best program for route planning

I’ve tried a bunch of options. Let me give you a few:

iOS

• Footpath - best mobile app. Best UX for drawing routes and exporting to Garmin apps
• Komoot/Strava/Connect - these all have “smart” route planning that’s supposed to use heatmaps or some other smarty way. In my experience, it doesn’t work well as a stand-alone for different reasons. I usually start by building a route in one of these and exporting to footpath to tweak it.
• Garmin Explore - works well for routes and doesn’t require internet connection. It’s also very fast to sync to the device. I use it on the go when I want to quickly sketch a route based on a few waypoints. 

Desktop

- plotaroute website - it’s good but I prefer:

- basecamp - works well for Garmin devices and allows planning, stitching and editing tracks and routes  I use it mostly for ultra marathon where I need to Mark aid stations and strategic points (peaks and valleys)

At the end of the day, I mostly use footpath. It’s really great. 

thanks, i will check them and see what is best for me

HESHER said:

plotaroute website

I use that one . Lots of options and has the ability to fix errant activities

i am checking this now, but you chose a satelite map? I offten go off-road and you cant draw a route if there isnt one? or i am missing something?

matej787 said:

road and you cant draw a route if there isnt one?

There is a toggle for follow-path/road that you can set to off (Off/By road/On foot/By bike).

I think plotaroute has the best options for me. I get full control of course points/turn-by-turn directions and I can also get all moved back like 15 m to handle the laggy watch.

There is really a lot of tools to chose from, but maybe one need to put some time into it to understand them I  detail.

You can draw routes freehand if you turn off Auto-Pilot.

I find for freehand, Garmin Connect's own site is pretty good.

Both Komoot and Plotaroute allow you to draw routes without being forced to follow paths so you can trace over trails on satellite maps...

EasyRoute (IOS app) and dynamicWatch (desktop/mobile site) are the best ones that I have tried.

I like Footpath but am put off by the subscription model when there are other alternatives (I.e the two above) that are free or allow you to buy a one time licence.

HESHER Thanks for the tip on Footpath. Not seen it before, but it's excellent!

I'm a big fan of brouter: http://brouter.de/brouter-web/

On Android I simply use OSMAnd: https://www.osmand.de/