Garmin inReach: ‘Hidden’ Subscription Plan and Cost-Saving Alternatives

The Garmin inReach is a satellite service offering excellent coverage for adventurers, providing two-way messaging, GPS tracking, and emergency SOS capabilities via the Iridium satellite network. However, its subscription costs are expensive, especially for infrequent users. A lesser-known “Enabled Plan” and third-party alternatives can significantly and safely reduce costs.

This article examines these options, along with competitor products and supplementary services, suggesting the best solutions.

Garmin inReach Enabled Plan: A Budget-Friendly Option

Garmin’s Enabled Plan is a cost-effective option priced at $7.99 per month. It offers unlimited SOS messaging, with additional charges for other services: $0.10 for preset messages, $0.50 for custom messages, and $0.50 for weather requests. This eliminates annual contracts, providing flexibility for occasional adventurers. For example, users who hike 100 hours annually (with 10-minute tracking intervals) could effectively halve the $180 per year for Garmin’s traditional plans.

Best for: Infrequent users needing reliable SOS coverage without high subscription costs.

How to find the Enabled Plan

To get the Garmin inReach Enabled Plan, you cannot directly sign up for it as a new account option. Instead, you need to follow these steps:

• Sign up for a regular Garmin inReach account first, choosing either a Standard, Essential, or Premium plan.  
• There is an activation fee of $39.99, which cannot be avoided.
• Once your initial account is set up with one of these regular plans, you then need to go to your account management section and change your plan to the “Enabled” option.

The Enabled Plan is a legitimate Garmin offering, but hidden away for obvious commercial reasons. It is the least expensive subscription and includes SOS coverage as its primary feature.

Third-Party Garmin inReach Bandwidth Resellers

Authorised resellers, such as Protogear and TrackMe NZ, offer alternative, flexible subscription models for Garmin inReach devices and are worth considering.

Protogear (Germany)

Protogear, an authorised Garmin inReach bandwidth reseller, provides cost-effective plans for users with sporadic needs.

• Pricing: €49 annual fee plus a €10 minimum fee, with daily, weekly, or monthly plans. Protogear automatically applies the cheapest rate if usage exceeds a daily plan’s cost.
• Flexibility: Daily (de-)activation is allowed, ideal for occasional adventurers.
• Activation: Requires cancelling existing Garmin data plans and may need a new Garmin Explore account. Setup involves providing the device’s IMEI and AuthCode.
• Compatibility: Supports all inReach devices (e.g., inReach Mini, GPSMAP, Montana, TREAD) and Garmin apps (Explore, Messenger, Tread), including MapShare.
• Exclusive Features:
  • Flexible activation periods (daily, weekly, monthly).
  • Editable preset/check-in messages, unlike Garmin’s fixed presets.
  • GlobalMail for two-way email via satellite.
  • Info-Services deliver news and Wikipedia entries.
  • SmartSafety (optional) with a “dead man’s switch” for enhanced safety.
  • TripShare/TripView for live tracking with statistics.
  • High-resolution weather forecasts from MetGIS.at.
  • Tracking intervals as short as 30 seconds (vs. Garmin’s 2-minute minimum on premium plans).
• Limitations: Geographic restrictions apply

Best suited for: Infrequent users seeking flexibility and advanced features, such as short tracking intervals or email functionality.

TrackMe NZ

Available in Australia, New Zealand, and North America, TrackMe NZ repackages inReach bandwidth with tailored recreational plans.

• Pricing:
  • Safety (NZD$45/month): 25 satellite messages, 20-minute unlimited tracking.
  • Weekender (NZD$55/month): 50 satellite messages, 5-10-minute unlimited tracking.
  • Adventurer (NZD$85/month): Unlimited satellite messages, 2-5-minute unlimited tracking.
• Features: Includes a dedicated phone number for the device and the TrackMe Service Suite.

Best suited for: Users in supported regions who require predictable messaging and tracking plans.

