Is Komoot the best route planner for cycling?

Is Komoot the best route planner for cycling?

Route planning, navigation and community app Komoot has built its reputation as a go-to tool for riders looking to explore by bike. 

With riding routes found in a trice, important mapping details such as surface quality, and a thriving community of riders sharing their favourite rides, Komoot’s appeal has racked up an estimated 45 million members.

That said, Komoot is ultimately a multi-sport tracking, navigation and community app. So with those many hats Komoot is trying to wear, how does it perform as a bike navigation app? A way to create a biking route or simply get from A to B when out riding. In this piece, we aim to find out.

Before we tap ‘navigate’ and begin our journey through Komoot and its route planning capabilities, it’d be remiss of us not to mention Komoot’s acquisition by the private equity group Bending Spoons in 2025. 

Ray Maker over at DCRainmaker has the basics, whilst Josh Meissner over at Bikepacking.com goes beyond the sale to explore the wider impacts of deals like this.

Anyhow, here’s how to get the most out of Komoot’s route builder, plus answers to common questions about how it works.

How to use Komoot’s route planner

Like most mapping applications, Komoot works best on a desktop device for initial planning. Call us a luddite, but the utility of a mouse, keyboard and larger screen makes things a lot easier. Of course, you can also plot routes in the mobile app. 

Whilst user experience is very subjective, the stripped-back nature of the app appeals to us. It feels very utilitarian, maybe even a tad boring, especially when compared to Strava - but it certainly gets the job done. Here’s a basic explainer on how to build a route in Komoot.

  1. Set your activity type: Road cycling, bike touring, gravel riding, or mountain biking. This affects the surfaces and paths Komoot prefers.

  2. Pick start and end points: Search for locations or click directly on the map. Komoot will plot the most suitable path based on your chosen activity.

  3. Add waypoints: Drop pins for must-see spots, cafés, or scenic viewpoints along the way.

  4. Check the details: Review distance, estimated ride time, elevation gain, and surface breakdown before saving.

  5. Navigate (or sync): Route created its time to follow the route directly on the Komoot mobile app using a bike phone mount or sync to a compatible GPS device.

So how does Komoot decide which route to take between two given points? Much like Strava and Google Maps, it smashes together map data, data from its users and using its own algorithm, develops a route to meet the user's request. Komoot has recognised that sometimes its route choices can seem baffling and poor routing choice has been a bug-bear for some Komoot users - here’s a notable example.

And what about the actual map that you see within Komoot? That’ll be OpenStreetMap (OSM) an open source mapping system, that’s edited by a community. As Komoot itself says, it’s like Wikipedia, but for maps

For a more nuts and bolts look at the Komoot route planner, Komoot has a hints and tips article.

How to edit a biking route on Komoot

We cyclists are a picky bunch - in a lot of ways! Constant tinkering with a route is de rigueur. Finding a better way across a busy roundabout or cutting out that dastardly hill, all the aim of speed, riding enjoyment, or both! Luckily, editing a bike route once it's been created in Komoot is straightforward:

  • Open the route, click ‘Edit Tour’, and drag the line to new roads or paths.

  • Add or remove waypoints to tweak your journey.

  • Change the sport type if you want Komoot to recalculate for a different bike or terrain.

  • Note. If you have a Premium Komoot Subscription, you can split a route into multiple days for touring.

Other Key Questions about Komoot

Is Komoot route planner free?

Partly! This is perhaps the most contentious thing about Komoot! You get one region free when you sign up, with full route planning and navigation in that area. 

Additional regions can be purchased individually, in bundles, or via the World Pack (global maps for a one-time fee). All Komoot Premium subscriptions feature offline maps and voice navigation.

Is Komoot good for finding A to B cycling routes?

Yes - just set your start and end points and Komoot will create the best route based on your chosen activity and fitness level. You can also switch between “most direct” and “most enjoyable” options by adjusting waypoints or route type.

For commuters, perhaps Komoot doesn’t have the efficiency and ease of using Google Maps to navigate by bike, but for riders out of town, Komoot has shown us that it’s perfectly capable.

Does Komoot have turn-by-turn instructions?

Yes. The Komoot mobile app will guide you through your ride with clear turn-by-turn navigation.

Does Komoot have voice navigation?

Yes, and it works offline if you’ve downloaded your map region in advance. This is especially handy for remote areas with poor signal or even when riding in busy, built-up areas, when cycling safety is much more front of mind. This feature is a clear point of difference between Komoot and Strava, which doesn’t have voice navigation embedded within its smartphone app.

Does Komoot kill phone battery life?

Navigation apps do use battery, but Komoot is fairly efficient, especially if you run it in offline mode with your phone in low-power mode. For long days out by bike, we’d recommend a small power bank.

Our top tips for using Komoot route planner

Avoid (or seek out) different riding surfaces in ‘View Settings’

In the map view, toggle Surface Types to see where the route includes tarmac, gravel, or unpaved sections. This is essential for road riders avoiding rough paths — or gravel riders seeking them out.

Got an e-bike? Use the accompanying mode to adjust estimated speed

Switch to E-bike Road or E-bike MTB under activity type. Komoot adjusts time estimates and route suggestions to match e-bike capabilities.

Uncheck ‘Follow Ways’ to go off-grid

If you want to plot a route away from mapped paths, for example, across open terrain or on an unmarked track,  uncheck Follow Ways. Komoot will let you drop points anywhere.

Is Komoot route planner any good?

Komoot is certainly not perfect, and arguably it doesn’t suit getting around a city by bike, but with a bit of manual editing, its routing capabilities aren’t bad. Where Komoot really shines is in the world of multi-day adventure riding.

If your bike riding priorities lie in exploration, Komoot is one of the best tools available - especially if you frequently ride in new places. Komoot’s attention to detail in areas like surfaces and offline navigation makes it ideal for gravel, touring, and MTB riders.


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