repeated media reports of Google’s disregard for the privacy of the general public led to a push for open source, community driven alternatives to Google Maps. The biggest contender, now used by Google’s direct competitors and open source projects alike is OpenStreetMap.
- OsmAnd
OsmAnd is a fantastic choice when searching for an alternative to Google Maps. It is available on both Android and iOS devices with both free and paid subscription options. Free accounts have full access to maps and navigation features, but choosing a paid subscription will allow you unlimited map downloads and increases the frequency of updates.
All subscriptions can take advantage of turn-by-turn navigation, route planning, map markers, and all the favorite features you expect from a map and navigation app in 2024. By making the jump to a paid subscription you get some extra features like topo maps, nautical depths, and even point-of-interest data imported from Wikipedia.
- Organic Maps
Organic Maps is a great choice primarily because they offer support for all features of their iOS and Android apps completely offline. This means if you have an old phone laying around, you can install the app, download the maps you need and presto! You now have an indepth digital map in the palm of your hand without needing to worry about losing or damaging your primary mobile device when exploring the outdoors.
Organic Maps tugs our heartstrings by their commitment to privacy. The app can run entirely without a network connection and comes with no ads, tracking, data collection, and best of all no registration.
- Locus Maps
Our third, and last recommendation today is Locus Maps. Locus Maps is built by outdoor enthusiasts for the same community. Hiking, biking, and geocaching are all mainstays of the Locus App, alongside standard street map navigation as well.
Locus is available in its complete version for Android, and an early version is available for iOS which is continuing to be worked on. Locus Maps offers navigation, tracking and routes, and also information on points-of-interest you might visit or stumble upon during your adventures.
Organic maps has been a really good app in my experience 👍
The only problem I have is the search. It’s very hard to find anything sometimes.
Yeah the search is not forgiving. One typo is enough to ruin the search results.
How well an area is mapped also matters a lot for search though. I now live somewhere that has all addresses in the country mapped from a government source. I didn’t before, and it’s so much easier now because at least I can just punch in the address and I’ll find whatever I’m looking for.
Because it’s based on OSM that anyone can commit changes to, it sometimes has areas mapped that Google maps don’t. On my last skiing trip made everyone install it, because Google maps just didn’t have a proper map of the resort we were staying in. Also works offline, very convenient when you only have broadband internet in the hotel.
I’ve been trying Organic Maps with Android Auto, and am struggling with it.
Search is hit and miss, which I can deal with, but its GPS tracking is wacky. It has Location and Precise Location permissions, but for some reason it’s not as accurate as Google Maps or Sygic - its movement tracking is jerky, it will randomly put me off the road or on another road. And when stopped, it will sometimes point me in the opposite direction or even spin me around a couple of times lol.
It makes it hard to trust ☹️