Direct comparison
Aster vs RaceMap
Aster is a phone-first live tracking platform with an editorial layer baked in. Same phone-tracking capability, dramatically simpler pricing, plus a story feed and watcher experience designed for the audience, not the organiser back-office.
What RaceMap is
We won't trash the competitor. Here's an honest summary.
RaceMap is a B2B SaaS tracking platform for events, charging per-map activation plus per-tracker SIM fees. It supports both phone-app and hardware tracker workflows and is used by larger event organisers across Europe. RaceMap's site →
Side by side
| Feature | Aster | RaceMap |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking model | Rider's phone (web + native iOS / Android) | Phone app + hardware trackers, modular |
| Pricing (500-rider event) | £149.99/month organiser tier | ~€500+ base, plus per-tracker SIM costs |
| Pricing model | Monthly subscription, sized by registrations | Per map activation + per API + per tracker SIM + per data MB |
| Free preview | Build and test with up to 3 registrations | 2-device cap on free trial events |
| Editorial layer | Story feed, race recaps, athlete profiles, sponsor frames | Not in product scope |
| Watcher experience | Mobile-first live page, story feed, push notifications | Functional tracking map |
| Sponsor surface | Branded tracker pages, sponsor frames, editorial co-production | Limited |
Why organisers choose Aster over RaceMap
Pricing you can quote on the phone.
RaceMap pricing requires a spreadsheet — €100 per map activation + €200 per API + per-tracker SIMs + per-MB-SMS. Aster is a single monthly Event Organiser plan: £79.99 for up to 100 registrations, £149.99 for 500, or £199.99 for 1,000. No tracker rentals or per-rider charge.
Predictable monthly cost.
Aster’s registration cap applies to each event, while one monthly plan covers your calendar. There are no tracker rentals, SIM fees, map-activation charges or per-rider charges to reconcile.
The editorial layer is the moat.
RaceMap stops at "your race appears on a map". Aster keeps going: story feed for race recaps, athlete profiles your sponsors can frame, push notifications when their rider passes a feed station. The audience comes back; the sponsors notice.
Phone-first means no procurement headache.
RaceMap supports phones too, but their commercial centre of gravity is the tracker rental. Aster is phone-first by design. No SIMs to manage. No trackers to ship. No "device returned in working order" line on the cost sheet.
Being honest
When RaceMap is the right call
RaceMap is the right tool for very large mass-participation events (5,000+ riders, multi-day stage races with complex timing integrations) where their modular pricing and tracker rental options give you fine-grained control. They're a real platform with real depth. For smaller events — and for organisers who want the editorial + watcher experience as part of the package — Aster is the better fit.
Common questions
Is Aster cheaper than RaceMap?
For typical event sizes (200–2,000 riders), yes — usually by a factor of 2–3x once SIM costs are included. RaceMap's pricing is more competitive at the very large end (5,000+ riders) where their per-tracker model spreads over a bigger base.
Does Aster integrate with my timing system?
Yes. Aster sits alongside RaceResult, MyLaps, ChronoTrack, or chip-on-the-line setups. We handle the live tracking and watcher experience; your timing partner handles the official splits. The two systems don't conflict — most of our organisers run both.
Can I embed Aster on my event website?
Yes. The watch link is embeddable as a widget on your own site, so your event domain stays the canonical destination and Aster handles the live tracking surface.
What about hardware trackers?
Aster is phone-first by design. If your event has riders without smartphones (or where you genuinely need a satellite uplink for wilderness sections), we'll talk through the right setup with you — for most events, the phone is the right answer.
Ready to put your race on Aster?
30-minute call. We'll walk through your race, the dashboard, and what a launch on Aster would look like.