I really want to love this app. I love the premise but there are still just so many glitches. Half the time when I click on a premium cachbit says it can't connect to the store. Doesn't matter if I'm at home connected to wifi. The other half if the time i have to open the app 5-6 time just to get the map screen usable. Most if the time it comes up frozen. Please fix this!!!! Will definitely write a new review if changed. But right now I'm paying 30 a year for an error screen.
Reviews for Geocaching®
← Back to Geocaching®Think it sucks you have to be a prime member to access some of the great places. Clear instructions for some of the games are lacking. When I'm out trying to find the cache I almost felt like I was going to get lost due to (IDK) weak wi-fi or not being a prime member. Hope not the latter. It would be sad that you put a price on people's safety. For the most part I have enjoyed. I would not had gone on some really nice hikes if not for geocaching.
I was really excited to use this app with my partner since there was a lot of caches around us, however after having it for a couple weeks, I realized that half of the ones that said they were free to view before hand, were not anymore. That was extremely frustrating, as I had already had a plan and even written down the places I was going to go before hand, only to find out half of the geocaches I picked out, were pay to view now when they weren't before. Immediately uninstalled
I don't even have premium I've just been doing the free version and honestly it's been fun! Instead of waiting 20 minutes in the car for an appointment I pull up the app and most of the time there is a cache within 5 minutes from me I can knock out. Found an awesome trail from one too that i didn't realize was close by and my dog and I now go there almost 3 times a week. 100% plan on upgrading in the future but for now the free version is spot on and fun enough.
As someone who used to do a lot of geocaching back when it was a bunch of coordinates on a website and you had to provide your own GPS, I'm really disappointed to see how locked up this app is. More than half of the caches in my area are locked behind a paywall, and there doesn't seem to be any challenge in actually locating them. It feels considerably less accessible than it used to be while taking the educational orienteering aspect out of it entirely.
I was excited when I originally found this app. I was quick to download it and set up an account and then boom. There it was. "Subscribe to premium now for access to premium caches".... uh, no. Let's do this. I log out and leave a bad review for turning a fun, free activity into a subscription service. Another case of a greedy developer trying to make money when I can easily get coordinates off the web and enter them in maps. Essentially they are charging a subscription fee to copy & paste.
The "new enhanced navigation" is terrible. Before the "enhancement" you could zoom in much closer on the map, now the closest you can zoom shows the blue dot (you) right on top of the cache but it says you are still 45 or more ft away. Also the distance freezes constantly. I can walk 100 yards away and it will still say I'm 9ft away then suddenly update after 4 or 5 minutes.
Since when have we ever had to pay for having fun geocaching? Never once did I have to upgrade to premium to find a cache that is a "higher difficulty" or "has difficult terrain," I figured that out on my own. Very disappointing that I now have to have a monthly subscription to something, which I won't, to do something that I used to do completely free with my kids and enjoy immensely. Even if HALF of the locked cashes were unlocked it would be better. No thanks, too bad.
We found one cache. Logged it. Then it asked if I wanted a recommendation for another one. I said yes. The app opened up an aerial map that was essentially frozen. I closed then reopened the app and it was still frozen. I reset my entire phone and tried again. Still frozen. Cannot interact with the map whatsoever. It was cool finding the first cache, but if the app can't help us find another one, it's not much good to us.
The unpaid version is missing some important features such as an offline mode (doesn't need to have detailed maps, just a way to download and view geocaches in your area). The paid version is subscription based and not worth the price for almost all users. I would be happy to pay a few dollars one time. This is a community run sport, I'd rather see a more simple app that costs less.
Overall I love geocaching! I used to do it with my mom as a kid and then introduced my partner to it last year. The app does have several minor bugs and glitches like the smiley not showing up on the map, photos not uploading with the log, our finds disappearing from the map, and photos being taken sideways (though I've mostly solved that one if I take the photo with my phone sideways). It's a bit annoying, but not enough to fully take away from the experience of the game!
This is a great app and activity to get you out and about. I do agree with a previous reviewer that solved puzzles don't update immediately. I also don't like that the GPS coordinates can jump all over the place while you are standing still even on a clear overhead view. Some puzzles are hard to solve on mobile devices (data/images not visible). Otherwise my favorite app.
*Update* A month later they still continue to charge my card, claiming they need a transaction number for a purchase that DOESN'T EXIST. Google Support can not find this supposed purchase. It's pretty simple, you have my credit card number - STOP USING IT!!! I have filed a report against the developer. Didn't even buy the app and I still have to fight charges!! Continues to charge my card after cancelling, deleting, deactivating my "account". No matter what I do, they keep charging my credit card!!
The free version is basically WORTHLESS! They definitely force you into buying the premium version if you want to use this app. You have to sell me on the FREE version BEFORE I pay you a thing!!! I couldn't find any of the posted caches where I went to look! There are quite a few but not a single one to be found. Not impressed! Uninstalled!!!!
Useless without paying for a premium membership. There are other apps that show you the same caches without paywalling them off. This app itself is very well put together, but isn't worth it to me anymore. I understand they need to make money somehow, but this method seems a bit heavy handed. $7 a month isn't a lot, but it feels like a mandatory purchase instead of an enhancement. What if you could do one geocache a day for free? Or limit it weekly? Could pay $7 to remove limit!
I like the app when I am using it. But I noticed with one of the recent updates it now launches randomly. I will log onto my phone to be greeted with its video playing. I already have issues with battery life. I also wonder what else it is doing without my knowledge. I think I will uninstall and reinstall when we want to go hunt for caches. My wife and I both have premium memberships, which are less useful if the app is not installed.
This app has been a highlight in my family for years now. It will take you on so many adventures and lead to lots of cool "treasures" you can exchange, as my youngest says. I cannot recommend this app enough for people of all ages. It always adds a little extra fun to any road trip as well as helps us plan a full fun day exploring when we can! Absolutely download this app and enjoy it!
The app is still great for people who don't pay, HOWEVER, they changed how much it is a year and it's OUTRAGEOUS! It used to be $20 a year which is very reasonable. There's absolutely NO REASON for the prices they require now to have full access. It's the main reason I (and so many other friends and people I know) STOPPED geocaching. When you drop you price back to a reasonable amount, I'll pay for the subscription and give you 5☆.
Geocaching as a phenomenon is very very cool. It encourages people to interact with their environment and each other in a very physical and personal way, which seems increasingly rare as the world becomes more focused on digital interactions. That's all great. The problem is the app itself. Not that it's poorly laid out, but it restricts features behind the paywall that are free on the geocaching website, like access to certain (most) caches. Luckily, the website is very easy to use as well.
I would like to have a way of marking comments as "spoiler alert". So those that don't want to see can not click to see. But those, like me, that need all the help we can get. Can click to see hints or photos of how to find the cache. I hate DNFs OLD: Awesome way to get some exercise & see places right around you that you didn't know were there. The free version is great all on its own. But got the membership to support geocaching.