When I’m out on a bike tour I really try to stay off my phone as much as possible and just immerse myself in the experience. But there are times on a cycle tour where our phones can really save the day!
Over the years I’ve made use of some great apps for planning routes, finding accommodations, checking the weather, keeping track of expenses, and more. Check out this video on my favourite FREE bike touring apps and get the links to them below.
My favourite FREE bike touring apps
1. Google Maps
Google Maps is available on iOS or Android, and their desktop version is very convenient as well. I find Google Maps so easy to use which is why I use it as a jumping off point to get a loose understanding of distances between points in a place I might like to cycle tour. I also use the Street View feature to get a sense of what the road conditions and scenery might be like (as demonstrated in video above). I don’t often use it to build my actual routes as I find the routes it suggests aren’t quite as cyclist-friendly as other apps, but it is a great starting point for seeing what’s going on in a new place.
2. Komoot
To build my bike touring routes, my favourite app to use is Komoot. Komoot is available on desktop or as an app for iOS or Android. I like it because it lets me not only build routes, but also check things like elevation, type of road and road surface. Komoot is free to use while connected to the internet. If you require offline use, then you can purchase maps by region or get all regions by selecting their “World Pack”.
3. Windy
Windy is a great weather app available on iOS and Android. Although no weather app is going to be perfect, I like Windy because of the depth of information it provides, as well as how you can see all the information you need with just a quick glance.
4. Hostelworld
Hostelworld is available on iOS and Android and it’s my favourite way to find hostels on my cycle tours. You simply punch in your location, dates, and amount of travellers, and you can see all your available options in one place. You can also take a peek at the many reviews left by other travellers to choose the right fit for you.
5. Google Translate
When I don’t speak the language, I find the Google Translate app to be a helpful tool in communicating while travelling. It is available on iOS and Android.
6. Splitwise
If you’re ever travelling with others and find it stressful to calculate who paid for what, Splitwise can be a big help. You simply enter who paid for what, and who it should be split amongst, and Splitwise will calculate who owes who what at the end of the trip — no complicated math involved! Splitwise is available for iOS or Android.
7. TrackMyTour
I absolutely love TrackMyTour because I’ve found it to be such a simple way to record all the places I go on my bicycle adventures. You can include photos and captions of each spot you visit, and even share the link with friends and family so they can follow along. Plus, at the end of it you’ll end up with a cool map showing all the places you’ve been! TrackMyTour only seems to be available for iOS at this time.
Have you tried these free bike touring apps? Or have any other favourites to mention? Please feel free to share in the comments below!