Garmin inReach Rentals

For a one-off adventure or to try before you buy, renting an inReach unit is a good alternative.

• Cost: $10–$15/day in the U.S., £12–£14.40/day in the UK (including VAT), or £40–£45/week for models like the inReach Mini or Explorer+. Some data is typically included.
• Features: Rentals offer two-way messaging, GPS navigation, and SOS alerts. Models include the compact inReach Mini, navigation-focused Explorer+, or communication-oriented Messenger.

Best for: Infrequent hikers or travellers who don’t need a permanent device.

Apple iPhone Satellite Features

For owners of iPhone 14 or later, Apple’s satellite connectivity provides a device-free alternative for emergency communication.

• Cost: Free for two years post-activation, with potential operator-specific fees thereafter. Apple also seems to have generously extended this for a year.
• Features: Enables texting emergency services, requesting roadside assistance, messaging contacts, and sharing location without cellular or Wi-Fi coverage. Uses the Globalstar satellite network.
• Limitations:
  • Slower connection (30 seconds to over a minute under foliage).
  • Blocked by dense terrain or structures.
  • Unavailable above 62° latitude (e.g., northern Alaska) or in certain countries (e.g., China, Russia).
  • Probably less reliable for SOS than Garmin due to system limitations.
• Privacy: SOS messages are decrypted by Apple for dispatch, while iMessages and Find My location sharing are end-to-end encrypted.

Best for: iPhone users in supported regions seeking a no-cost, temporary solution, though a dedicated device like inReach is recommended for reliability.

Supplemental SOS/Rescue Coverage: Overwatch x Rescue

Overwatch x Rescue (OxR) complements satellite communicators by covering rescue and medical evacuation costs, which Garmin’s plans do not.

• Cost: $80/year, covering up to three devices (e.g., inReach, iPhone, SPOT X, ZOLEO).
• Coverage: Includes worldwide rescue and medical evacuation, with no altitude or high-risk sport restrictions (unlike Garmin’s SAR 100 plan, which costs $29.99–$999 per year and is limited to the U.S. and Canada). Covers costs up to $50,000–$60,000 for private air ambulances.
• Additional Benefits: Arranges transport to a hospital of your choice, retrieves vehicles from trailheads, or flies family members to you if hospitalised abroad.
• Response: Staffed by experienced emergency personnel, OxR coordinates with responders and advocates for subscribers throughout the rescue process.

Best for: Adventurers seeking comprehensive financial protection for rescues, especially in remote or high-risk environments.

Garmin inReach Professional Plans

Garmin’s Professional Plans cater to organisations or families managing multiple devices.

• Cost: Approximately $ 5 more per month than consumer plans, with a $ 5 monthly suspension fee per device (no SOS service during suspension).
• Features: Centralised management, multiple active devices, and custom preset messages per device, unlike consumer plans’ single-device limitation.

Best for: Guides, SAR teams, or families needing coordinated multi-device management.

Choosing the Right Option

• Infrequent Users: Opt for Garmin’s Enabled Plan ($7.99/month) or Protogear’s flexible plans for cost savings and SOS reliability.
• Frequent Adventurers: Consider Garmin’s consumer plans (e.g., Recreation, $14.99/month) or TrackMe NZ’s Adventurer plan for unlimited messaging and tracking.
• One-Time Trips: Rent an inReach device to avoid long-term costs.
• iPhone Users: Leverage Apple’s free satellite features for two years, but pair with OxR or a dedicated device for robust SOS coverage.
• High-Risk Activities: Combine a satellite communicator with Overwatch x Rescue for financial protection against costly rescues.

Conclusion

You should mitigate against potential catastrophic risks when out of cell range. This can be expensive. Garmin inReach’s Enabled Plan is a cost-effective alternative for occasional adventurers

sources:

• Garmin’s official website,
• Protogear,
• Overwatch x Rescue.