Earthmate

• Free

Last verified 5 Aug 2026

2.7 271 ratings · App Store

1. 3/5Functional enough for emergencies and redundancy

   Garmin Explore is a bit clunky sometimes to view and review tracks or other information you might have synced across platforms, but it does serve some purpose and function. It works well enough to use the message system when paired with an InReach. Would love to see smartwatch integration. For example, I often mount the device to my motorcycle to take advantage of the minimal info on it’s screen and give it a good clear view of the sky. I would like to have the option to send an SOS/message via Phone/InReach by a smartwatch app if it were hard to get closer to the motorcycle in an accident to access either my phone, also mounted to the mounted to the motorcycle, or InReach. There are always task specific apps that excel, but Garmin’s range of apps add function to their devices.

   SkatRadioh · 5 Aug 2026

2. 5/5Great Nav App

   I use this app on my phone for navigating backcountry snowmobiling. I always carry my inreach in my pack for emergency use only. I use Earthmate on my phone for navigating. The downloadable topo maps have saved me many times, and have also helped me find new rideable areas as well. It seems many people have given negative reviews due to the inreach not linking up properly to their phone. I don’t usually ever mess with that. I keep it powered off in my pack. Using it for nav would be clumsy compared to using Earthmate. I save it incase my phone battery runs out or if I need to communicate while out of cell service for some reason. My only complaint about it would be that it only saves a certain amount of tracks. I’m not sure if it’s time or total mileage, but after a while old tracks will disappear. That said it stand by my five star rating, just for the fact of how many times it has helped me either get out of trouble or find new areas to get into more trouble. (Haha)

   RNM · 5 Aug 2026

3. 1/5Unreliable Bluetooth connection

   The Bluetooth connection to the InReach device is dropped by the app, not the phone, very frequently. Typically a connection is maintained for less than 1 hour. Sometimes less than 15 minutes. Best workaround so far is to turn Bluetooth on the phone off and on periodically and before sending a text. The problem with this is that it sometimes results in duplicate messages being sent. That can get expensive. Also, turning Bluetooth off and on is a bad hack at best. I reported this problem to Garmin several times. Most recently 3 months ago. They almost seem to be taking it seriously this time, but no real progress. No useful suggestions from Garmin. I think this is a stop-ship bug. They seem to see it is a way to increase revenue by charging for duplicate messages. I have met many other InReach users experiencing the same problem. None had any good ideas for a work around. This problem has been consistent for me across two iPhones and several releases of iOS. I doubt it is any of user error, my phone or iOS.

   R A User · 5 Aug 2026

4. 2/5So many ways to improve

   It astonishes me how Garmin has so many apps with overlapping features. Do I use messenger? This app (Earthmate)? Etc. None of these apps feel like they get any amount of dedicated developer resources; they all feel like half-baked, rushed out, clunky MVPs that never should have been submitted to the App Store. As a user, why can I not add or edit contacts with this app? It syncs with the website, but seemingly can only make that data call in one direction? As big of a brand that Garmin is, the way these apps function and are designed is nothing short of disappointing. Sure, they do work, but there’s SO much room for improvement. These apps feel like they ought to be paired with cheap knock-off devices, yet Garmin makes plenty of devices that costs hundreds of dollars, if not more. It’s clear that Garmin is not putting a priority ($$) on the software quality for the devices they make. That’s just sad considering the devices Garmin makes (and their intended use) and simply infuriating as a user.

   R-Fern · 5 Aug 2026

5. 1/5Crap app!

   I have used the Delorme (now Garmin) inReach for a few years now and while the satellite texting service has got more expensive it has also become much worse. Random thought from my mate, Larry, who I talked into buying one ($495); I'm surprised it's still on the boat. Meaning he has thought about throwing it over the side several times each day because of the problems he was having with it. In my own case, I have an 3 year old unit and have made sure I've kept the software and firmware updated. The software has become ever more buggy taking forever or several tries to load or locking up my iPad forcing a restart, until on the way South while I was offshore and really needed the unlimited texting I was paying $67 a month for, it quit loading entirely. I went through the entire litany of tricks I had used to get the software to reload; restarting my iPad several times, turning it off then back on a few times, making sure no other apps were running, making sure other apps were running, waiting for it to load in the back ground, turning the inReach off and on, etc, etc. The app was constantly crashing, not only itself but often my iPad as well. Now it doesn't even load! Crap app! Neither Larry, nor I would ever recommend this device to anyone. Before Garmin bought deLorme, you could call them and speak to a person who would help you with any problems or question you might have with your device. Do you think it's remotely possible that Garmin would even respond to a tech support email or text? Ha! Garmin has screwed up a perfectly good and very useful device that I had recommended to every offshore sailor. No longer! What a piece of crap Garmin has turned it into. I don't think it's a coincidence that two of us with a new unit and a 3 year old unit both have had to exert considerable self control not to give our expensive little units the float test. My advice would be to go with the Spot Messenger if you want to send and receive satellite texts.

   OffshoreAndy · 5 Aug 2026

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