I recently completed the
Camino Frances at the end of September and also extensively searched to identify the "best" app. This is what I selected for my Android phone:
Camino Companion - paid app, downloaded all the off line maps that were part of the app (only available on Android I believe)
TrailSmart - Only downloaded the free part. Didn't download the paid maps.
Walking Guide to the Camino by Gerald Kelly - downloaded as a Kindle Book - my logic for this was to save power on my phone and read up on the next day on my Kindle the night before. Also available as as app (
Camino de Santiago Guide by CaminoGuide/ Gerald Kelly.
I was travelling with 2 friends and they downloaded the following on my recommendation:
Wise Pilgrim
TrailSmart with the paid maps.
My assessment is as follows:
CaminoCompanion. Very happy with the app and downloaded (offline) maps. The actual app is split into 3 sections: Map, Guide, Elevation. Within each you section you can easily centre yourself on where you are. The Guide section only has basic information on places of interest and not all accomodation is listed
TrailSmart. Has a lot more information and appears to have all or almost all of the accomodation listed. When I was testing it at home I found it confusing and I couldn't find a quick way of skipping from an early stage to a late stage. On the Camino it was fine as you tend to use it by stage. One of its benefits is that you can ring or email directly out of the links in the app. My friend found the maps fine once he sorted out an initial problem
WisePilgrim. My other friend was very happy with it. Both the maps & basic guide worked well. Also has downloaded maps so you are not using data.
Walking Guide to the Camino/ Camino de Santiago Guide. Please note that this book/ app does not have a GPS mapping function, which is clearly stated by the author. There are maps in it but they are not for live navigation. What it does have is a lot more detailed information on history and sites that give more context to the walk/ pilgrimage. It has a good description of the path, good information on accommodation, including some recommendations (although not all accommodation is listed). My intention was to use it on my Kindle however I never used the Kindle on the Camino! I did use it extensively on my phone so if you choose to purchase it, get the app version. This has very recently been updated.
Other comments:
The mapping components of different apps have slight variations on the route. In sections some may have an alternative route listed while another may have no alternative. Sometimes what the app selects as the main way may be an alternative on another. None of this really matters!
My recommendation for apps is as follows:
CaminoCompanion/ Wise Pilgrim - purchase one of these for navigation & location/ basic information.
Camino de Santiago Guide - purchase this for more detailed information on history, points of information
TrailSmart - download free app. Gives more comprehensive information on accommodation which can be directly contacted from the app.
If you are a group, get a mix of apps
In addition, the Albergue list provided by the pilgrim office in St Jean Pied de Port is useful
We also had the
John Brierley Camino de Santiago map booklet (not the full guide book). Useful to give an overview but not essential. Doesn't take up much room.
It is hard to get lost on the
Camino Frances due to the arrows so an app or map isn't strictly necessary!
Due to inattention at one point we did do an unplanned diversion! One person headed off track and about 3 small groups followed her. We all met up at an intersection trying to work out which way to go as there were no arrows. Then we realised that none of us had seen an arrow for a while so looked at the various apps. While the diversion added a couple of km's it was through some beautiful country.
We had no issues with phone charging on the
Camino Frances. As a backup I had a 10,000 mAh Power bank that I only used twice. My phone had a fairly large battery (Galaxy Note 8)
