Traveling isn’t just about the miles covered; it’s about the memories made, the new cultures experienced, and the stories collected along the way. Increasingly, people want to capture their travel adventures in a way that’s both meaningful and easy to access. Been, a popular travel tracking app, has long been a favorite among globetrotters. It’s simple, intuitive, and allows users to mark countries and states they’ve visited while giving them a clear visual of their travel footprint.
Travel enthusiasts often love keeping track of the places they’ve visited. It serves as a way to relive memories, stay motivated to travel more, and share achievements with friends or fellow travelers. Apps like Been, a popular travel tracking tool, make it easy to log your experiences and visualize where you’ve been across the world. However, Been isn’t your only option. If you’re looking for “Been similar apps” to elevate your travel tracking or explore extra features, this article dives into some excellent options. Whether you’re keen on stats, maps, or social sharing, these “Been alternative apps” offer something for every type of traveler.
Below, we’ll look at six incredible apps similar to Been that can elevate your travel game. No matter your style of exploration—whether you’re a data lover, a photojournalist, or a casual vacationer—there’s something here for everyone.
What is Been?
Before we talk about other apps, let’s quickly recap what Been does. Been is a simple app designed for globetrotters to track the countries—and in some cases, U.S. states—you’ve visited. After adding your travels, the app generates a percentage of areas explored and provides a visual map showing your coverage. It’s straightforward, minimalistic, and focused on the core idea of travel logging.
But while Been is effective, you might want more options. Some travelers prefer advanced stats, detailed trip tracking, or even social-sharing capabilities. Luckily, there are plenty of apps for those extra features. Let’s explore “apps similar to Been” and the unique traits each one offers.
1. Polarsteps
One of the best “Been alternative apps” is Polarsteps. Known for its stunning design and interactive features, it offers a lot more than just travel tracking. Polarsteps automatically tracks your trips using your phone’s GPS, so you don’t have to input every location manually. It also generates beautiful timelines showcasing photos, visited locations, and travel stats.
Key Features:
- Automated Travel Logging: Tracks your journey in real-time, requiring little effort on your part.
- Photo Integration: Combines beautiful visuals with your travel maps for a personalized feel.
- Travel Stats: Offers detailed insights, like distance traveled, countries visited, and total time spent on trips.
- Offline Options: Tracks your data even when you’re off-grid and syncs when back online.
If you find Been too basic, Polarsteps can be a perfect solution. The visual storytelling aspect adds a personal touch, making it more than just a checklist of places.
2. FindPenguins
For travelers who enjoy documenting their journeys, FindPenguins feels like a digital travel journal. While it is another “app similar to Been” in terms of logging locations, it also encourages you to record memories, stories, and photos as you go. Think of it as combining travel tracking with blogging.
Key Features:
- Travel Stories: Create detailed posts about each stop, including text, photos, and more.
- World Map View: Pinpoints all your travel stops on an interactive map.
- Social Interaction: Follow friends or share your travel logs with others.
- Automated Tracking (optional): Tracks your movement in the background if enabled.
Traveling is about experiences, and FindPenguins captures that spirit beautifully. It’s a great choice if you’re less interested in percentages and more in the emotional side of travel.
3. TravelMapper
If you’re seeking “apps like Been” with a stronger focus on visualization, TravelMapper might be the way to go. Its clean interface emphasizes creating detailed maps of your journeys. You can color-code your destinations, set goals for upcoming trips, and build a map that truly feels personalized.
Key Features:
- Customizable Maps: Personalize your maps with colors and markers for different trips.
- Goal Setting: Record your travel aspirations alongside your completed trips.
- Straightforward Interface: Simple enough to use without getting overwhelmed by features.
While it doesn’t offer extensive stats or social elements, TravelMapper is ideal for minimalist travelers who just need a functional, visually appealing travel tracker.
4. Nomad List
Frequent travelers and digital nomads will appreciate Nomad List, a data-rich platform that serves as part travel tracker and part destination guide. While this is slightly different from Been’s stripped-down design, it perfectly suits travelers looking for inspiration and networking opportunities.
Key Features:
- Global Tracking: Tracks your visited cities and countries and displays them on a map.
