How Komoot works: Pricing, Features + In Depth Review

Do you love exploring outdoors, challenging nature’s many obstacles? Then, you would definitely be excited to hear about some great apps that take you on adventures and are designed to improve your experience out in the road or wilderness.

So, Pilot decided to step in.

Previously, we reviewed AllTrails, an app that reveals interesting trails for cycling, hiking, backpacking, and many other activities. In this article, we speak about an app that goes further and helps you find, build, and integrate trails for multiple activities; Komoot!

Komoot is a popular app among cyclists and mountain bikers and boasts of being your best route planning and navigation buddy. 

Read our Komoot review to find out if it’s the case!

What is Komoot?

Komoot is a route planning platform designed for cyclers, mountain bikers, backpackers, and hikers. You can use it to discover routes, plan new routes, and navigate a chosen route. Although there are many other apps that offer the same functionalities, Komoot is equipped with a unique set of features. Its routing system is more advanced and sophisticated than its counterparts and there is a lot of personalized and auto-generated content for you to explore and utilize. Komoot is available in both mobile and desktop.

Also, the team that manages Komoot keeps introducing new features to enhance the user experience further. It’s also why it has managed to emerge as one of the leading bike route navigation apps in the world. At present, Komoot has over 8 million users globally. 

How does Komoot work?

• Browse existing tours under “Discover” for routes created by users as well as the Komoot team. You can find routes tailored for different sports and edit them after saving them in your profile.
• Build your own trips called “Tours” by selecting the preferred route(s), elevation, surface characteristics, and other technical aspects of the trail. You can also add different attractions and stops using the “Highlights” feature that provides various recommendations and tips to make your tour more enjoyable. The website offers more features to create tours than the Komoot app.
• Use a map or voice guidance for turn-by-turn navigation. Paid membership also gives you access to maps offline.
• Create a log of your tours, share your experiences, and connect with the community of Komoot users. 

How much does Komoot cost?

Komoot offers both free and paid membership options. The free membership lets you unlock just one region and you will have to pay $3.99 each to unlock additional regions. You can also unlock “bundle regions” for $8.99. If you want to give Komoot a try, start with the free membership. 

If you are an avid outdoor person, we recommend you go for Komoot’s one-off payment costing $29.99 that gives you unlimited global access! The paid membership options also come with additional perks like, voice navigation, offline maps, unlimited map updates, and tour export for your GPS device. 

Is Komoot better than Strava?

Is Komoot better than Strava, or is it the other way round? It really depends on the features you like to have on the app. Many dream of a combination of the two. There’s no direct way to connect both of these apps. But, if you really need to use them together, you can track your Komoot rides using a cycling computer and sync it to Strava. Otherwise, you have to complete the ride, download it, and upload it to Strava.

How to share a route on Komoot?

If you want to share a route you planned, simply click “Invite” and share it with a friend you follow on Komoot. If your friend isn’t using Komoot, you will have to download the route as a GPX file and share it. Additionally, it’s also possible to share routes on social media and websites.

What We Like About Komoot?

Activity-specific routes

Komoot’s greatest strength as a route planner is its ability to create routes specifically for different outdoor activities like cycling, running, mountain biking, hiking, etc. This means you only need to have one app for everything! 

Loaded with features 

Komoot is a really useful app for those who like to go a bit extra when planning their cycling or biking trips. You can nitpick on surface type, elevation, difficulty level, and many other features. You can also combine multiple routes into one and navigate accurately.

Global coverage

You can ditch those apps that exclusively support one region or a couple of countries and use Komoot to embark on adventures worldwide. It’s great for digital nomads and globetrotters. It’s important to note that Komoot's usefulness depends on the region you live in and whether it has expanded its services there. 

Impressive navigation

You are bound to love Komoot whether you use its map or voice guidance for navigation as they are both loaded with useful instructions. The map and directions provided are very clear and easy to understand. Clarity is even prominent in its voice navigation, and you get ample warnings about what to expect as you go along. 

What We Don’t Like About Komoot?

Complexity

Komoot, as we mentioned above, has a lot of features with detailed content. So, it would take some time for you to figure how to use them all to optimize your experience. According to many Komoot reviews, building tours, in the beginning, can be quite tricky and complicated with so many options!

Poorly chosen routes

This could be a very subjective drawback but worth mentioning. Some users have complained, saying they don’t like Komoot’s route suggestions. They either didn’t match their expectations or were unsafe for travel. In some instances, Komoot also tends to suggest you the shortest route as opposed to the best one.

Lack of features on the fitness side

Compared to its close alternative Strava, Komoot is short of features useful to monitor your health. It’s not compatible with heart-rate monitors, doesn’t keep track of calories burned, and has no mechanism to measure pace - all of which might be useful for people on strict diets or exercise routines.

So, is Komoot any good?

Definitely. It will be super useful if you are an avid cyclist or biker and is also handy for hiking. You will love how the app integrates many features to help you plan amazing tours. However, do consider its drawbacks when making a decision. Your priorities when it comes to features of these outdoor apps matter as well.

Wouldn’t it be amazing if there’s a travel planner that’s rich in features like Komoot to help you plan great trips with friends? Well, there is!