Kayaking and SUP apps for Android (2026): which mobile apps track your paddle
Paddle Logger, the app most paddling lists recommend, runs on iPhone only. Which mobile apps track a kayak or SUP trip on an Android phone: Waterspeed, Strava, Garmin Connect, PaddleWays and Go Paddling, compared as of November 2026.
By Paula Acebo
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On an Android phone, Waterspeed, Strava and PaddleWays record a kayak or SUP trip, and Garmin Connect does it if you own a Garmin watch. Go Paddling finds launch spots but does not track. Paddle Logger, the app most paddling app lists recommend first, runs on iPhone and Apple Watch only.
Checked on 13 November 2026, from the App Store, Google Play search results, each app’s own site and our research notes. “Not verified” means we could not confirm it in those sources.
Which kayaking and SUP apps run on Android?
| App | Android | Records speed, distance and route | Live position for people ashore | Watches | What it is for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterspeed | Yes, plus Wear OS | Yes | Yes, with Pro | Apple Watch, Wear OS; sync from Garmin, Coros, Suunto | Tracking and analysis for 30+ water sports, with kayak, canoe and SUP modes |
| Strava | Yes | Yes | Yes, Beacon | Apple Watch, Garmin and others | General fitness, with Kayak, Canoe and Stand Up Paddling types |
| Garmin Connect | Yes | Yes, from the watch | Not listed | Garmin only | Owners of a Garmin watch |
| PaddleWays (NRS) | Yes, plus web | Yes, Trip Tracker | Not listed | None | River guide and maps, built with American Whitewater |
| Go Paddling (Paddling.com) | Yes | No | No | None | Finding launch spots |
| Paddle Logger | No | Yes | Yes, PaddleLIVE | Apple Watch | Paddle tracking on iPhone |
| PaddlePal, GoSUP | No Android app found | Yes | Not verified | Apple Watch | Paddle tracking on iPhone |
Paddle Logger’s own site links only to the App Store. In the r/Sup thread “Any good SUP tracking apps?”, a rider asks for an Android version.
What does each Android app do well?
Waterspeed
Waterspeed records speed, pace, distance and your route on the phone, and keeps every trip in a diary you can compare. With Pro, people on shore can follow you live from one link that never changes. It also syncs sessions from Garmin, Coros and Suunto watches, so you can keep the watch you have. Stroke counting needs an Apple Watch, and it is still in beta for kayak.
Strava
Strava records kayak, canoe and SUP sessions like any other workout. Beacon shares your live position from the phone. It has no paddle-specific data, but it is the natural choice if your runs and rides already live there.
Garmin Connect
If you paddle with a Garmin watch, Garmin Connect on Android shows the watch’s session: distance, speed and, on models such as the fēnix 8, stroke rate. It needs the watch; the phone app does not record on its own.
PaddleWays
PaddleWays from NRS and onWater is a river guide with maps, points of interest and water conditions, and a Trip Tracker that logs your route. PaddleWays+ costs $49.99 a year, by a search snippet of its App Store page.
Go Paddling
Go Paddling is a directory of launch spots with user notes on parking and facilities. It does not record your trip, so pair it with a tracker.
Which Android app should you pick?
- To track and improve: Waterspeed, for speed, pace, distance and a live link for safety.
- If everything else is in Strava: Strava, and accept fewer paddle-specific numbers.
- If you paddle with a Garmin: Garmin Connect for the watch, plus Waterspeed if you want the analysis and the live link.
- On rivers: PaddleWays for the river guide, with a tracker next to it.
- To find where to launch: Go Paddling.
Can I track a kayak trip without a watch?
Yes. A phone in a waterproof case records the whole trip with its own GPS. Keep it on your body or in a deck bag, not loose in the boat. Our guide to tracking a paddle with your phone covers the settings.
