Best android gps app

Top 15 Free GPS Navigation Apps in 2021 | Android & iOS

There are so many GPS navigation apps available to download on your smartphone. It’s often difficult to decide which ones are worth taking up storage space, and which ones aren’t worth your time or money. Here, in no particular order, we give you the pros and cons of 15 apps that are worth a look and will get you where you need to go. Some are simply for navigation, while others have integrated features like location sharing on social media or routes for backwoods hiking. The basic versions of all of them are free, although many of them offer premium features for a monthly or yearly fee.

1. Google Maps

The granddaddy of GPS navigation options for almost any type of transportation.

Pros:

• Works for many forms of transportation
• Tells you about traffic issues
• Gives you departure and arrival times for driving.
• Real-time ETAs based on traffic conditions
• Available offline

Cons:

• No social media sharing function
• Some reviews complain about next-turn directions that are missing or incorrect, with people missing their exits.
• GPS can drain your phone battery
• If you make a wrong turn, it will often redirect you back to the original route, even if a new route would be shorter.
• User reviews from 2021 mention issues with app updates like the removal of features like upcoming turns and automatically changing the route due to accidents.

Download availability: iOS and Android

2. Waze

This app stands apart due to its crowd-sourced traffic information.

• Lets you know about accidents, construction, police, road closures and other traffic-related items in real-time so you can choose an alternate route.
• Users can share current gas prices.
• Feature to connect the app to Facebook so your location is posted in your timeline.
• Can save you time by allowing you to find the most efficient route based on traffic conditions.

• Icons for roadwork and other obstructions can clutter up the map, obscuring your view.
• Social aspects can be distracting if you are getting a lot of notifications with sounds.
• Phone battery can be drained quickly because the app is always updating with new information.

Download availability: All smartphones and tablets with GPS functionality

3. MapQuest

One of the original navigation services in desktop format also exists in app form.

• Focus is mostly on maps and driving directions, although it also offers turn-by-turn navigation and traffic information.
• Offers multiple routes to choose from based on what you prefer
• Can tell you where to find best gas prices.
• Allows you to search for and book hotel and restaurant reservations in the app.

• Pop-up ads turn some users off.
• Map size can be too small to see details
• Mobile version can give inaccurate directions.
• Not available offline.

Download availability: iOS, Android

4. Maps.Me

This app is for the globetrotter, as its main feature is high-quality maps around the world for use offline.

• Offers an array of features including auto-follow mode, turn-by-turn directions and traffic data.
• Full offline functionality, including a search function, navigation, and the ability to find things like restaurants or ATMs.
• When online you can share your location with friends.
• Because everything is offline, this app uses less battery power than others that run in the background.

• Businesses on the maps are not updated frequently.
• Users have reported that updates have made the maps load slowly, the interface is difficult to use, and maps can be hard to read.

Download availability: iOS, Android

5. Scout GPS

Bills itself as the “only social navigation app”.

• Has normal features including turn-by-turn navigation, real-time traffic information and speed updates
• Offers social features like nearby restaurants recommended by users.
• Can text people automatically to let them know your estimated arrival time.

• Basic version is free, but premium features like GPS cost $4.99 per month or $24.99 per year.
• App only works in the US at the moment
• Can decrease the battery life of your phone due to the app running in the background.
• Some users have noted safety and privacy concerns due to location sharing.

Download availability: iOS, Android

6. InRoute Route Planner

For the control-freaks out there, this app is good for multi-stop, non-direct trips.

• Plot your course dependent on weather, elevation and road curviness.
• Drop pins in places you want to go and the app configures a route.
• Search along a route for things like hotels and gas stations.
• Turn-by-turn directions also factor in severe weather.
• Great features for motorcycle rides, RV and truck routes.

• Free version only lets you plan routes with up to 8 locations.
• inRoute Pro costs $3.99 per month or $39.99 per year for routes with up to 150 locations. You can, however, test it for 1 week for free.
• Eats up your battery by running in the background.
• Sometimes hard to get back on track if you go off the route.

Download availability: iOS only

7. Apple Maps

The most direct rival of Google Maps, due to it coming preloaded on iPhones.

Pros:

• Provides features like turn-by-turn directions and voice navigation.
• 3D map view for directions includes buildings.
• Offers a Flyover tool to give you a virtual tour of your destination.
• Weather and air quality for your destination are shown on the map.

Cons:

• Some users say the exit directions and information about businesses are inaccurate.
• No option for offline use of maps.
• Look Around street view function doesn’t have images for everywhere in the US and is only available in 5 countries.

Download availability: iOS only

8. MapFactor Navigator

This one is only for offline use, allowing you to download maps for countries, regions and cities around the world.

• The maps are up to date and the points of interest database is vast due to OpenStreetMap data.
• Has current maps for most countries in the world due to the OSM data.

• Doesn’t give you up-to-date traffic information.
• Some reviewers say maps have inaccuracies, are slow to load, and voice navigation sometimes doesn’t work.
• Features like alternate routes, no ads and live HD traffic information require a yearly or monthly subscription.

