Loading post...
Loading post...
Community
After Strava shut down FATMAP, many backcountry skiers, snowboarders, climbers, mountaineers, and hikers were left searching for a true replacement. For winter 2026, we did the work for you. This guide compares the best alternatives and helps you find the right tool without wasting hours testing everything yourself.
👉 If you like our work, check out the Oak app - to find partners for skiing, mountaineering, and climbing.
We will be reviewing the remaining FATMAP replacements based on 5 categories, all of which are most appreciated by backcountry enthusiasts. These are:
3D map: if it exists in the app, if you are required to pay to access, and some notes on the performance and quality of imagery.
Winter satellite imagery: the quality, and geographical spread
Terrain overlays: we are mostly focused on slope angle and aspect to identify avalanche terrain
Route database: a replacement for FATMAP’s guidebook feature, where ski tours/climbs/hikes were browsable and viewable on the map
Cost: and the differences between free and paid versions.
Apps reviewed: Strava, Caltopo, OnX Backcountry, ReliefMaps, Contours, OUTMAP, Gaia GPS, RealityMaps, PeakVisor, Mapy.com, OpenSnow, Google Earth, OutdoorActive, Whympr, SkiMoMap.com, Skida.
It's FATMAP, with fewer features, worse resolution, and you have to pay to access it.
✅ General Pros: Great winter layer. The smoothest and easiest to use.
❌ General Cons: No 3D map for free, unlike FATMAP. Reduced resolution compared to FATMAP. Route database is deleted. The terrain overlays don’t have a key to show what the colour shading represents.
🗺️ 3D Map: Yes - in the premium version. Resolution is good with LiDAR.
❄️ Winter Map: No
⛰️ Terrain overlays: Angle, aspect, and gradient. No key to show what the colour shading represents, so you just have to guess.
🧭 Route database: No.
💵 Cost: 59.99 EUR / year (included in Strava subscription)
Verdict: It’s clear that Strava doesn’t care about old FATMAP users, or mountain sports in general. It’s the most usable app, when you pay for premium, but it’s a significant downgrade compared to the original FATMAP.
Caltopo is an app from the US initially made in 2011 to support emergency services. Since then it has evolved and markets itself as the map for backcountry enthusiasts. This app is focused mainly on the US.
✅ General Pros: Many maps, overlays, and gradients. Daily/weekly live satellite imagery. Huge amount of customisability. Mountain guides and rescue teams like this app.
❌ General Cons: The UI can be outdated, laggy, and some battery drain was noticed.
🗺️ 3D Map: Yes - in the premium version. Resolution is good with LiDAR.
❄️ Winter Map: No
⛰️ Terrain overlays: Where Caltopo excels. Slope angle + aspect layers, but also overlays like 'sun exposure' 'cell coverage' 'fire history', and the ability to show live satellite imagery with the pro version.
🧭 Route database: Not that we could find.
💵 Cost: 50 USD / year. Comparatively, this is one of the most expensive options we have tried.
Verdict: This is a specialist app with a lot of reliable features, but it isn’t simple to use and doesn’t have a route database or winter map. Therefore, not a great choice for a FATMAP replacement.
OnX Backcountry is an American app which is also heavily recommended online. Not available outside of North America.
✅ General Pros: The UI is nice, and the map controls too. It's certainly not FATMAP, but it is definitely a smoother experience than competitors.
❌ General Cons: Limited winter map resolution, no worldwide coverage.
🗺️ 3D Map: Yes, with paid version. Good resolution with LiDAR.
❄️ Winter Map: Limited. It's a bit tricky to answer. Exploring popular US resorts like Big Sky, we were able to find some low-quality winter imagery when very close to terrain. In other resorts like around Aspen, the quality is better but not at FATMAP's level.
⛰️ Terrain overlays: Yes - they are very good - everything you need for backcountry skiing.
💵 Cost: 30 USD / year
🧭 Route database: Yes. They do exist, but from what we can tell, it is US only, and the options are limited.
Verdict: A decent option for American users. It's certainly not at the quality of FATMAP, and there may be times that you would have to use other software in addition to better plan your backcountry trip.
An app from Annecy, France. They are directly targeting FATMAP's old users. Both a web app and mobile app are available.
✅ General Pros: Web version. Incredible resolution thanks to LiDAR. Huge number of features: Live satellite, SnowAI.
❌ General Cons: Bugs, slow to load, laggy. Confusing UI.
🗺️ 3D map: Yes, for free. Great quality.
❄️ Winter map: Paid only. Limited but definitely usable. Use the SnowAI and Live satellite for this.
⛰️ Terrain overlays: avalanche, aspect, flats
🧭 Route database: Yes, although limited.
