ViewRanger app

ByMoises Campos
viewranger-app
Photo by Eugene Chystiakov on Unsplash

ViewRanger is an app used by active people around the world to navigate, plan and record their outdoor experiences. It has been designed to work in areas with no phone or data coverage. If you want to know more about this app, you will find some interesting information about it below.

What is the ViewRanger app?

ViewRanger is an app that is oriented towards the area of navigation. However, it can also be classified in the group of applications focused on optimising the well-being and physical condition of the person. The basis of this tool is to be a base through which maps of the most convenient routes for hiking can be obtained.

The application also gives you the possibility to record each excursion to share it later with friends or family. It will be a good souvenir and will serve as a guide for others who want to follow in your footsteps.

What is the cost of ViewRanger

The ViewRanger app is available for free on Google Play and the App Store. However, if you want to have access to all the features you can sign up for a Premium subscription, which costs €4.99 per year.

In this advanced version you can enjoy the augmented reality of Skyline to identify the mountains in front of you. You can also view routes and tracks in 3D. You can also save maps offline with unlimited storage.

ViewRanger features

  • The same applies to most apps in the field of navigation, ViewRanger allows the user to locate a specific area such as a mountain or a national park and from there it can show recommendations of recommended routes to explore. You will see that the app presents a summary of the characteristics of these routes such as the average time it takes to travel them and their distance.
  • To start using ViewRanger You need to register using your Google, Facebook or Apple login details. It is also possible to register using an email address. One of the first things you will be asked for is access to your location to allow you to navigate, record journeys and get guided routes nearby.
  • ViewRanger incorporates an element that is not common in this type of tool, which is the Augmented Reality option. This means that from a photo that has certain particular elements of the environment, such as lakes, rock formations, or other places of interest, it is possible to process it so that the user is shown the route to follow with certain indications on the map, which is very useful to avoid getting lost.
  • Due to the mode of operation of ViewRanger It makes sense to add the option to check the maps offline. If the device has the right tools such as the GPS function and gyroscope system, the map can be updated and show the progress that has been made, which is also very useful to know how far we are from the finish line.

Advantages and disadvantages of ViewRanger

The main advantages to be gained from the use of the ViewRanger app are as follows:

  • Your smartphone becomes an effective GPS unit.
  • The application itself is completely free.
  • Its interface is simple and easy to use.
  • Open source maps, or overview maps, can be downloaded free of charge.
  • There is no need to connect to the Internet, as the maps are stored on your device.
  • Track recording is not complicated and is an effective way to record your progress.
  • Data is transferred easily.
  • In areas with a data connection, the BuddyBeacon function is useful for locating friends in real time.

Some of the disadvantages that may arise from using ViewRanger are set out below:

  • Battery drain can lead to problems, depending on the device you have. To improve this, it is recommended to switch the GPS to the power saving setting.
  • The initial cost of acquiring a complete map of the country may initially be very high.
  • There may seem to be a surfeit of information when the application is first used, but it does not take long to learn how to use it.
  • For navigation fanatics, it may lessen the thrill of a good old-fashioned map reading.

How to download maps offline

The ViewRanger application has a function that allows you to download certain maps to your smartphone for offline use. To do this, you need to follow the steps below:

  • The first thing to do is to select the map layer symbol.
  • Subsequently, click on Download a customised offline environment.
  • Because not all map styles are suitable for offline storage, a suitable map style may have to be chosen. The OpenCycleMaps map style is suggested.
  • The More Available Map Styles pop-up window will now appear, which can be skipped.
  • To start the download, select Download map.

It is recommended that the download be done over an existing WLAN connection, as a large number of individual image files are automatically downloaded in the background; a separate set of image files is technically necessary for each card resolution.

The download always refers to the section of the map being displayed. In case you want to save very large map areas offline, it is necessary to download the maps section by section.

Upcoming ViewRanger merger with Outdooractive platform

ViewRanger has recently notified its users that it will become part of the Outdooractive family. The teams from both apps are working on consolidating a new combined platform with the best of both. New features, new maps and enhancements will be delivered through the Outdooractive platform.

Some tools for ViewRanger such as Skyline, BuddyBeacon or maps have been added to the Outdooractive platform. In addition, you will now have access to many more interesting features, such as the intelligent route planner, exclusive maps, weather forecast and more.

To be part of this joint adventure and enjoy its benefits, you only need to connect your account to ViewRanger with Outdooractive.