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Frequently Asked Questions on September 2024 inReach Consumer Subscription Plan Changes
What Changes Were Made to inReach® Subscription Plans in September 2024?
Garmin is simplifying the inReach personal service plans, and we have eliminated the Safety, Recreation, and Expedition plans (both Annual Contract and Freedom versions). Our new consumer plans are all month-to-month and only require a 30-day commitment. These new plans also provide higher monthly message allotments for a minimal difference in cost compared to our previous plans.
How Do the Old Plans Compare to the New inReach Consumer Plans?
Instead of having to choose between an Annual Contract plan or a month-to-month Freedom plan, then choose a specific tier within one of those options, there are simply 3 options now:
Essential has replaced both Annual Contract Safety and Freedom Safety.
Standard has replaced both Annual Contract Recreation and Freedom Recreation.
Premium has replaced both Annual Contract Expedition and Freedom Expedition.
(Charged at sign up and on each 1-year anniversary of sign up)
N/A
Early Cancellation Fee
Contract Remainder
N/A
N/A
Overage Charges
Text Message
$0.50 each
$0.50 each
$0.50 each
Photo or Voice Message1
N/A
N/A
$1 each
1The inReach Messenger Plus satellite communicator is currently the only Garmin device that has the ability to send and receive photo and voice messages over the Iridium satellite network. For more details, see - Sending a Photo or Voice Message With the Garmin Messenger App.
(Charged at sign up and on each 1-year anniversary of sign up)
N/A
Early Cancellation Fee
Contract Remainder
N/A
N/A
Overage Charges
Text Message
$0.50 each
$0.50 each
$0.50 each
Photo or Voice Message1
N/A
N/A
$1 each
1The inReach Messenger Plus satellite communicator is currently the only Garmin device that has the ability to send and receive photo and voice messages over the Iridium satellite network. For more details, see - Sending a Photo or Voice Message With the Garmin Messenger App.
(Charged at sign up and on each 1-year anniversary of sign up)
N/A
Early Cancellation Fee
Contract Remainder
N/A
N/A
Overage Charges
Text Message
N/A
N/A
N/A
Photo or Voice Message1
N/A
N/A
$1 each
1The inReach Messenger Plus satellite communicator is currently the only Garmin device that has the ability to send and receive photo and voice messages over the Iridium satellite network. For more details, see - Sending a Photo or Voice Message With the Garmin Messenger App.
I Currently Have a Freedom Plan. How Does This Change Affect My Service?
Existing customers with inReach Freedom subscription plans will still be able to suspend their service and move up or down within Freedom plan tiers until their next annual renewal date. Upon reaching the annual renewal date, the plan will be migrated into the closest equivalent new plan (e.g. Suspend migrates to Enabled, Safety to Essential, Recreation to Standard & Expedition to Premium). We will not begin migrating Freedom subscription plans until December of 2024.
There are no additional activation fees or program fees if you choose to change to one of our new plans before your next annual renewal date, but you will not be able to return to your previous plan.
You may change your inReach subscription plan in either the Earthmate® app or Garmin Messenger™ app, depending on which model of inReach satellite communicator you have. For more details, see - null.
I Currently Have an Annual Contract Plan. How Does This Change Affect My Service?
Existing customers with inReach Annual Contract subscription plans will not be migrated into new plans, and can remain in their current plan unless they choose to change it. There are no early cancellation fees if you choose to change to a new plan, and no additional activation fees for changing to a new plan, but you will not be able to return to your previous plan once it has been changed.
You may change your inReach subscription plan in either the Earthmate app or Garmin Messenger app, depending on which model of inReach satellite communicator you have. For more details, see - null.
Can I Still Suspend My Service on the New Plans?
Essential, Standard, and Premium plans no longer have the option to suspend service. However, if you start to change or cancel your subscription an Enabled state of operation will be presented. The Enabled state provides a way of keeping the inReach device active and ready for use in an emergency situation at a low monthly cost. Enabled includes unlimited SOS and pay-as-you-go pricing for other features like messaging and tracking.
Alternatively, some users may benefit from cancelling their service during the off season. For example, if you only need inReach satellite communication features for one or two months out of the year, it will be more cost effective to cancel your service and then reactivate it again the following year.
Suspend vs. Enabled Comparison
NOTE: Pricing is provided in USD. For pricing information in other regions, see - Pricing in other regions can be viewed in the Garmin Messenger app or Earthmate app when changing your plan.
Features and Pricing
Suspended
Prior to Sept. 18th 2024
Enabled
Current
Monthly Cost
$0
USD$7.99/CAD$10.99
Emergency SOS Messaging
N/A
Unlimited
Check-in Messages
N/A
$0.10 each
Included Text Messages (160 characters)
N/A
None
Included Photo and Voice Messages1
N/A
None
Tracking Intervals
N/A
10 min+
Send/Track Points (Live Tracking)
N/A
$0.10 each
Weather
N/A
$1 each
Additional Charges
Annual Program Fee
$34.95
N/A
Overage Charges
Text Message
N/A
$0.50 each
Photo or Voice Message1
N/A
$1 each
1The inReach Messenger Plus satellite communicator is currently the only device that has the ability to send and receive photo and voice messages over the Iridium satellite network. For more details, see - Sending a Photo or Voice Message With the Garmin Messenger App.
Can I Move up or Down Between the New Plans?
Yes, you can move up or down plan tiers when tracking or communication needs change.
When upgrading to a higher plan the change is effective immediately and the remaining prepayment is pro-rated based from the renewal to the date the upgrade will take effect and any message overage will also be due. The difference of the pro-rated amount and the new service plan will be charged to the account. The new renewal date will now recur based on the date the service was upgraded.
When downgrading to a lower plan the change takes place at the end of the current billing cycle.
What Happens if I Cancel My Service?
Cancelling takes effect immediately and puts the inReach device in a "deactivated" state where it no longer functions on the Iridium satellite network. Any saved account data will still be available after cancelling. If there is no activity on your Garmin account across all our sites and services for at least 2 years, your account may be deleted. For more details, see - Inactive Account Deletion.
Devices have to be activated again in order to function on the Iridium satellite network and would incur an activation fee.