The best Polarsteps alternatives in 2026
Polarsteps is one of the most recognisable travel tracking apps — but it is not the right fit for everyone. Whether you are put off by the subscription cost, frustrated that your family needs to create an account just to see your map, or looking for something with less battery drain, there are real alternatives worth considering.
DigiCrumbs — best for sharing without friction
Digicrumbs is the most direct Polarsteps alternative for travellers who want to share their journey with people back home. The key difference: your followers never need to download an app or create an account. You share a personalised link, they open it in a browser, and they see your live map and photos. It uses a one-time payment model rather than a subscription, making it significantly cheaper for occasional travellers. The trade-off versus Polarsteps is that tracking is manual — you add locations yourself rather than having them recorded automatically in the background.
Wanderlog — best for trip planning
Wanderlog is less of a travel tracker and more of a trip planner — think itineraries, restaurant lists, and route optimisation. It is excellent for the planning phase of a trip but less suited to live journey sharing. Worth using alongside Digicrumbs rather than instead of it.
Google Maps — best for short trips
For a weekend trip or a single-country holiday, Google Maps location sharing does the job. It is free, already installed on everyone's phone, and requires no setup. It does not have photos, stats, or any of the social features of dedicated travel apps — but for basic 'here is where I am' sharing, it works.
Day One — best for private journalling
Day One is a beautiful personal journal app with location tagging and photo support. It is not designed for sharing with others — it is for recording your own memories. If you want a private travel diary rather than a shareable map, Day One is excellent.
Our pick
For most travellers wanting to share a long trip with friends and family, Digicrumbs is the best Polarsteps alternative in 2025. For trip planning, pair it with Wanderlog.