Compare
Looking for a Komoot alternative?
routess is a free, open-source alternative to Komoot for planning cycling, running, and hiking routes: unlimited routes, GPX import and export, surface and elevation data on every route, and no account needed to try it. It does not yet match Komoot's community library or native navigation apps. Here is the honest comparison.
Why people look for an alternative
Komoot is a polished product with a huge community. The usual reasons people go looking elsewhere: since early 2025 new users need the Premium subscription for most paid features (the one-time region packs are legacy now, and even sending routes to a Garmin or Wahoo sits behind Premium), wanting route data in an open format that is not tied to one platform, and unease about where the product is heading since the company was acquired in March 2025. If none of those bother you, Komoot remains a fine choice.
What routess does better
- Free, everywhere: no map unlocks, no region packs. Every feature below works worldwide without paying.
- No account to start: open the planner and click. You only need an account to save routes.
- GPX in and out, unrestricted: import from any source, export to any device, no limits.
- Surface breakdown on every route: paved, compacted, unpaved, and path segments, so you know what your tires are in for.
- Open source (MIT): read the source, fork it, or self-host the whole thing on your own infrastructure.
- Privacy by default: no ad trackers, no behavioural profiles, only cookie-less aggregate analytics.
What Komoot does better
- Native iOS and Android apps with voice turn-by-turn navigation. routess runs as an installable web app on your phone, but it does not talk to you yet.
- A massive community library of routes, highlights, and photos built over more than a decade.
- Mature offline maps in the mobile apps.
- Multi-day tour planning (a Premium feature).
- Sport-specific routing profiles refined over many years, including mountain biking.
Side by side
| routess | Komoot | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free tier with one region, Premium subscription for the rest |
| Account required | Only to save routes | Yes |
| Open source | Yes, MIT | No |
| GPX import and export | Free, unlimited | Yes, if the route's start region is unlocked |
| Surface data | Free on every route | Yes |
| Voice navigation | Not yet, follow the route in the web app | Yes, native apps |
| Community route library | Not yet, planned | Yes, huge |
| Self-hosting | Yes | No |
Switching from Komoot
Your planned tours are not locked in. Export any tour from Komoot as a GPX file, then import it into routess: the importer detects turns and rebuilds editable waypoints, so you can keep working on the route instead of starting over. If GPX files are new to you, the GPX guide covers the format in two minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Is routess really free?
Yes. The planner, GPX import and export, public sharing, and surface and elevation data are free, worldwide. Free includes 3 generated routes a day when you're signed in and saves up to 5 routes. Pro is a €29.99 year pass for 50 generated routes a day, unlimited saved routes, knooppunt route generation, turn-by-turn navigation, collections and CLI access: a one-off payment, no subscription. The planner stays free. And because it is MIT-licensed, you can always run it yourself.
Can I import my Komoot routes?
Yes, via GPX export from Komoot. Imported routes become fully editable, not a frozen line on the map.
Does routess work on my phone?
Yes. It installs as a web app from the browser, no app store needed, and you can export GPX to your watch or head unit for navigation.