Explaining the New Garmin inReach Subscription Plans
2024/25 changes to Garmin’s inReach Mini 2, Garmin Messenger, GPS Map 67i and other handheld GPS devices
Garmin’s recent changes to its subscription plans had outdoors people scratching their heads about what it all means. Did the plans get more expensive? Is it easier to cancel?
Treeline Review co-founder Naomi Hudetz loves reading the fine print, creating spreadsheets, and figuring out the legal-ese. She's also been a dedicated Garmin satellite user for almost a decade. We did a deep dive into what changed in the Garmin subscription plan. Then, we compared it side-by-side with current subscription plans for other popular satellite messengers and personal locator beacon devices.
You can read more about two-way satellite messengers and personal locator devices in our guide, or look at our in-depth reviews of the top devices, including the inReach Mini 2, inReach Messenger, and GPSMAP 67i.
TL;DR
No more annual subscription option
No more annual program fee for month-to-month subscription
Cheapest plan is still $15/month, but the number of text messages increased from 10 to 50
Mid plan decreased from $35 to $30/month AND the included number of text messages increased from 40 to 150
Unlimited plan decreased from $65 to $50/month AND premium weather is included in unlimited text
Premium, extended, and marine weather forecasts now count as 1 text (previously they were $1 each)
$8 Enabled Plan replaces plan suspension
Deactivation requires paying a $40 activation fee to use it again (Pro tip: if you suspend for more than 5 months continuously, then it makes sense to pay the $40 fee; otherwise, it's cheaper to pay $8/month for the Enabled Plan)
Who wins with the new inReach subscription plans?
Many folks will benefit from the new plans:
More text messages for the base and mid plans for the same or less money
Premium, extended, and marine weather forecasts now count as one text message (previously, they were $1 for each forecast)
Who loses with the new inReach subscription plans?
We've heard grumblings from some long-time Garmin subscribers, and they mainly fall into two categories:
Annual subscription holders in the base and mid plans
Users who suspended and reactivated their subscriptions multiple times per year (now it is $40 for every reactivation)
Note that the $35/year program fee for month-to-month plans was eliminated. So, the breakeven point is 4 months with the new $8/month Enabled Plan. In other words, if you’ve suspended your subscription for more than 4 months per year in the past, you'd pay more in monthly subscription fees for the Enabled Plan ($35 ÷ $8 = 4.375 months).
If you only deactivate your device once per year, the breakeven point is 5 months ($40 reactivation fee ÷ $8 = 5 months). In other words, if you plan on using your inReach for 7 or more months per year, don't deactivate it. Pay for the $8 Enabled Plan instead.
If you deactivate your device twice per year, the breakeven point is 2 months (2 x $40 reactivation fee ÷ $8 = 10 months).
Will I lose my data if I deactivate my inReach device?
A common complaint we hear is that folks think they'll lose their data if they deactivate their inReach device. According to Garmin on this page, your data will be available for up to two years. If there's no activity on your account after two years, "your account may be deleted."
Many of us like to have a record of all the hikes. Garmin says you won’t lose your data if you suspend service for up to 2 years.
Overview of Garmin inReach Subscription Plan Changes
Garmin has updated its inReach personal service plans by making the following changes:
Eliminated annual contract options
Replaced the $35/year suspended plan option with an $8/month Enabled Plan option
Introduced new month-to-month plans with a 30-day commitment
Increased monthly message limits
Renamed the plans
Another complaint we hear is that Garmin got rid of suspended service. Instead, they have a new "enabled" plan that is $8/month. Your device is still active under the Enabled Plan, which allows you to send unlimited SOS messages, $0.10 pre-set messages, $0.50 custom messages, and $0.50 weather requests. As with all plans, you're limited to three types of pre-set messages (for example, "Starting my trip," "At camp," "Delayed").
Comparison Table of Garmin's inReach Subscription Plans
The previous plan structure was replaced with the following options. Note that there are no more annual contracts with the new inReach subscription plans.
Essential Plan – Replaces Safety plans
Standard Plan – Replaces Recreation plans
Premium Plan – Replaces Expedition plans
Enabled Plan – Replaces suspended service
The following table compares the new inReach plans side by side:
| ESSENTIAL PLAN | STANDARD PLAN | PREMIUM PLAN | ENABLED PLAN | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No contract monthly cost | $15 | $30 | $50 | $8 |
| One-time activation fee | $40 | $40 | $40 | $40 |
| Annual fee | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Emergency SOS messages | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Custom text messages per month | 50 | 150 | Unlimited | None |
1Only available on Garmin inReach Messenger Plus
Garmin inReach vs. SPOT Subscription Plans
Garmin and SPOT are two of the most popular makers of satellite messengers. Each device has some hidden fees, including annual contract monthly costs and no contact monthly costs, as well as activation fees and program fees. Ultimately, both have unlimited, free SOS messages (though, hopefully, you won't have to use them).
Here, we compare the hidden costs of these two plans so you can make a more informed decision when choosing what device to buy. They don't make it easy to compare!
Cheapest Plans
We know outdoors people. And they often are pretty cheap. We compared the subscription plan options for those who want to spend the least amount of money possible to have the security of SOS messages on trips when they need it. Cheapest plans rely on you sending (free) pre-set messages with very limited use of custom messages (aka, normal text messages).
If you're the type of outdoors person who wants the safety of a satellite messenger only during the summer, such as during a thru-hike, but know the device will sit in a desk drawer the rest of the year, read on! If you're the type of person who hates that electronics exist in the backcountry but promised a family member you'd carry one just in case, read on! And if you're a dirtbag thru-hiker who is trying to save as much money as possible, read on — these plans are for you.
| GARMIN | SPOT | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual contract monthly cost | n/a | $12 |
| No contract monthly cost | $15 | $15 |
| One-time activation fee | $40 | $30 |
| Annual program fee (no contract) | $0 | $35 |
| Emergency SOS messages | Unlimited | Unlimited |
1Only available on Garmin inReach Messenger Plus
Middle Plans
Both Garmin and SPOT offer middle plan options that allow you to send and receive a moderate amount of text messages per month (between 100 and 150). It's worth noting that this includes send and receive, so you won't be able to text as voraciously as you may on your cell phone.
| GARMIN | SPOT | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual contract monthly cost | n/a | $20 |
| No contract monthly cost | $30 | $30 |
| One-time activation fee | $40 | $30 |
| Annual program fee (no contract) | $0 | $35 |
| Emergency SOS messages | Unlimited | Unlimited |
1Only available on Garmin inReach Messenger Plus
Premium Plans
If you want to feel almost as connected in the backcountry as you do on your phone at home, premium plans can pack a lot of power into a satellite messenger device. We've backpacked with people who are doing business deals on these devices. If you love being out of the office but still need to stay connected to the real world, the premium plans are the ones for you.
The same can be said for folks who want to stay connected with family. We've seen backpackers with kids stay connected to home through the use of these premium plans. Sometimes, it's nice to sit in your tent at the end of a long day and have a real conversation with the folks back home. It can help a lot with homesickness and be a morale boost on a tough day, or on longer excursions away from home.
Here is a comparison of what you get with subscription plans at the premium level.
| GARMIN | SPOT | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual contract monthly cost | n/a | $30 |
| No contract monthly cost | $50 | $40 |
| One-time activation fee | $40 | $30 |
| Annual fee (no contract plans only) | $0 | $35 |
| Emergency SOS messages | Unlimited | Unlimited |
1Only available on Garmin inReach Messenger Plus
