Tailwind GPS free plan: how many routes can you save?

The short answer: on the Tailwind GPS free plan, you can save up to 3 tracked routes. Each saved route gets a full Tailwind Score 0–100 for every departure hour, so even with three routes you're getting genuinely useful, route-specific wind forecasting, not a generic weather widget.

You also get a 3-day wind forecast window on the free tier. That's enough to decide whether tomorrow evening's spin is worth it, or whether Saturday's long ride should move to Sunday.

What counts as a "saved route" on the free plan?

When you draw a route on the map, upload a GPX file, or connect your Strava account to pull in your regular loops, you can choose to save that route to your library. Saved routes are the ones scored continuously in the background: every hour, for the full forecast window. Those are the routes that count toward your limit.

You can still import or create routes temporarily without saving them, useful if you want to check conditions on a one-off ride. The 3-route cap applies to the routes you keep in your library and want scored on an ongoing basis.

Every saved route earns a score per departure hour. Pick a route, scroll through the hours, and the app tells you when conditions will be best. That's the core of how wind scores work for your Strava routes in Tailwind GPS: one number, not a meteorology lesson.

Making the most of 3 saved routes

For most recreational cyclists, 3 routes is a practical starting point. Here's how to use the slots well:

• Your go-to weekday route. An after-work loop you ride two or three times a week. Save it, and you'll always know whether to leave at 5pm or push to 6pm for better wind.
• Your weekend long ride. The route you care most about getting right. A headwind for the first 30km of an 80km ride can ruin the whole thing. Let the app show you when the wind is on your side.
• A backup or alternate loop. Save a shorter or different-direction route so you've got an option when the main ride looks ugly.

The workflow is quick: open the interactive route planner map, tap your saved route, scroll through departure times, and go when the score is highest. Most people spend under 60 seconds on this.

If you connect Strava, your most-ridden routes appear automatically. You just pick which three to keep active.

What subscribing unlocks (when 3 routes isn't enough)

If your riding has expanded, multiple clubs, different terrain, training routes alongside leisure loops, the free tier gets tight. A subscription bumps you to up to 40 saved tracked routes and extends your forecast window from 3 days to 14 days.

For context on why the 14-day window matters: if you're planning a cycling holiday, a sportive, or a multi-day trip, being able to check wind conditions two weeks out is genuinely useful. You're not just picking tonight's ride; you're lining up the best day of the week for the next fortnight.

Paid subscribers also get:

• Weekly ride summary emails highlighting the best upcoming windows across your route library
• Per-route wind score alerts when a favourite route hits a score you've set
• Rain alerts during your preferred riding hours

The subscription is $2.99/month or $19.99/year. There's a 7-day free trial, so you can test the full feature set before committing. For a deeper look at how Tailwind GPS stacks up against other options, the wind-aware cycling apps compared guide covers the key differences.

FAQ: free plan route limits

Does the limit apply to temporary or imported routes, or only saved ones? Only saved (tracked) routes in your library count toward the 3-route limit. You can import or preview routes without saving them.

Can I try the paid features before subscribing? Yes. Tailwind GPS offers a 7-day free trial of the subscriber tier, which gives you access to the 40-route library and 14-day forecast window.

Are saved routes scored the same way as temporarily imported routes? Yes. The Tailwind Score calculation is the same regardless of how a route was added. The difference is that saved routes are scored continuously across your entire forecast window, whereas unsaved routes are scored on demand.

If I delete a saved route, can I add a new one on the free plan? Yes. Deleting a saved route frees up a slot in your library, so you can save a different route in its place. Your 3-slot library is flexible, not fixed.

Is the free plan actually free forever? Yes. You don't need a credit card to use the free tier. The best cycling apps for forecast-based planning article covers Tailwind GPS alongside alternatives if you want a broader comparison before deciding.

For most cyclists who ride a handful of regular routes, 3 saved routes with a 3-day forecast is a solid place to start. Save your loops, check the scores, ride when conditions suit you, and upgrade when your route library outgrows the free tier.

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