When it comes to geocaching, there still isn’t that many different options for mobile phone apps.
Some users just want the ability to find and log caches, whilst others may want a secondary navigation method to support their primary.
We’ve tested the best geocaching apps, and they’re all fairly similar with slight differences that may make the difference for you.
But which app is the best to use when playing Geocaching? Here we will look at the best three Geocaching apps you can use to find new treasures.
Best Geocache Apps
3 – Cachly
AVAILABLE:- iOS only and costs $4.99 per month
The reason this one is at number 3 on the list (even though it is really good) is that it is iOS only and that is bad news for Android users.
Though, it does have an Apple Watch version you can use, which most geocaching apps don’t.
Cachly is fun and easy to use, it syncs with your account from Geocaching.com and stores all the information you need to hunt your first cache in the world. You can benefit from the following things;
- Download caches
- Choose from map options
- Has an advanced sorting feature that allows you to find caches by size, find trackables and look for types of caches.
The ability to download maps and use them offline is a necessary feature that hasn’t always been the case with geocaching.
You can use this with a variety of different web mapping services like Apple Maps, Google Maps or Waze.
It’s also one of the only apps that offers translations across languages within the platform – this is one the useful features that Cachly offers.
Users add Cachly friends using their geocache usernames so you’ll be able to find people like you wherever you may be.
It is a paid-only app though and if you have never experienced Geocaching before, you may want to consider a free alternative first. And for Android devices, you’ll need to look at a different Geocaching app anyway.
2 – Geocaching
Available: iOS and Android platforms. It is Free but there is the Premium version for exclusives.
When it comes to the best free geocaching apps, it’s hard to look past this one. This is the official app for geocaching, the features on it are free to use and include different things such as:
- Live Search
- Cache details
- Trackables
- Geotour access
- Ratings
- Store Cache information
The premium version of the app is top-notch if you want to buy it, and if you are a serious player this one is definitely for you – you can find literally any geocache in the world.
The whole world is literally your treasure map – not useful for those of us on limited travel but if you travel a lot this is a super cool feature. It included caches you can only get by becoming a premium member which is essential to any serious geocacher.
The only reason I have put this at number 2 on the list is that it has such exclusive parts to it through its premium aspect and the free version is super simplistic, which kind of sucks because it is a really great app all in all.
1 – Spyglass
Available: iOS and Android and costs $5.99.
Although Spyglass is not officially a geocaching app, it is so well done it deserves the top spot here on this list.
Spyglass is an app for GPS and off-road navigation, which is everything you need for geocaching and that’s why you can use it for this. It has a great user-friendly interface that looks amazing as well as is easy to use.
The features of this app have to be top because they are so extensive:
- Binoculars
- Heads up display
- Offline maps
- Speedometer
- Altimeter
- Star Finder
- Hi-Tech Compass
You literally have everything you could ever need for geocaching all in one app which is going to make your life a whole lot easier when it comes to finding the hidden caches in the world. The only thing with this app is it is paid only, which honestly shouldn’t put you off because it is worth the money.
You can’t buy all that equipment for the amount it will cost you in a subscription and it saves you hauling a backpack of stuff around with you on your walks, it will revolutionize geocaching for you. So, it’s definitely worth checking out.
What is Geocaching?
To find the right geocaching platforms for your needs, it’s worth knowing exactly what Geocaching is. Geocaching is an outdoor activity that because all the rage, gets people outdoors and interacting with the environment around them.
The premise is based on hide and seek, and we have all played that game as kids. Basically, users will hide containers and capsules in the real world and give coordinates of the locations of the caches or ‘geocaches.’
The containers usually have a logbook and pencil inside them where you sign the log with your codename and the day’s date to prove you found the location of that individual cache.
You then put the cache back in the same location and continue your hunt for more caches in the world. There are larger cache boxes that players hide too that have tradable things inside them, such as toys or trinkets.
Geocaching relies on GPS in order for people to play the game so you will need a device that allows you to use GPS navigation to input coordinates of caches.
Conclusion
In conclusion, geocaching is fun for everyone, it gets people out exercising and it helps to develop skills that technology users don’t depend on as much anymore, such as orienteering.
Geocaching is not a new fad by any means but it has picked up more momentum especially in the summertime when the pandemic had the world shut down because it gave us a reason to go outside and enjoy ourselves.
Cachly and the official Geocaching app are the go-to apps in general for geocaching. However, Spyglass should be used if this is a serious pastime for you and you’re happy to use a paid app.
As someone that has done a degree in Archaeology, I cannot stress enough how good this app is. if I had this app when I first started my course, my life would have been a whole lot easier than running around cliffs with mounds of equipment on my back to find the right location to dig in the rain!
