onX SOS Adds 24/7 Rescue Coordination and Evacuation Coverage to Offroad and Hunt Apps

onX Launches SOS Emergency Assistance for Safer Backcountry Adventures

The new in-app service adds 24/7 rescue coordination and evacuation coverage to onX Offroad and onX Hunt, with onX Backcountry support planned for later this summer.

onX is adding a new safety feature to the same navigation platform many outdoor users already rely on to plan routes, scout terrain, check access, and travel beyond reliable cell service.

The company announced the launch of onX SOS, a new in-app emergency assistance subscription powered by Overwatch x Rescue.

The service connects users to 24/7 rescue coordination and evacuation coverage through Overwatch x Rescue’s Crisis Response Center, operated by FocusPoint International.

onX SOS is available now as an add-on purchase in onX Offroad and onX Hunt. onX Backcountry support is planned for later this summer.

The subscription costs $49.99 per year, is billed separately from an onX membership, and is available to all onX Offroad and onX Hunt account holders, including Basic users.

For off-road enthusiasts and adventure seekers, the idea’s simple: the same app used to build a route, mark campsites, check access points, and navigate beyond cell coverage can now help start a professional emergency response when a trip goes sideways.

How onX SOS Works

When a user activates SOS inside the onX app, the app generates a pre-populated SMS message with the user’s GPS coordinates and account information. That message is sent to Overwatch x Rescue’s 24/7 Crisis Response Center via cellular or satellite SMS.

From there, a trained coordinator responds by SMS, gathers more information, contacts local responders, coordinates the rescue, and stays in touch with the person in distress as long as the device supports two-way messaging.

“We designed onX SOS around a simple insight: nearly all of our customers consider safety to be a critical part of their outdoor experience,” said Preethi Ramani, onX Chief Product Officer. “So we built access to emergency assistance right into the app.

Whether you’re finding a new perch to glass from, peak to summit, or trail to ride, onX SOS goes wherever you do. And if something goes wrong, even miles away from another human or cell service, a professional emergency coordination team is just a few taps away.”

The service was designed for mobile devices with cellular or satellite SMS messaging capabilities. Users can activate SOS from their phone and add one backup satellite communicator device to their subscription, such as Garmin inReach, SPOT X, or Zoleo.

onX notes that SOS works alongside a Garmin inReach messaging plan. Users still need to maintain their Garmin subscription to send SOS messages from a Garmin device, while onX SOS adds professional rescue coordination and financial coverage for eligible rescue costs.

What’s Included

onX SOS combines rescue coordination with financial coverage for eligible services. According to onX, the service has no cap on covered rescue and evacuation costs and uses a first-payer model, meaning Overwatch x Rescue pays eligible providers directly.

Key details include:

• $49.99 per year.

• Available in onX Offroad and onX Hunt now.

• onX Backcountry support planned for later this summer.

• Available across all onX Offroad and Hunt membership tiers, including Basic.

• 24/7 emergency coordination through Overwatch x Rescue.

• Cellular or satellite SMS connectivity is required to send an SOS.

• No deductible, claims process, or out-of-pocket expense for covered services.

• Coverage for eligible search-and-rescue and medically necessary evacuation.

• Option to add one backup satellite communicator device.

onX says Overwatch x Rescue has more than 15 years of emergency response experience and has coordinated at least 15,000 rescues across more than 220 countries and territories. The company also cites Government Accountability Office data showing the average U.S. air ambulance transport costs about $36,400, an expense many private health plans don’t cover.

“At Overwatch x Rescue, we believe going further outdoors should never mean facing the risks alone,” said Greg Pearson, CEO of FocusPoint International. “By powering onX SOS, our team brings decades of rescue coordination experience to the adventurers who rely on onX every day, so they can explore with confidence, knowing that an expert team is ready to respond if the need arises.”

Why It Matters

The launch comes as more outdoor users are traveling into places where cell coverage drops out fast. A recent onX analysis found that more than 646 million acres across the United States, roughly 28% of the country’s land mass, have no cellular coverage.

The company also reports that 77% to 91% of onX customers recreate in signal-free areas, and more than half of onX Offroad users have needed assistance in the field.

That makes onX SOS a practical addition for drivers, hunters, hikers, riders, skiers, and anyone else building trips around remote routes and off-grid terrain.

A few important notes:

• onX advises users to call 911 or local emergency services first when they can safely do so.

• Financial coverage applies only to the subscriber.

• If someone else in the group has an emergency, a subscriber can trigger SOS on that person’s behalf, but that person needs their own onX SOS subscription for rescue and evacuation costs to be covered.

• Vehicle towing and recovery costs aren’t covered.

• Financial coverage for physical rescue responses is limited to two per year.

• Each physical response is limited to 10 calendar days of assistance.

Availability

onX SOS is available now for onX Offroad and onX Hunt users on iOS and Android. onX Backcountry support is planned for later this summer.

The subscription is tied to a user’s onX account, which allows access to SOS across onX Offroad, onX Hunt, and onX Backcountry once the feature is available in each app.

To learn more or subscribe, visit onxmaps.com/sos.

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