💵 Cost: 31.36 EUR / year (We were charged 25.99 GBP). 3D maps is included free (great!)
Verdict: This app is packed full of great features. The map resolution is often great, and the 3D map is free. However, the app can be slow and buggy.
Contours comes from an independent developer based in Austria.
✅ General Pros: the app is very well developed. There are no bugs. The map is very smooth, and probably the most intuitive experience of this list.
❌ General Cons: the app lacks many features that FATMAP had, and 3D is paid (although affordable)
🗺️ 3D map: Yes, but only with paid version.
❄️ Winter map: No.
⛰️ Terrain overlays: Yes, avalanche, gradient, aspect, etc. These work really well in the app, and have very high resolution.
🧭 Route database: it exists, but it is minimal. There are photos in-app which also show a location and photo direction. However, it is written more like a guide, and there is no 'preview' or GPX feature.
💵 Cost: 30 EUR / year or (39.99 EUR for lifetime)
Verdict: An app that runs very well, with minimal bugs, and its features really WORK. However, there aren’t a lot of features at this stage.
OUTMAP comes from Québec. Charlie Boscoe, who wrote a large majority of the routes for FATMAP, is now part of their team. A web app and mobile app are both available.
✅ General Pros: Winter map! It's limited regionally, but it exists! The UI is now very good. Web app. Good route planning.
❌ General Cons: Map controls are clunky. For 2026, they are slightly behind competitors in terms of resolution.
🗺️ 3D map: Yes, and included in the free version. It isn't FATMAP - the resolution could be improved. Based on our tests, paying for premium for a clearer map does make a positive difference and is probably worth it for the small fee if you are in the mountains a lot.
❄️ Winter map: Yes. Included in the free version!
⛰️ Terrain overlays: Yes, and they are good.
🧭 Route database: limited
💵 Cost: 2.50 EUR / month (30 / year). This gives access to download offline maps, import GPX tracks, etc.
Verdict: This one is really worth a try, it is one of the best FATMAP replacements. The feature set is only getting more solid over time. If they are able to improve the winter layer and resolution, this could be a winner.
This is also often recommended online and called a FATMAP replacement.
✅ General Pros: No 3D map without premium.
❌ General Cons: Very expensive. Slightly laggy and complex to use. Map control is not ideal.
🗺️ 3D map: Yes, with premium
❄️ Winter map: No.
⛰️ Terrain overlays: Yes, but accessing these are confusing
🧭 Route database: Yes, mainly hikes. The positive here is that you can see it as a complete train - like a GPX visualisation.
💵 Cost: 75.65 euro / year. Very expensive.
Verdict: Not a real replacement for FATMAP, and it requires a large payment up front for a 3D map view.
A German app which has come so far in the past year.
✅ General Pros: Incredible winter map which beats FATMAP (in some places).
❌ General Cons: Slightly lacking on the route database and a little bit laggy and battery draining.
🗺️ 3D map: Yes, VERY GOOD. Included in the free version. See images above.
❄️ Winter map: Yes, included free. Certain regions have an Ultra Quality winter map (Bavaria, Dolomites, some parts of Austria and Switzerland) which is honestly incredible, the rest of the Alps and Pyrenees has varying quality. The US has no winter map.
⛰️ Terrain overlays: Slope gradient, slope aspect.
🧭 Route database: Yes, a selection of classics, more concentrated in German-skier regions.
💵 Cost: 60 euro / year. The main features (winter map, 3D map) are included free.
Verdict: A must-download. Probably the best replacement for FATMAP right now, particularly in Europe. Incredible quality winter layers.
This has been recommended, and recently we have seen some marketing claiming it's a potential FATMAP replacement, but in reality, it's not a 3D mapping tool. It is used to name and show peaks when you are looking up at them, or on the top of a summit or viewpoint. You can also explore a 3D map, but there are other options here. Cool app, but not reviewable for the use-case of backcountry skiers or snowboarders.
Cost: 4.79 euros
A Czech general-use mapping application which has been recommended by some online.
✅ General Pros: The web app is pretty good.
❌ General Cons: More of a general purpose app than a FATMAP replacement.
🗺️ 3D map: Limited. Not in the mobile app, only web app?
❄️ Winter map: no
⛰️ Terrain overlays: Limited. ‘slope angle’ exists, but it's not at all detailed.
🧭 Routes database: Some exist, but it's limited again.
💵 Cost: free
Verdict: In our opinion, there is no advantage to this over using something like Google Earth, especially if you can only access the 3D map on desktop.
Well known as a weather forecasting service for ski resorts in the US (and expanding into Europe). They now claim they are the "best FATMAP replacement".
✅ General Pros: the free trial access is so simple. Good weather forecasting, but this isn't what we're reviewing here.
