Garmin BaseCamp for Mac

Used Garmin BaseCamp for Mac?

Garmin BaseCamp Analysis

AI Assisted Content · June 11, 2026

Not written by CNET Staff.

Garmin BaseCamp is a free application designed for macOS that facilitates outdoor enthusiasts in planning and managing their adventures. This software allows users to view and organize maps, routes, and waypoints, making it easier to prepare for hiking, biking, and other outdoor activities. With its user-friendly interface, Garmin BaseCamp provides a seamless experience for users looking to explore new terrains and navigate efficiently.

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In addition to its mapping capabilities, the program supports various Garmin devices, enabling users to transfer data between their devices and the software. Garmin BaseCamp also offers features such as trip planning, route optimization, and customizable map views, enhancing the overall user experience. The application is suitable for both casual users and serious adventurers, providing an essential tool for anyone looking to explore the outdoors.

Garmin BaseCamp for Mac

Used Garmin BaseCamp for Mac?

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Full Specifications

GENERAL

Release: December 11, 2019

Latest update: June 11, 2026

Version: 4.8.7

OPERATING SYSTEMS

Platform: Mac

Operating System: Mac OS X

Additional Requirements

macOS Catalina
macOS Mojave
macOS High Sierra

POPULARITY

Total Downloads: 7,863

Downloads Last Week: 0

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Last Updated

User Reviews

1/5

13 User Votes

Pure of rubbish
Ad SmoldersJanuary 1, 2017
Pros
Does not work only crashes
Cons
Delete from your computer
Summary
Not fit for purpose
March 22, 2016
Pros
Can organise, store and view routes, tracks and waypoints - when your GPS is NOT connected.
Cons
Crashes every time I try to load a route to or download a track from my Garmin Garmap 64s. It used to be OK, but went wrong a couple of upgrades ago. I can only access my topo maps for UK and South Africa when my GPS is connected to BaseCamp, and when I connect the GPS BaseCamp crashes. Catch 22. I have bought the topo maps so why can't I copy them to my Mac and access them from within BaseCamp? i.e. Like the far superior Memory Map (that sadly is only available for Windows). Routes I have created on BaseCamp do not work when transferred to my GPS. The waypoints and route appear on my GPS but it will not navigate. Again, this used to work until a couple of updates ago.
Summary
It fails to fulfil its basic purpose of being able to transfer useable data between GPS and computer. It really let's down the excellent Garmin GPS units. Mapping software in general seems to be a huge con. Map files only work with specific applications or makes of GPS. I have spent a lot of money on digital maps for different systems. MemoryMap is great, but they need to make a Mac version.
Seriously?
Gerard WeatherbyMarch 6, 2016
Pros
nooooooone
Cons
Stupid; asked for 123 Some street, West Nearby Town, insisted on going to 123 Some Street in Nearby Town ... actual GPS (nuvi 2597) figured it out instantly.
Summary
Your life is too short to waste your time on this.
GARMIN BASECAMP IS POSSIBLY THE WORST PRODUCT EVER MADE
rk@askrk.comJanuary 17, 2015
Pros
There are other products out there, and you WILL dump this one
Cons
ease of use, poor support, can't find addresses, takes forever to enter addresses
Summary
This guaranteed to NOT FIND an address, be difficult to use, take more time to plot than to drive there, and tech support admits this is a really poor program, that you should manually input your addresses into the Nuvi and take your chances. Garmin could care less about the fact this is a genuine cluster-crap of a product. When asked, they said that if I did not like the product, I should buy something else. What I want...type addresses in routes, have the device find the addresses, create an efficient route, allow me to alter the route for appointments, and send it to the device. 10 addresses will take you at least an hour, and it is NOT likely to find three of the addresses, even if you can see them in Google.
worse than the other reviewers say
josh2014abcdNovember 27, 2014
Pros
none at all
Cons
slow, broken, poorly designed. 1980s style UI philosophy.
Summary
cr@p
A Sad Case of Bad Software...
kidcadDecember 31, 2013
Pros
I can download the recorded tracks form my Garmin Fenix, and then get them onto Google Earth for viewing, but that's about the only useful useable feature so far.
Cons
Crashes on startup. Completely useless home map screen with no discernable location features. Wasted enough time already, and won't bother persevering. Garmin seem to have missed an amazing opportunity here - computer interfaces for mobile devices seem to be an essential part of viable business in the 21c, so maybe Garmin may not be around - the Nokia of navigation?
Summary
Don't waste your time like I have.
Not even worth a try - Shame on Garmin
andrasheczeyJuly 4, 2013
Pros
You can transfer your routes made by other softwares to your Garmin device
Cons
It is only built to create very simple point-to-point routes. If you need to create a more complex loop for example to bike 70 miles with 50 turns in it, the software is extremely difficult to use. And it is full of bugs: i.e.: if you need to stop drawing your Route, it is pretty much impossible to simply go back and continue. Editing already finished routes is not possible any simple way (sure you can add a waypoint as they show in their tutorial video, but again, if you have a route with hundreds of waypoints, you won't even know where to insert it). Many more problems simply too many to count.
Summary
Don't waste your time with this software, there are plenty of other very functional free softwares/websites that can do the job.
Waste of Time, really!!! Don not even read this review!
PazAmericanoJune 3, 2013
Pros
Non! It just does not work! It crashes when I try to export a track to my Garmin device... every time! And that what works is useless!
Cons
This software is so bad, it should not be on the market to bother people and waste their time!!! I work with this program like twi times a year, since years... and each time I update everything because my last experience was so bad, I fist Update, maybe some things work now! Just to be frustrated after wasting 30min again on this program... And then I think of contacting the support... what I do not do, because this will result in more frustration... the Garmin Support belongs to the worst on earth!
Summary
Just leave all Garmin software be... the only thing that really works well is the Garmin ANT Agent... It connects to your Garmin, can work fine with Trainer-road and the Ant-Stick and Updates your Garmin Hardware. For everything else, there are much better things around.
Really disappointing
Rick_MarinMay 20, 2013
Pros
Can't think of any - free?
Cons
Well, the whole point of having a Garmin GPS is to navigate. Navigation requires maps. My device (Etrex 20) has a basemap, which is quite good. When I try to plan a route on BaseCamp all I can get is a very low detail basemap, with almost no features and no terrain detail. How can I use this?
Summary
No use at all unless you buy additional maps. I've wasted hours on this, and in the end decided to leave my Garmin at home and take a paper map for my next hike.
It's a poor deal even with the free pricing
whodunitincApril 25, 2013
Pros
Difficult to say anything here but at least I didn't have to buy it!
Cons
Impossibly frustrating trying to use it. I have very often a need to input multiple waypoints before heading out on a trip. The search feature is terrible in that it can't be told to look in a specific geographic region or city. It's just a total mess and should be an embarrassment to Garmin. It's far faster to input my waypoints on the GPS unit, which is just stupid!
Summary
Terrible at any price, even free!

Developer’s Description

View and organize your maps, waypoints and routes.

BaseCamp is a 3D mapping application that allows you to transfer Garmin Custom Maps, BirdsEye Imagery, waypoints, tracks, and routes between your Mac and Garmin device. It allows you to manage your data on practically all Garmin map products, but topographic maps are required for 3-D rendering.