You go somewhere
A reward lives at a real place on the map. You walk there and claim it in person when GPS puts you in range. Steps on a treadmill earn nothing; a walk to a bakery earns a cookie.
Compare
trouvé vs Geocaching (Geocaching.com)
Geocaching is the original location-based treasure hunt: millions of hidden containers worldwide, found with GPS and logged online. Drop hunting on trouvé borrows the hunt and changes the treasure: the find is a reward from a local business, claimed in person, or Zapp toward a chance at gift cards. Geocachers sometimes call it dropcaching.
Live in Missoula · facts verified October 2, 2026 · coverage October 2, 2026
What makes trouvé different
Every app on this list is walk-to-earn. trouvé is walk-to-find: you go drop hunting.
Nothing to grind
No ads to watch, no surveys, no games, no tap-before-midnight. The walk is the whole mechanic.
Real things from real places
In Missoula, Montana, rewards are items from local businesses, funded by the business itself. Everywhere else, you earn Zapp and a chance at gift cards through sweepstakes.
Built to be closed
trouvé is the only app we know of that is happy when you put the phone away. Find something, claim it, go see where the day takes you.
| Category | Geocaching (Geocaching.com) | trouvé |
|---|---|---|
| What you earn | The find itself, a logbook signature, and online stats; no material reward | Zapp (the app's points) for every drop you walk to, redeemable for sweepstakes entries with a chance at gift cards from Amazon, Chipotle, and other national brands. Plus free items from local businesses, claimed in person, in Missoula, Montana. |
| Where it works | Worldwide, millions of caches | Zapp and sweepstakes: Missoula, Montana. Partner rewards: Missoula, Montana. Next: Bozeman and Boise. |
| How you earn it | Navigate to coordinates, find a hidden physical container, sign the log | Walk to a drop on the map and claim it in person when GPS puts you in range. No step counting, no ads, surveys, or games. |
| Are rewards guaranteed? | There is no reward beyond the find | Zapp is guaranteed per claim. Gift cards are sweepstakes prizes, not guaranteed. Local partner rewards are guaranteed once claimed. |
| Who pays for the reward | Volunteers hide caches; Geocaching.com offers a paid premium membership | trouvé funds Zapp and sweepstakes; the local business funds its own reward |
| Cost to you | Free basic; paid premium | Free. No purchase necessary for sweepstakes; free entry method on trouveapp.com/sweepstakes. |
| Verified in person | Yes, by finding the physical cache | Yes, every claim |
| Best for | The hunt for its own sake, anywhere in the world | A reason to walk somewhere real, with a gift-card shot everywhere and a real local reward where partners are live |
Where Geocaching (Geocaching.com) is better
- A 25-year community and millions of caches worldwide
- The find is a real physical challenge, not a GPS radius
- Works in the backcountry, far from any business
- Available everywhere today; trouvé's partner rewards are live in Missoula, Montana
Where trouvé is better
- You earn by going somewhere, not by carrying your phone; every claim is in person, so nothing is farmed from a couch
- No ads, surveys, or games to earn more; the walk is the whole mechanic, and nothing has to be converted before midnight
- Real items from local businesses on top of Zapp, claimed at the counter
- Local partners in Missoula, Montana keep your attention and money in your own city
- No container to maintain, muggle, or replace
- The find comes with something real: a cookie, a plant, a pint, or a shot at a gift card
- It points you at the businesses in your own town, not a tupperware under a log
Which should you use?
If you love the hunt for its own sake and want it everywhere on earth, Geocaching. If you want the same instinct pointed at the places in your own town, with a reward waiting at the counter, go drop hunting. Most geocachers will enjoy both.
Get trouvé
Live in Missoula.
FAQ
- Is trouvé a geocaching alternative?
- Do I need to find a hidden container?
- Can I use trouvé where there are no partners?
Geocaching (Geocaching.com) is a trademark of its owner. trouvé is not affiliated with or endorsed by Geocaching (Geocaching.com). Information about Geocaching (Geocaching.com) verified October 2, 2026; tell us if something has changed. Geocaching is a registered trademark of Groundspeak, Inc. trouvé is not affiliated with Groundspeak.