Direct comparison
Aster vs RaceMap
Aster is a phone-first live tracking platform with an editorial layer baked in. Same phone-tracking capability, one monthly price rather than a modular quote, plus a story feed and watcher experience designed for the audience rather than 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 and native iOS / Android) | Phone app plus hardware trackers, modular |
| Pricing (500-rider event) | £149.99 a month organiser tier | Quoted per event, plus per-tracker SIM costs |
| Pricing model | Monthly subscription, sized by registrations | Modular, per map activation and per tracker SIM |
| Try before race day | A free club meet-up runs the whole flow | Trial events, capped, see their current terms |
| Editorial layer | Story feed, race recaps, athlete profiles | Not in product scope |
| Watcher experience | Mobile-first live page, story feed, push notifications | Functional tracking map |
Why organisers choose Aster over RaceMap
Pricing you can quote on the phone.
RaceMap prices modularly, by map activation and by tracker SIM, so a quote takes a spreadsheet. 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 and no 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 comes with it.
RaceMap stops at "your race appears on a map". Aster keeps going, with a story feed for race recaps, athlete profiles, and push notifications when a watcher's rider passes a feed station, so the audience comes back after the finish.
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 and watcher experience as part of the package, Aster is the better fit.
Common questions
Is Aster cheaper than RaceMap?
Compare their current quote against ours and include the SIM line, because that is where the two models diverge. Aster is one monthly plan with no per-tracker cost, so the answer holds steady across a season of events. RaceMap's per-tracker model spreads over a bigger base at the very large end (5,000+ riders), so ask them for a quote at your field size as well as reading ours.
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, and running both is the normal shape.
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.