Comparison
Plot a Trip vs Wanderlog
Both are travel planning apps — but they take different approaches. Plot a Trip is map-first with deep budget tools. Wanderlog is list-first with curated travel guides. Here's how they compare.
TL;DR
Choose Plot a Trip if you want to plan trips visually on a full-screen map, need multi-currency budget tracking or cost splitting, and want snap-to-road route visualization. Choose Wanderlog if you want curated destination guides, need a native mobile app today, or want free real-time collaboration on unlimited trips.
See the Difference
Plot a Trip puts the map front and center. Wanderlog treats it as a side panel.
Plot a Trip: Map-first planning
Full-screen interactive map with color-coded routes, snap-to-road, and transport icons
Plot a Trip: Deep budget tools
Multi-currency, cost splitting, settlement summaries — far beyond Wanderlog's basic tracking
Map Experience
This is the biggest difference. Plot a Trip treats the map as the primary interface — a full-screen interactive canvas where you drop pins, draw routes, and see your entire trip spatially. Wanderlog treats its map as a secondary panel alongside a list view. If you think visually and want to see routes, distances, and the spatial relationship between destinations at a glance, Plot a Trip's approach is fundamentally different. Plot a Trip also renders color-coded transport lines with transport icons, great-circle arcs for flights, and snap-to-road routing along actual roads (Pro). Wanderlog shows stops on a map but doesn't offer the same level of route visualization.
Budget Tracking
Budget tracking is where Plot a Trip pulls significantly ahead. Plot a Trip includes per-stop and per-day budget breakdowns, spending by category charts, multi-currency auto-conversion with live exchange rates, cost splitting among travelers, and settlement summaries ("Alice owes Bob $45"). Wanderlog's budget feature is basic — it tracks expenses but doesn't support multiple currencies, cost splitting, or detailed breakdowns. If you're traveling internationally or with a group, this is a major gap.
Collaboration
Credit where it's due: Wanderlog offers real-time collaborative editing in its free tier. Plot a Trip requires a Pro plan for collaboration. However, Plot a Trip's collaboration is deeper — with live presence indicators showing where co-planners are looking, threaded comments on individual stops, and activity voting. And importantly, only the Plot a Trip trip owner needs Pro; everyone they invite collaborates for free. Wanderlog also supports group editing and basic voting, but lacks presence indicators and stop-level comments.
Travel Guides & Discovery
Wanderlog has a genuine advantage here. It includes curated destination guides with restaurant recommendations, attraction ratings, and local tips — content that helps you discover what to do at each destination. Plot a Trip doesn't have built-in travel guides; it focuses on the planning and organization layer. If you're researching destinations from scratch, Wanderlog's guides are helpful. If you already know where you're going and want to plan the logistics, Plot a Trip's tools are deeper.
Pricing
Both have similar Pro pricing ($29.99/yr). The free tiers differ: Wanderlog allows unlimited trips but gates features like offline access, route optimization, and PDF export behind Pro. Plot a Trip limits free users to 3 active trips but includes the full itinerary builder, timeline view, snap-to-road routing, multi-currency budget tracking, and auto exchange rates in the free tier. Plot a Trip's approach means fewer trips but deeper features per trip; Wanderlog's means more trips but you'll hit paywalls on specific capabilities. Plot a Trip also offers a 14-day free trial (no credit card), compared to Wanderlog's 7-day trial.
Data Portability
Wanderlog has a well-known data portability issue. There's no CSV or JSON export — your itinerary data is locked in Wanderlog's format. You can export to Google Maps with a 500-location cap, or print to PDF from the web browser only. Plot a Trip supports PDF, calendar (ICS), and CSV export on the Pro plan, giving you multiple ways to get your data out.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | Plot a Trip | Wanderlog |
|---|---|---|
| Map Experience | ||
| Map role in UI | Primary interface — full-screen, interactive | Secondary — small panel alongside list view |
| Custom pins with numbers | — | |
| Snap-to-road routing | — | |
| Color-coded transport lines | Basic | |
| Transport icons on map | — | |
| Great-circle flight arcs | — | |
| Trip Planning | ||
| Itinerary builder | ||
| Accommodation tracking | ||
| Activity scheduling | ||
| Drag-and-drop reorder | ||
| Timeline view | ||
| Map + Timeline split view | — | |
| Trip templates | — | |
| Curated travel guides | — | |
| Budget & Expenses | ||
| Budget tracking | Basic | |
| Multi-currency support | — | |
| Auto exchange rates | — | |
| Cost splitting | Pro | — |
| Settlement summary | Pro | — |
| Per-stop budget breakdown | — | |
| Daily burn rate view | — | |
| Collaboration | ||
| Real-time co-editing | Pro | Free |
| Live presence indicators | Pro | — |
| Activity voting | Pro | |
| Comments on stops | Pro | — |
| Share as read-only link | ||
| Editors need paid plan? | No — only owner | No |
| Export & Data | ||
| PDF export | Pro | Pro (web only) |
| Calendar export | Pro | Pro |
| CSV export | Pro | — |
| Google Maps export | — | 500-location limit |
| Document vault | Pro | — |
| Platform & Pricing | ||
| Web app | ||
| Mobile app | Coming soon | iOS + Android |
| Free tier | 3 trips, full features | Unlimited trips, limited features |
| Pro price (annual) | $29.99/yr | $29.99–39.99/yr |
| Pro price (monthly) | $4.99/mo | $4.99/mo |
| Free trial | 14 days, no card | 7 days |
Choose Plot a Trip if you...
- Think visually and want the map as your primary planning interface
- Travel internationally and need multi-currency budget tracking
- Plan group trips and need cost splitting with settlement summaries
- Want snap-to-road route visualization along actual roads
- Care about data portability (CSV, PDF, calendar export)
- Want deeper collaboration with presence indicators and comments
Choose Wanderlog if you...
- Want built-in destination guides and restaurant recommendations
- Need a native iOS/Android app right now
- Want free real-time collaboration on unlimited trips
- Prefer Gmail auto-import for booking confirmations
- Want AI-powered trip suggestions and destination tips
- Value route optimization for day-trip planning
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best alternative to Wanderlog?
Is Plot a Trip free like Wanderlog?
Can I import my Wanderlog trips into Plot a Trip?
Does Wanderlog have better collaboration features?
Which is better for budget tracking?
Ready to Try the Map-First Approach?
Start planning your next trip on Plot a Trip — free, no credit card required.