Polarsteps vs Hopper
Which is better in 2026? Five scores, side by side.
Polarsteps is the better app overall, scoring 8.8 to 7.6. Polarsteps wins on 5 of the 5 scores, Hopper on 0.
Backpackers and long-trip travelers who want an effortless travel diary
Travelers with flexible dates who want help timing flight bookings
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Polarsteps | Hopper |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Travel & Maps | Travel & Maps |
| Category rank | #3 of 10 | #10 of 10 |
| Developer | Polarsteps B.V. | Hopper |
| Pricing | Free + paid plans | Free |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web | ✓ | ✓ |
Common questions
Is Polarsteps better than Hopper?
Polarsteps is the better app overall, scoring 8.8 to 7.6. Polarsteps wins on 5 of the 5 scores, Hopper on 0.
Which is cheaper, Polarsteps or Hopper?
Polarsteps: Free; Polarsteps Plus listed at $9.99 a month or $34.99 a year in the App Store. Hopper: Free to search; you pay for bookings and optional add-ons like Cancel for Any Reason. On value for money, Polarsteps scores higher.
Do Polarsteps and Hopper work on the same devices?
Yes, both run on iPhone & iPad, Android, Web.
Which is more private, Polarsteps or Hopper?
Polarsteps scores higher on privacy (7.0/10). Trips are private or followers-only by default, and Polarsteps says it is ad-free and doesn't sell data. App Store label: location, contacts, financial info, search history and more may be linked to you.
Strengths and weaknesses
Polarsteps
- Records your route automatically
- Family can follow along in real time
- Planning, tracking and sharing are free
- Collects a wide range of personal data
- Travel Books cost extra
- Public trip settings can reveal more than you expect
Polarsteps tracks your route in the background and draws it on a map as you travel, so family can follow along without you posting a thing. Add photos and stories at each stop, then turn the trip into a printed Travel Book or an auto-made Trip Reel. 2026 brought web planning, flight lookups and finer location privacy. Core features stay free and ad-free, while Plus adds 3D maps and elevation stats for hikers.
Full Polarsteps review
Hopper
- Price predictions help you time a booking
- Flexible add-ons for uncertain plans
- Simple, friendly interface with no ads
- Paid add-ons quickly raise the real price
- Changes go through Hopper instead of the airline
Hopper tells you whether to book a flight now or wait, using price predictions and alerts, and its color-coded calendar shows the cheapest dates at a glance. It also sells hotels, homes and rental cars, plus paid flexibility like Cancel or Change for Any Reason. The predictions are handy, but add-ons raise the real price and changes go through a middleman. Use it to watch prices, then compare before you buy.
Full Hopper review
