Google Maps: 5 alternatives compared

If you are looking for a good alternative to Google Maps, we will show you the five best options here.

Waze: The most popular alternative to Google Maps

If you drive a car, you need good navigation. A good solution is the Waze application.

• Waze is a community-based app. This means that users of the app enter traffic and street information while the system is running. Sometimes you will be asked to confirm such information while driving.
• Waze is completely free to use. However, they must be online - data volume is used accordingly. