's planning tools are more comprehensive than most – with advanced elevation profiles, detailed terrain analysis, and even custom waypoint systems built in.

The Gaia GPS also features something we found unique: route difficult estimates with distance and time calculations to help you plan out your next trip (and compete against the robot’s opinions of “possible.”)

It also come with easy and efficient GPX file importing/exporting through the interface.

Trail Network Coverage

As you’d imagine, the Gaia GPS has tons of trail network coverage within the app itself. While this may not be a shocker, it’s definitely a positive once you get into the different sections. The app offers extensive coverage through:

• ● User-generated trail content
• ● Official forest service routes
• ● Comprehensive back-road mapping
• ● Integration with multiple trail databases
• ● Regular community updates

Similar to the onX Offroad, offline capabilities are important. Fortunately, Gaia's offline capabilities are solid:

• ● Efficient map downloading system
• ● Ability to save entire states offline
• ● Reliable offline navigation
• ● Multiple backup options for routes
• ● Snap-to-trail rerouting even offline

Where the Gaia GPS Falls Short for Off-Roaders

As you use the Gaia GPS, you’ll likely find that it does have some notable limitations – particularly if you are using it solely for off-road use:

• ● Less detailed vehicle-specific trail information
• ● No private landowner details
• ● Limited real-time condition updates
• ● Interface can be overwhelming with too many options
• ● Trail difficulty ratings aren't vehicle-specific

However, this doesn’t mean you’re out of luck. In fact, we’ve found that the Gaia GPS is a great options for multi-sport users. If you're the type who:

• ● Uses your rig to access other activities (hunting, hiking, camping)
• ● Needs detailed topographic information
• ● Wants to plan complex multi-day routes
• ● Shares routes with a diverse outdoor community

… then Gaia's broader focus might actually be an advantage rather than a limitation.

Pricing Details

We’d be remiss if we didn’t lay out the pricing for each of these apps. As these aren’t a hardware product, the pricing is based on a subscription model - so you will want to think about how often you plan to use the app and the features each subscription tier offers before you invest. Here’s the breakdown of both:

onX Offroad

Premium Package: $34.99/year

• ● All essential trail features
• ● 3D maps and offline downloads
• ● Trail photos and difficulty ratings
• ● CarPlay/Android Auto support
• ● Basic land boundary info

Elite Package: $59.99/year

• ● Everything in Premium
• ● Private land ownership details
• ● Property boundaries
• ● Elite member discounts
• ● Advanced weather overlays

Pro Tip: onX frequently offers special promotions, including their current $3 first-month Elite trial.

Gaia GPS

Premium: $39.99/year

• ● 300+ map overlays
• ● Offline capabilities
• ● Basic route planning
• ● Trail database access
• ● Weather forecasts

Outside+ Bundle: $89.99/year

• ● All Premium features
• ● Outside magazine subscription
• ● Access to Outside network content
• ● Trailforks Pro integration
• ● Expert-led online courses

Note: Gaia offers a free basic version with limited features, perfect for testing the platform before committing.

Our Verdict

So, which of the two should be on your 2025 offroading wishlist? The answer – as always – is a bit more complex. It really comes down to your intended purpose, and the specific features that you are looking for in an offroading app.

After extensive testing of both apps across various terrain and vehicles, here's our final take:

Choose onX Offroad if:

• ● You primarily use your navigation app for vehicle-based off-roading
• ● Property boundaries and land ownership are crucial to your riding areas
• ● You want vehicle-specific trail ratings and recommendations
• ● Real-time conditions and weather are important to your trail choices

Choose Gaia GPS if:

• ● You need detailed topographic information for technical terrain
• ● Your adventures extend beyond just off-roading
• ● You're planning complex, multi-day routes
• ● You want access to a broader range of map layers and data

Both apps will get you there and back, but onX Offroad speaks directly to the off-road community's needs, while Gaia GPS offers a more comprehensive outdoor navigation solution. Choose based on your primary use case, and you won't go wrong with either option.

Our Pick for Offroading? OnX Offroad

After putting both apps through their paces across America's trails, here's what matters most: onX Offroad feels like it was built by people who wheel.

It understands what matters when you're out there – from property boundaries to real-time conditions – and delivers it in a way that makes sense when you're behind the wheel. It's become our go-to for everyday trail running and exploring new terrain.

Gaia GPS, – while incredibly capable – feels more like a Swiss Army knife for outdoor adventures. It's perfect if your off-road adventures are part of a bigger outdoor lifestyle, especially if you're into overlanding or multiple outdoor activities.

No Matter Your Choice, Ride In Style with Goats Trail

For most of our Goats Trail family who want an app that is easy to use, works great, and keeps working long after the first download, the onX Offroad is probably your best bet. It simply works the way we think as off-roaders, and that matters when you're focusing on the trail ahead rather than fiddling with your phone.

Whatever you choose, remember that the best adventures often start where the pavement ends. Just make sure you've got the right tools to find your way back to share those trail stories around the campfire.

Want to learn more about the latest offroading or overlanding tech – or how to look your best while out on the trail? Visit Goats Trail Off-Road Apparel online today and shop our latest releases and connect with our growing offroading community. See you on the trails!