I built WillCycle to help more people discover traffic-free cycling routes across the UK. That only works if the platform is genuinely accessible, so the core experience costs nothing. The extras you pay for help keep it running and make it better for every member, including yourself.
WillCycle now has three levels of access: Guest, Community and WillCycler. See below for the differences.
| Guest No account needed Free | Community Free membership Always free, no card required. | WillCycler Paid membership Far less than a coffee: just £2 per month |
| No registration required. Just browsing? Explore the map, discover routes, and get a feel for what WillCycle offers without signing up. What you can do + Browse all public routes on the map + View route details, distance and difficulty + See bumpiness ratings and surface scores + Download GPX files for open-access routes – Turn-by-turn navigation – Record rides – Treasure hunts and fairy trails – Save or share routes | A free account gives you everything you need for a great ride, including navigation, recording, and a growing library of adventures. Everything in Guest, plus + Turn-by-turn voice navigation ~ GPS ride recording (up to 5 per month) + Road surface bumpiness recording + Bike profiles with tyre calibration + Fairy trail storylines on routes + Participate in treasure hunts + Join multiplayer cycling games + Monthly challenges + Rate and review routes – Friend connections and live location – Unlimited ride recording – Route builder and saved routes – Strava sync | WillCyclers help to keep the site running and get the full, unrestricted experience in return, along with the knowledge that they are directly helping create better routes and features for everyone. Everything in Community, plus + Unlimited GPS ride recording + Route builder: plan and save your own routes + Friend connections and live location viewing + Broadcast your own live location + Create community treasure hunts + Host multiplayer cycling games + Strava activity sync + Weather-aware route suggestions + Completely ad-free experience + Supporter badge on your profile |
| Pros No email or password required Instant access to the full map Good for a quick look before joining Cons No navigation No community features Ads shown to support the site Create a free account | Pros Full navigation at no cost Contributes bumpiness data for all riders No commitment needed Cons 5-ride monthly recording cap No route builder or saved routes No Strava sync or friend connections Ads shown to support the site Join for free | Pros No limits on anything Completely ad-free Create content for the community Directly support the platform Cons Monthly cost (pricing to be confirmed) More than needed for occasional riders Join now |
Side by side
Every feature at a glance.
| Feature | Guest | Community | WillCycler |
|---|---|---|---|
| Browsing and Navigation | |||
| Browse public routes | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| View surface bumpiness ratings | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Turn-by-turn voice navigation | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Build and save your own routes | – | – | ✓ |
| Weather-aware route suggestions | – | – | ✓ |
| Ride Recording | |||
| GPS ride recording | – | 5 per month | ✓ Unlimited |
| Road surface bumpiness recording | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bike profiles and tyre calibration | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Strava sync | – | – | ✓ |
| Social and Community | |||
| Friend connections | – | – | ✓ |
| View friends’ live location | – | – | ✓ |
| Broadcast your own live location | – | – | ✓ |
| Rate and review routes | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Monthly challenges | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Games and Adventures | |||
| Fairy trail storylines | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Participate in treasure hunts | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Create community treasure hunts | – | – | ✓ Up to 5 |
| Join multiplayer games | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Host multiplayer games | – | – | ✓ |
| Your Experience | |||
| Ad-free browsing | – | – | ✓ |
| Supporter profile badge | – | – | ✓ |
Questions
Will Community always be free?
Yes. The free Community tier is a permanent part of WillCycle, not a trial. I want as many cyclists as possible on the platform, because more riders means richer surface data, more treasure hunts, and a better experience for everyone.
Why do Community members see adverts?
Running the web server, maintaining maps and building new features has a real cost. Ads on Community accounts help cover that, keeping the free tier sustainable. WillCyclers contribute directly through their subscription, so they get (and deserve) an ad-free experience in return.
Why are friend connections a WillCycler feature?
Live location sharing and friend connections put ongoing load on the server infrastructure that powers the platform. Keeping them as a WillCycler feature helps ensure the service stays reliable for everyone, while giving paying members a tangible benefit that has real value on a group ride.
What happens to my recorded rides if I downgrade from WillCycler to Community?
Nothing. All your existing data stays exactly where it is. You would simply be limited to 5 new recordings per month going forward. Your routes, bumpiness data and ride history are always yours.
What counts as one of my 5 monthly rides?
Each GPS-tracked ride you save to your account counts as one. The counter resets on the first of every month. Rides you navigate without recording do not count, as navigation is unlimited for all members.
Why is bumpiness recording free for everyone?
Surface quality data becomes useful when enough riders contribute it. Restricting bumpiness recording would undermine a feature that makes WillCycle routes genuinely different from other mapping tools, so it is available to every member, always.
Can I create a treasure hunt as a Community member?
Participating in treasure hunts is available to all Community members. Creating your own community hunt and adding it to the map is a WillCycler feature. Official WillCycle hunts are placed by me personally, or by a select number of volunteers.