PeakFinder
Zurich panorama app that names the mountains in your camera view
At a glance
| Company | Peak Finder GmbH (contact page); the legal text names PeakFinder Ltd |
|---|---|
| Category | Hiking and Trail Apps |
| Headquarters | Zurich, Switzerland |
| Founded | Not stated |
| EU Presence | Yes - Switzerland |
| Data Location | not stated on the pages we read |
| Open Source | No |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes |
| Self-Hosting | No |
| Main Features | Panorama of peaks from any viewpoint, live camera view, worldwide coverage to 85 degrees latitude, SVG export, horizon export for Stellarium, API on GitHub |
| Pricing | not shown on the pages we read |
| Best For | Hikers who want to name the peaks they see, as a companion to a route app |
| Replaces | AllTrails (as a companion for peak identification) |
Full review
PeakFinder shows the mountains around any viewpoint as a panorama with names. The contact page gives the address Peak Finder GmbH, Eglistrasse 8, 8004 Zurich, Switzerland.
The about page is written by Fabio Soldati of Zurich, who describes the idea as arising on a hike in 2010. The legal page names the operator PeakFinder Ltd instead of the GmbH.
What PeakFinder does
PeakFinder calculates panoramic views from digital elevation models and shows peak names in a live camera image. The web app has a viewpoint search, a map and settings for units, sun, moon, grid and projection.
PeakFinder can export the panorama as SVG for printing and the horizon for Stellarium.
Data sources and coverage
PeakFinder states that it covers the world from 85 degrees north to 85 degrees south. Its resources page lists Copernicus DEM, NASADEM and LiDAR terrain models for Europe, and OpenStreetMap, GeoNames and other sources for peak data.
The resources page says peak data quality in OpenStreetMap is good in Europe and the USA and has more errors elsewhere.
PeakFinder as a companion to AllTrails alternatives
PeakFinder does not plan routes or record tracks, so it does not replace AllTrails. It adds one function that AllTrails does not list on its home page, and it pairs well with a route app from this list.
Known limits
PeakFinder has no trail catalogue, route planning or track recording, so hikers still need another app from this list. The pages we read do not show a price. The legal page names PeakFinder Ltd while the contact page names Peak Finder GmbH, and we could not reconcile the two. Pair it with komoot or OsmAnd.
Who PeakFinder fits
Hikers and mountain fans who want to put names to the peaks on the horizon.
Strengths and weaknesses
Pros
- Swiss address in Zurich on the contact page
- Peak names shown in a live camera view
- Worldwide coverage
- Open data sources listed with licences
- API published on GitHub
Cons
- No route planning or track recording
- Price not shown on the pages we read
- Legal entity named inconsistently (Ltd and GmbH)
- Peak data weaker outside Europe and the USA
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Swiss address in Zurich on the contact page
- Peak names shown in a live camera view
- Worldwide coverage
- Open data sources listed with licences
- API published on GitHub
Cons
- No route planning or track recording
- Price not shown on the pages we read
- Legal entity named inconsistently (Ltd and GmbH)
- Peak data weaker outside Europe and the USA
Alternatives to PeakFinder
Further European hiking and trail apps to compare:
See all European hiking and trail apps or compare them directly against AllTrails (as a companion for peak identification) on our alternatives page.
FAQ
Not a full one. PeakFinder from Zurich, Switzerland names peaks in a panorama or camera view but does not plan routes or record tracks.
The PeakFinder contact page gives Eglistrasse 8, 8004 Zurich, Switzerland. The about page is signed by Fabio Soldati in Zurich.
PeakFinder lists Copernicus DEM, NASADEM and LiDAR models for terrain, and OpenStreetMap and GeoNames for peak and place data.