- Data Analytics: Offers destination rankings based on factors like cost, climate, safety, and fun.
- Community Access: Connects like-minded travelers via forums and meetups.
- Goal-Oriented Travel: Helps you track achievements—how many cities you’ve visited, what iconic spots you’ve seen, etc.
Nomad List is perfect for users who value travel stats but also crave community engagement and destination recommendations.
5. Visited
Visited app is another excellent option for those searching for apps like Been. This app allows you to mark off countries and regions you’ve visited and provides extensive statistics about your travel history. What sets Visited apart is its detailed categorization—users can mark experiences such as “Wine Regions,” “Ancient Sites,” or even “World Wonders” they’ve explored.
Key Features:
- Detailed Country and State Tracking: Keeps track of countries, regions, and even U.S. state visits.
- Bucket List Creation: Encourages goal-setting by letting you record places you want to visit.
- Statistics Dashboard: Offers insights into your travel progress, including distances covered.
Visited is excellent if you like the simplicity of Been, but want to expand into more regions and goals.
6. World Map Tracker
If your favorite part of using Been is the satisfaction of filling in a map, then World Map Tracker should be on your radar. This app focuses heavily on pinpointing and visualizing your visited locations via customizable maps.
Key Features:
- Interactive Maps: Offers different map views (flat, globe, etc.) for creating your visual travel diary.
- Stats Section: Provides country counts, percentage coverage, and comparisons.
- User-Friendly Design: Designed for quick updates without overwhelming tools.
While it lacks advanced social or automation features, World Map Tracker is perfect for visualizing your adventures with simplicity.
7. Mapstr
Mapstr is a stylish app that’s perfect for documenting not just the places you’ve traveled, but also the restaurants, attractions, and hidden gems you discover along the way. Unlike many apps similar to Been that focus on high-level country or city tracking, Mapstr emphasizes granular detail.
- Features and Benefits:
- Lets you “bookmark” specific locations (such as cafes, hikes, or shops).
- Create custom tags to organize your map—e.g., “Favorites,” “Foodie Stops,” “Romantic Spots.”
- Share your saved maps with friends and travelers who might want recommendations.
- Works as a planning tool for future travels.
Mapstr is perfect for travelers who love to explore the finer details and collect a tailored list of must-visit places. It’s versatile and doubles as a travel guide whenever you return to a favorite city.
8. Hoptale
Hoptale is another interactive and photo-friendly app that’s definitely worth considering if you’re looking for more apps like Been. It combines the concept of a travel diary with modern social media functions. Users can easily create detailed travel stories by adding pictures, routes, and descriptions.
- Features and Benefits:
- Allows you to document trips day by day, outlining specific routes and stops.
- Provides a collaborative option where friends joining the trip can co-author travel logs.
- Offers GPS tracking and real-time route mapping for maximum detail.
- Turns trips into a shareable database for others to explore similar itineraries.
Hoptale is perfect if you love storytelling and sharing your travel experiences with a broader audience. It encourages interconnectedness among wanderlust-filled individuals, giving you inspiration and sharing new ideas for upcoming trips.
What’s the Best App for You?
When selecting an app, it boils down to your preferences. Are you looking for detailed analytics, visual maps, automated tracking, or diary capabilities? Here’s a quick guide to help:
- For minimalist tracking, like Been → Stick to Visited or TravelMapper.
- For visual storytellers → Opt for Polarsteps or FindPenguins.
- For advanced stats and social features → Go with Nomad List or World Map Tracker.
If you’re still unsure, you may want to try a couple of these “apps similar to Been” to see which aligns best with your style.
Final Thoughts
The growing number of travel tracking apps means travelers now have more tools than ever to document their adventures. While Been remains a fan favorite for simplicity, these Been alternative apps unlock more functionality and flexibility. Whether you’re filling in maps, tracking goals, or sharing stories, there’s an app to match your needs.
Whatever choice you make, remember that the real goal of these apps is to enhance your travel experiences. They simplify record-keeping, inspire wanderlust, and help you relive your journeys. After all, every marked country, state, or city is a reminder of the joy travel brings. Next time you’re planning a trip, why not download one of these “more apps like Been” and start logging your adventures?