Download availability: Android only

9. CoPilot GPS Navigation

Focuses on route planning not only for cars, but also RVs and larger trucks.

• Customizable routes for all vehicle types, taking road width or low clearance into account.
• Can be used offline to find locations like restaurants.
• Premium version has audio navigation, traffic information and 3D maps.
• Works worldwide with an additional subscription.

• Premium map and traffic subscriptions cost between $13.99 to $99.99 per year.
• Reviewers have said some routes don’t take large vehicles into account, and the search function needs work.

Download availability: iOS, Android

10. OsmAnd

Map-focused app using OpenStreetMap data.

• Works online or offline.
• Can upload a GPX file and use it as a route.
• Features voice guidance, lane guidance, ETA and even cycling routes.
• Has a plug-in for ski resort routes in some countries.

• Some users have complained about a poor interface and difficulty finding app functions.
• Address search function needs improvement.

Download availability: iOS, Android

11. TomTom GO Navigation

The smartphone app from the popular GPS device maker.

• Features live traffic information, voice navigation, offline functions and 3D maps.
• Has speed camera warnings where it’s allowed.
• Includes maps for other countries, in case you will be taking an international road trip.
• Allows you to share your estimated time of arrival with family and friends.

• Free, but only for a trial period. Then you have to sign up for a subscription of 1 month for $1.99, 6 months for $8.99, or 12 months for $12.99.
• Users have reported the search function needs improvement, it can load slowly, and sometimes gives odd routes.

Download availability: iOS, Android

12. HERE WeGo Maps & Navigation

A GPS app targeted towards city navigation.

• Can be used offline worldwide.
• Can save frequently visiting locations in a collection.
• Gives traffic information.

• Users report that after an update in 2021, offline functions like search and accurate routing no longer work.
• Has ads.
• In some models of smartphones, maps don’t go full screen.

Download availability: iOS, Android

13. Gaia GPS

Explore backroads and download hiking routes with this GPS app that excels at offline navigation.

• Gives topographic and road maps.
• Can share maps and waypoints with others.
• Offers features for outdoor activities like hiking, skiing, hunting, camping, mountaineering, and even for firefighters and search and rescue teams.
• Has offline capability.

• Free version has limited map selection and no offline capability. You will need a Premium subscription for $39.99 per year for more maps and features.
• Focus on the outdoors and offroad locations rather than driving routes.

Download availability: Android, iOS

14. Karta GPS

Map download is free, and you can customize the app with different voices and navigation icons.

• Can be used offline.
• Calculates routes using traffic information and gives turn-by-turn directions.
• Gives warning of upcoming speed-controlled zones and traffic alerts.
• Helps you find parking.
• Find restaurants and tourist attractions.

• Some users have said the navigation can be inaccurate and it doesn’t show construction or other traffic hazards.
• Has ads unless you pay for an ad-free version.

Download availability: iOS, Android

15. Polaris GPS Navigation

The navigation app for outdoor adventurers and water enthusiasts.

• Gives turn-by-turn driving directions based on information from other navigation services.
• No limits to offline map downloads.
• Provides navigation for outdoor activities like offroad driving, hiking, biking and boating, even in remote locations.
• Has a compass for waypoint navigation.

• This is not an app you will use on a daily basis.
• Some users say the display is old-fashioned looking, but if you plan to go on a trip off the grid, it’s worth downloading.
• Premium version, GPS Waypoints Navigator, is ad-free and has added features, but costs $8.99 to download.

Download availability: Android only

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Best offline GPS and Maps apps for Android

There’s no shortage of Android GPS and navigation apps available on the Play Store, but not all maps are created equal. This is why we’ve put together a shortlist of only the best navigation and mapping apps for you to check out. Many will work offline as well as online, so you don’t need to worry about having a constant data connection either, provided you plan ahead a little.

Jump to:

Google Maps

Google Maps offers such a solid array of features that many people won’t need to look any further than the Android default. Along with turn-by-turn directions, multiple view options, detailed route information, live traffic updates and everything else you’d expect from a self-respecting navigation app, Google Maps really does offer nearly everything.

However, if you want to use it offline, you’ll need to download the area maps that you want to use in advance. If you do that, you obviously don’t get those traffic updates anymore though, as they require a connection. Google Maps also has the ability to download multiple areas to your phone and to use Google Maps in ‘Wi-Fi only’ mode when you have a spotty network connection.

It also now allows you to store maps on your external SD card, freeing up some space on your phone. If you’re not driving, it offers up walking, cycling, and public transport options for getting you to your destination, as well as quotes from multiple car services.

Data-starved explorers now have even more options to use Google Maps offline with the release of Google Maps Go, a lighter version of the original app that will allow you conserve resources on your device. Even if it is not normally offered for your smartphone, you can still get Google Maps Go. Click here to find out how.

