Garmin inReach vs iPhone Satellite Messaging

If you like to spend a lot of time in the mountains or other remote locations, you’re probably aware of Garmin’s inReach line of devices. For years they have enabled sending distress signals if you are hurt or in danger, and even communicating with friends & family via messages if you’re running late, or need some kind of non-emergency assistance. They are indispensable for a wide range of situations.

You may also be aware that newer iPhones (14 and up) have satellite capabilities that serve a similar purpose. Originally the iPhone’s capability was only for SOS (emergency) situations, but in 2024 they expanded the feature to enable sending both iMessages and SMS over satellite.

There are some significant difference in the capabilities of these devices, so how do they stack up?

Garmin inReach

Pros

• Separate device (both a pro and a con)
• Longer lasting battery
• More rugged, less likely to break than your phone, but many of them require using a phone anyway to send messages, so you’ll probably have your phone out.
• Global Satellite coverage via the Iridium network, and more reliable coverage in the US & Canada.
• Supports photo & voice messaging if you have an inReach Messenger Plus ($499.99)
• Live tracking — passively updates location every 10 or 2 minutes on Standard & Premium plans respectively.
• Weather forecasts over satellite — this does count against your limited number of messages per month (on Essentials & Standard plans)
• Sharable maps — friends and family can follow along as you track & post messages.

Cons

• Separate device (both a pro and a con) — you have to keep a separate device charged, and it costs $300-$600 on top of the phone you already have.
• Separate service — $40 activation fee plus an additional $15–50 per month depending on your level of usage
• If you don’t want to use your device year round then you have to pay $7.99 per month to “suspend” the service, or you’ll have to pay the activation fee again next time you reenable service.

iPhone 14 and newer

This feature is not available on the iPhone 13 and older models.

Pros

• Same device — only one device to keep charged. If you already use your phone for navigation, you probably already carry a backup battery.
• Currently free to use — Apple has stated that the feature is free for 2 years after the purchase of a new device — there is no info on how much it will be after that period.
• Integrated with Find My Friends — you can update your location over satellite, but it’s push only — doesn’t happen in the background.
• Weather forecasts over satellite — this is not natively supported by iOS, but supported by using an app like TerraLog.
• Sharable maps — friends and family can follow along as you post messages — this is not a native iOS feature, but is supported by using an app like TerraLog.
• Satellite SOS is supported in: U.S., Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, the U.K., Australia, Austria, Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland & Japan.

Cons

• Uses Globalstar network, the same one that Spot devices use. Coverage is not as good as Iridium, but Apple has invested $1.5B in Globalstar and expectations are that coverage and performance will improve soon.
• Satellite messaging only works in the US & Canada — despite Globalstar having global coverage, Apple reports that their messaging feature is only supported in the US & Canada. It’s expected that coverage will expand with Apple’s investment into Globalstar.
• Sending messages is more finicky than on the Garmin — the Satellite antenna is directional so you have to point the phone at a specific part of the sky. This can be annoying if you are on the go.
• No background updates — iOS only supports “push” updates. You can send messages and location updates, but not in the background.

Notes

• In order to receive messages from a number your satellite enabled iPhone must be the first to send a message. Once you send a message that number can now reply. One exception to this is emergency contacts. You can receive messages from emergency contacts without you first initiating contact. I’ve added several friends in my area as emergency contacts to facilitate this behavior in the event of a natural disaster.

There are certainly some areas where a Garmin inReach is more capable & reliable than an iPhone — If you’re going on a multi-week expedition abroad, the inReach is probably the move, but you will pay a premium for this over using an iPhone. Even the most basic inReach is $300 and you’ll have to pay a $40 activation fee and an additional $15 or more per month for the service. That and if you don’t plan to use the device year round then you’ll have to either pay $8 per month for a lower level of service, or have to pay that activation fee again in the future.

There’s a huge array of use cases that are possible using just an iPhone. Many of them are supported natively, but others are enabled by use of an app like TerraLog which supports sharing location based messages on a map with anyone, and obtaining weather forecasts over satellite.

Are you planning on buying an inReach or upgrading your iPhone for satellite capabilities? Let me know in the comments if there are any considerations I’ve missed.