Head-to-head
Wanderlog vs Polarsteps: which one in 2026?
Wanderlog is a trip planning app from Travelchime Inc. built around a shared itinerary, and Polarsteps is a travel app from Polarsteps B.V. that records your route as you go. One plans the trip ahead with other people, the other documents it while you travel.
Verdict
Polarsteps sits first on this site because it publishes prices and gives clear answers on AI training and storage. Wanderlog is the stronger planner before you leave, with shared itineraries, budgets and booking import. The two overlap less than their category suggests, so some travelers use one to plan and the other to record. Note that Wanderlog's Gmail scanning sends emails to a third-party AI provider.
Wanderlog and Polarsteps side by side
| Wanderlog | Polarsteps | |
|---|---|---|
| Price entry | Quoted | Free; Plus EUR 8.99 per month or EUR 29.99 per year |
| Core idea | A shared trip file holding itinerary, map, bookings, budget and checklists that several planners edit. | A route diary that captures your movement automatically, then holds photos, videos and stories for each step. |
| Price shown | Free and Pro tiers exist, but no amounts for either appear on the pages that were read for this page. | Free, Plus at EUR 8.99 a month, or Plus at EUR 29.99 a year, with prices that may vary by region. |
| What the paid tier adds | Live flight updates, offline access, Gmail scanning, route optimization, flight deals, unlimited attachments and Google Maps export. | 3D maps, step stats, 3D play, new map styles, a higher Travel Buddies limit and, on the yearly plan, 20% off Travel Books. |
| AI feature | An AI Assistant that helps plan travel or answers questions, plus Gmail receipt parsing done with OpenAI. | An AI Trip Planner named in the footer; the homepage gives no detail on what it does. |
| Sharing | Planners collaborate on one itinerary; reviewers on the page say the free version lets both access it. | You choose whether a trip is visible to only you, friends and family, or everyone. Free allows 5 Travel Buddies, Plus 10. |
| Output after the trip | No printed product or recap video is named on the pages read, which focus on planning and bookings. | Hardback Travel Books of a trip, with a discount on the yearly plan, and a shareable recap video. |
| Data training stance | The privacy policy does not say whether data trains AI models. Gmail travel emails go to OpenAI for parsing. | The privacy policy says personal data and trip data are not used to train AI models, with contractual limits on AI providers. |
| Storage location | Hosting and data transfer locations are not stated on the pages read, and neither is a retention period. | The company aims to store data within the EEA, on AWS Europe, with listed transfers to Australia, India, Israel, the UK and the US. |
Where each one wins
Wanderlog wins on
- Plans a trip with budgets, checklists and bookings in a single shared file
- Scans Gmail for travel receipts and offers route optimization on Pro
- Names live flight updates and offline access among its paid features
Polarsteps wins on
- Captures your route automatically and turns it into a diary with photos and stories
- Publishes prices and states that personal data does not train AI models
- Prints Travel Books and makes recap videos, with EEA-first storage
Which to pick
Pick Wanderlog if
You are organizing a group trip before departure and want one shared plan with maps, bookings, budgets and an AI assistant.
Pick Polarsteps if
You want to log the trip as it happens, share it with chosen people and keep a record, and you care about a clear data-training statement.
Each tool in context: Wanderlog profile, Polarsteps profile, and the full Best AI Travel Planning Apps in 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is Wanderlog or Polarsteps better for planning a trip?
Wanderlog is built more for planning: a shared file with itinerary, map, bookings, budget and checklists. Polarsteps is built to record the trip while you travel, though it names an AI Trip Planner too. Choose by whether your main job is the plan or the diary.
How much do Wanderlog Pro and Polarsteps Plus cost?
As of November 2026, Polarsteps Plus is EUR 8.99 a month or EUR 29.99 a year, and prices may vary by region. Wanderlog does not show Free or Pro prices on the pages read, so check the app store or the checkout page for the current amount.
Does Wanderlog read my Gmail?
Only if you use the Pro feature for automatic Gmail scanning. The privacy policy says travel emails are parsed with the help of OpenAI to find receipts, receipts are stored on Wanderlog servers and non-travel emails are not kept. Skip the feature if you prefer not to share inbox data.
Does Polarsteps use my trips to train AI?
According to its privacy policy, no. Personal data is not used to train AI models, and trip data is not used to train third-party models, with AI providers bound by contractual restrictions. The policy also lists retention periods, such as 90 days for technical and log data.