What Kompass Karten does

Kompass Karten GmbH (legal entity Kompass Freytag & Berndt GmbH) is an Austrian cartographic publishing company headquartered in Innsbruck that produces hiking, cycling, and ski touring maps and guidebooks. Founded in 1953 and operating as a subsidiary within the Freytag & Berndt publishing group, the company self-describes as the world's largest producer of hiking, cycling, and ski touring maps and serves outdoor recreation consumers primarily in German-speaking markets (Austria, Germany, Switzerland), with global distribution. Its core product portfolio includes printed topographic Wanderkarten, Wanderführer, Fahrradkarten, and Skitourenkarten, supported by a proprietary content library of 6,000+ field-verified tours documented by a dedicated author network.

The company's digital platform consists of the KOMPASS web map and tour planner, native iOS and Android apps with offline capability, and the KOMPASS PRO subscription service. The technology stack integrates OpenStreetMap as the base data layer, GraphHopper for route calculation, Mapbox/MapTiler/Thunderforest for tile rendering, and OpenWeather for weather data; tour data is hosted via Venus, and payments are processed through Stripe, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. Field-verified content is delivered consistently across print, app, and web formats, and users can export routes via GPX files.

Kompass operates a hybrid revenue model spanning five streams: one-time sales of physical maps and guidebooks via own e-commerce (shop.kompass.de), Libri-operated book retail, and physical bookstores; the recurring KOMPASS PRO digital subscription; one-time digital GPX downloads; B2B licensing and co-publishing of cartographic content (ADAC Maxiatlas, ADAC Reiseatlas, Falk products, and tourism organizations such as Österreich Werbung); and transaction-fee-based active travel packages (KOMPASS Aktivreisen) facilitated by partner Feuer und Eis Touristik GmbH. Go-to-market combines product-led growth (free web/app tools driving PRO conversion), community-led growth through the editorial magazine, blog, and author network, event-driven activation including sponsorship of Europe's largest hiking festival, and direct-to-consumer e-commerce. The company is managed by two Managing Directors, Carl Rauch and Markus Schneider, and maintains long-standing strategic alliances with the Deutscher Wanderverband (DWV, 130-year partnership) and the Europäische Wandervereinigung (EWV).

Name

Kompass Karten

Legal name

Kompass Freytag & Berndt GmbH

Website

https://kompass.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1953

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kompass Karten GmbH produces hiking, cycling, and ski touring maps and guidebooks for outdoor enthusiasts in German-speaking markets, distributing field-verified content across print, web, and mobile app channels including the KOMPASS PRO subscription.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Innsbruck

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Physical Maps & Guidebooks: Print products including hiking maps (Wanderkarten), hiking guides (Wanderführer), cycling guides (Fahrradführer), and ski touring maps sold through bookstores, the online shop, and direct distribution. One-time purchase model.
2. KOMPASS PRO Digital Subscription: Premium digital subscription providing unlimited offline map access, full access to certified tours, tour planner, and map updates. Subscription model with recurring billing.
3. Digital Product Downloads (GPX Data): Sale of individual GPX route data and digital map downloads for standalone use.
4. B2B Licensing & Corporate Solutions: Licensing of high-quality maps and tour data to third parties (tourism organizations, ADAC, outdoor brands). Integration opportunities in print, web, and app formats. Also includes co-publishing arrangements such as ADAC Maxiatlas and ADAC Reiseatlas.
5. Active Travel Packages (Aktivreisen): Package bookings combining hiking/cycling tours with accommodation and services, facilitated through partner Feuer und Eis Touristik GmbH.

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Kompass Karten produces and publishes printed and digital topographic maps, guidebooks, and a mobile navigation app for hiking, cycling, and ski touring activities. The company's portfolio includes hiking maps (Wanderkarten), hiking guides (Wanderführer), cycling maps (Fahrradkarten), and ski touring maps (Skitourenkarten), supported by 6,000+ field-certified tours. Digital delivery is enabled through the KOMPASS App for iOS and Android and the KOMPASS PRO subscription, which provides unlimited offline map access, the Tourenplaner (tour planner), and GPX data downloads.

Product overview

KOMPASS is an outdoor mapping and publishing company offering a comprehensive product portfolio centered on hiking, cycling, and ski touring maps and guides. The core offerings include printed and digital topographic maps (Wanderkarten, Fahrradkarten, Skitourenkarten) and guidebooks (Wanderführer) featuring over 6,000 certified tours. Digital access is provided through the KOMPASS App and KOMPASS PRO subscription, which offers unlimited offline map access, tour planning tools, and special map overlays. Additional offerings include GPX data downloads, the WanderWiki community platform, active travel packages (Aktivreisen), and a B2B licensing program for business integration. The company also publishes an outdoor magazine (Magazin) with travel inspiration and product news. Products are available in printed physical format, in the mobile app for iOS and Android, and via the web platform, with consistent map imagery across all distribution channels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KOMPASS PRO: Digital subscription service offering online and offline access to hiking and cycling maps, specialized maps, thousands of quality tours from guidebooks with offline use, flexible tour planner, and map updates.