❌ General Cons: but let’s be real - it’s still a weather app. Other than that, mapping features are limited.
🗺️ 3D map: Yes. Another mapbox implementation, although with less resolution. Features here are limited.
❄️ Winter map: No.
⛰️ Terrain layers: a lot of interesting ones like “fall foliage”, but slope angle and aspect is missing…
🧭 Route database: No.
💵 Cost: The app is behind a paywall of 32 USD / year.
Verdict: Not a FATMAP replacement. It's a weather app.
Google Earth has been around since 2001, but with improvements in recent years, the free service may have been overlooked.
✅ General Pros: Ease of use, a very well refined application.
❌ General Cons: Not a backcountry-specific application. No winter map.
🗺️ 3D map: Yes. And it's good. The quality can vary per area. See the mind blowing imagery above.
❄️ Winter map: No. You can in theory look at historical satellite imagery, but there is generally nothing from winter months available.
⛰️ Terrain overlays: No
🧭 Route database: No.
💵 Cost: free
Verdict: Keep Google Earth in mind as an additional tool. To visualise general mountain terrain, rock formations, couloirs and steep lines, the quality can be genuinely remarkable.
Based on feedback from the Oak Instagram and in our ski touring group chats, we've decided to also review OutdoorActive.
✅ General Pros: A nice application with a very large feature-set.
❌ General Cons: 3D map access is paid and expensive.
🗺️ 3D map: Only with premium. It’s OK, nowadays the resolution is behind competitors.
❄️ Winter map: No.
⛰️ Terrain overlays: Yes, and they are good. We like how they are implemented here.
🧭 Route database: Yes, quite refined and has some good content: however there are many tours listed which require premium to view.
💵 Cost: ~65 EUR per year.
Verdict: OutdoorActive is certainly a viable tool, but it’s too expensive and lacking compared to most competitors.
Based on feedback from our ski touring group chats, we've also reviewing Whympr.
✅ General Pros: Brand new winter layer (limited to Chamonix only). Very good map resolution thanks to LiDAR (limited to Europe).
❌ General Cons: The price of the 3D map access. Not a good pick for US users.
🗺️ 3D map: Only with premium. Good quality.
❄️ Winter map: Yes, limited to Chamonix.
⛰️ Terrain overlays: Slope angle, aspect, flats.
🧭 Route database: Yes. Quite comprehensive, sourced from different websites, paid guidebooks, and user-generated too.
💵 Cost: 24.99 EUR / year.
Verdict: It’s unfortunate that you have to pay just to access 3D, but once you’ve paid, the app is a good choice for European users, and definitely for those in Chamonix!
Based on feedback from Miguel, an Oak ambassador, we've decided to also review Skimomap.com, which has seen its feature-set expand rapidly since we originally created this blog post.
✅ General Pros: Extremely simple UI. Fast, simple, easy. Winter map (limited of course) - but it has just been added and is there! Ability to draw routes.
❌ General Cons: No mobile app, but it is usable in-browser.
🗺️ 3D map: Yes, the resolution is OK.
❄️ Winter map: Yes!!! However it is limited and basic.
⛰️ Terrain overlays: Avalanche, aspect, elevation, and flats.
🧭 Route database: No
💵 Cost: Free
Verdict: Great free simple website, to use mainly on your computer.
Based out of Norway, and supported by Nikolai Schirmer.
✅ General Pros: A good route selection, although just pay attention as many of them are sourced from elsewhere and are automatically written.
❌ General Cons: A map resolution which is behind competitors for 2026. No winter layer.
🗺️ 3D map: Yes, the resolution is OK.
❄️ Winter map: No
⛰️ Terrain overlays: Very good terrain overlays and avalanche map.
🧭 Route database: Yes, and it's extensive, but just pay attention as many are automatically written.
💵 Cost: 30 EUR / year. For this you get route details and offline maps.
Verdict: For finding ski touring routes, Skida excels. However, mapping is behind competitors for 2026.
Based on the criteria of 3D map, winter map, terrain overlays, route database and cost, here are the conclusions:
There is no app which can 100% directly replace FATMAP. Right now, nothing fully matches what FATMAP built over 10 years with a 50-person team. Most alternatives are still growing and improving quickly, but today there is no complete one-stop replacement.
Best General FATMAP replacement #1: RealityMaps. With a FREE map quality and winter map which beats FATMAP at its own game. This is the best choice if you are in Europe, particularly the Eastern Alps.
Other shoutouts:
For ease of use, inexpensive, and winter layer (best North American winter layer outside of Strava) - OUTMAP
For ski touring routes - Skida, Whympr
For the (expensive but great) worldwide winter map - Strava