Google Maps lets you download multiple areas for offline use. / © NextPit Maps — Navigation & Transit

Another popular navigation app that also features offline support is Waze. Waze was so popular that Google decided to buy it. Whilst, for now at least, the two maps apps have been kept separate by the big dogs at Mountain View, some features are starting to be passed between the two services. Waze does not offer any built-in map downloading as Google Maps does, but you can still access get the job done with Waze without an internet connection. Here’s the workaround.

The method for Waze is not as simple as with Google Maps, but it still works. / © ANDROIDPIT

open your Waze app and press the Search icon in the bottom left-hand corner of your screen. Next, tap Settings in the top right-hand corner. Find your way over to Advanced settings and then Display & map. Scroll down a little bit until you see the option for Data transfer, then make sure Download traffic info is selected. Now, when you search for a destination or a route, you can store the route data in the app’s cache memory, and it will still work offline. Just make sure you don’t close the app!

Sygic GPS Navigation & Maps

Sygic is one of the most popular offline navigation apps on Android, and with good reason. The TomTom-powered app offers high-definition maps for most countries in the world, and it’s regularly updated to keep it up-to-date with the newest version of Android.

It’s free to download and there’s a seven-day trial, but if you want to keep using it after that you’ll need to either pay for premium features and traffic updates, or just pay for the features. If you don’t, what the app offers for free is considerably more basic.

Among the key features are offline map navigation, voice-activated GPS with route guidance, 3D mapping and imagery, dynamic lane assistance and the option to project your GPS navigation onto the windshield of your car.

Throw in some robust routing options, SOS mode, parking info and more than a million POIs to navigate to and Sygic is a strong contender for best offline GPS. It’s also now been integrated with Glympse, if you want to share your route or ETA with friends.

There are free features, but you’ll want the Premium ones. / © NextPit GPS Navigation & Offline Maps Sygic

CoPilot GPS

CoPilot’s GPS app is just for drivers, but if that’s what you need, then it’s almost certainly got the features you’re looking for. However, they don’t come for free. Well, they do, but only for seven days — after that, you’ll need to pay for a Premium subscription to keep access to all the features.

If you don’t want to, you can still use offline mapping and turn-by-turn navigation for free, but you only get the 2D version of the maps, and you’ll be missing a few other key components too. Premium users get 3D mapping. In the full version of the app, there sheer variety of customizable route and alert options is impressive, if potentially a little overwhelming for some. There is actually an option for using walking routes, but it’s not the primary purpose of the app, and as such, not really what it’s best at.

The breadth of full street-level maps for offline download will be what appeals to many people, though you’ll need to purchase additional countries individually, or in a pack like ‘whole of Europe’, for example. If you purchase a map, you also get 12-months free access to CoPilot’s live ‘ActiveTraffic’ service.

If you need to purchase multiple maps for driving in different countries around the world, CoPilot could get expensive, but for most regular users it’s not going to break the bank too much in comparison to a standalone sat-nav unit. It’s considerably more expensive than free alternatives, though.

CoPilot has an impressive set of options, but it’s not the easiest to use. / © NextPit CoPilot GPS — Navigation

TomTom GO

At this point, TomTom is a venerable player in the navigation industry, and while the company might not be spending as much time focused on its standalone GPS units nowadays, that doesn’t mean it isn’t honing the rest of its business. What this means to you is an up-to-date mapping service with pedigree in getting people from A to B and a multitude of routing options. As with others though, if you want that unfettered list of options, you’ll need to hand over some real cash.

To start with, you get 50 miles of use with full features, including live traffic information — if you want to get unlimited mileage for a year, you’ll need to pay to upgrade. The price varies around the world, but in the US it’s currently $19.99 for one year and $44.99 for a three-year subscription.

Along with voice guidance, offline routing, live traffic updates and full 3D building imagery, maps are available for over 100 countries, too.

TomTom’s maps offer full 3D imagery, making it even easier to get to the right address. / © NextPit TomTom GPS Navigation Traffic

MAPS.ME

MAPS.ME is designed with offline functionality in mind. The navigational app boasts comprehensive coverage of areas all over the world, offline search and GPS navigation. Business, services and various points of interests are also market throughout.

MAPS.ME comes with a full suite of features, but you will see ads. / © NextPit

The app is updated daily by the OpenStreetMap community. The contributors to the open source project make sure that MAPS.ME stays fresh. Although MAPS.ME is free to download (and has pledged to always remain so), it does contain ads.

MapFactor GPS Navigation Maps

MapFactor GPS has no online map function, but it’s great for offline navigation. First, you’ll have to download maps while you still have internet, of course. Once the maps are downloaded, you can search them manually or ask for directions by using the Navigate tool, which also has some extra features such as a live odometer, route simulation, and route replays.

MapFactor offers more than 200 individual maps to choose from, with over half being in Europe and the Americas. The maps are organized by country, but densely populated areas have sub-regions available. Some maps even come with the location of speed cameras — handy information for drivers! The map data itself is pulled from OpenStreetMap.

What’s your favorite offline GPS and sat-nav app? Let us know in the comments below!

This article has been rewritten since first publication. Comments below may not reflect current content.

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