Products and services

• KOMPASS Wanderkarten (Hiking Maps) Topographic hiking maps covering Alpine and Central European regions, available in printed format and as digital maps. The new generation offers consistent map imagery across printed, app, and web formats for outdoor recreation users.
• KOMPASS Wanderführer (Hiking Guides) Printed guidebooks containing certified hiking and cycling tours with detailed route descriptions, maps, and travel information for outdoor recreation users. The new generation features a more compact format with travel guide sections and QR codes for journey planning.
• KOMPASS Fahrradkarten (Cycling Maps) Topographic cycling maps covering bike routes and trails across European regions, available in printed and digital formats for cycling enthusiasts.
• KOMPASS Skitourenkarten (Ski Tour Maps) Topographic maps for ski touring and winter sports across Alpine regions, available in printed and digital formats for ski tourers.
• KOMPASS App Native mobile application for iOS and Android smartphones and tablets providing access to digital hiking and cycling maps with offline capability, tour discovery, and GPS navigation for outdoor recreation users.
• KOMPASS PRO Premium digital subscription offering unlimited access to digital hiking, cycling, and ski touring maps with offline usage, tour planning tools, special maps for cycling, hiking, outdoor, and winter activities, and thousands of quality-certified tours from hiking and cycling guides.
• GPX Data Downloads GPS exchange format (GPX) data files for certified KOMPASS tours, available for individual download for use with personal GPS devices and third-party navigation apps.
• KOMPASS Aktivreisen (Active Travel Packages) Package tours combining KOMPASS-certified hiking and cycling tours with booking capabilities for accommodation and logistics, conducted by partner Feuer und Eis Touristik GmbH.
• B2B Solutions (Map and Tour Licensing) Business solutions including licensing of KOMPASS cartographic content and tour data, with integration opportunities in print, web, and app formats for companies such as publishers and tourism organizations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1 million+ products sold across print and digital
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Deutscher Wanderverband (DWV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe German Hiking Association (DWV) is Germany's umbrella organization for 57 German mountain and hiking clubs with around 600,000 members. KOMPASS has partnered with DWV for 130 years to support hiking infrastructure and trail preservation. DWV is listed as a key partner on kompass.de with logo placement, indicating a long-standing strategic relationship focused on promoting hiking culture and trails.
• Europäische Wandervereinigung e.V. (EWV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe European Hiking Association (EWV) advocates for free access to nature and landscape for all residents. KOMPASS collaborates with EWV to promote outdoor recreation across Europe. The partnership is showcased on the KOMPASS partner page with logo placement.
• Österreich WerbungcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAustria's national tourism organization (Österreich Werbung) operates 19 market offices worldwide and promotes Austria as a travel destination. KOMPASS features Österreich Werbung as a partner, leveraging co-marketing opportunities to promote Austrian outdoor destinations and hiking trails through KOMPASS maps and guides.
• Naturpark Spessart & SpessartbundminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNaturpark Spessart (nature park covering Germany's most forested low mountain range) and its associated hiking association Spessartbund are listed as partners, collaborating on trail content and promotion of the Spessart region in KOMPASS maps and guides.
• Feuer und Eis Touristik GmbHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFeuer und Eis Touristik GmbH (based in Rottach-Egern and Weißach, Germany) is the partner that conducts and fulfills the KOMPASS Aktivreisen (active travel packages). KOMPASS facilitates booking of hiking and cycling tour packages on its platform while Feuer und Eis handles the operational execution of travel services.
• Libri GmbHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLibri GmbH (Hamburg, Germany) operates the online book retail subdomain (libri.de) through which KOMPASS physical products are sold. Libri handles order processing, payment, and delivery for the book trade distribution channel, as specified in KOMPASS's privacy policy.
• GraphHopper GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationGraphHopper GmbH (Munich, Germany) provides the routing engine integrated into the KOMPASS platform for tour planning. The service processes user inputs (locations, addresses) to calculate hiking and cycling routes, enabling the core tour planner functionality.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• ADAC: ADAC is Germany's largest automobile club and a B2B customer of KOMPASS (ADAC Maxiatlas, ADAC Reiseatlas). Comparable as a publishing/club ecosystem that bundles cartography and travel content for its membership.

Direct peers

• Wikiloc: Wikiloc is a community-driven outdoor trail platform with millions of user-uploaded routes, including hiking, cycling, and ski touring — directly comparable to KOMPASS's tour catalogue and a partial substitute for PRO.
• Komoot: Komoot is the leading route-planning and navigation app for hiking and cycling in Europe, directly competing with KOMPASS PRO on tour discovery, route planning, and offline navigation for outdoor enthusiasts.
• Bergfex: Bergfex is an Austrian/DACH outdoor platform with hiking, cycling, and ski-tour route libraries plus weather and tour planning tools; directly comparable to KOMPASS in alpine hiking and ski-touring content in the same core geography.
• Outdooractive: Outdooractive is a European outdoor platform offering route planning, maps, and a B2B platform for tourism organisations; it directly competes with KOMPASS in DACH and offers similar tour-planning and certification tooling.
• AllTrails: AllTrails is a global outdoor trail-discovery and navigation platform with a massive user-generated route library; it competes with KOMPASS in hiking and cycling route discovery and subscription-based map access (AllTrails+).

Broad incumbents

• Freytag & Berndt: Freytag & Berndt is the parent publishing group of Kompass Freytag & Berndt GmbH and itself a long-standing Austrian cartography brand; comparable as a sibling print-and-digital map publisher in the DACH region.
• Michelin Maps (ViaMichelin): Michelin Maps / ViaMichelin is a large incumbent cartography publisher with printed maps and digital mapping; comparable to KOMPASS as a multi-format cartography brand serving travel and outdoor consumers.
• Falk: Falk is a long-established German cartography brand (city plans, road atlases) that licenses KOMPASS content into its products; comparable as a traditional print-and-digital map publisher with overlapping B2B licensing economics.

Emerging players

• Strava: Strava is a global activity-tracking platform that has expanded into hiking and cycling route discovery; it competes with KOMPASS on the cycling side and increasingly on hiking, though its core is athletic performance tracking.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/kompasskarten
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kompass-karten-gmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/kompass.karten

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kompass Karten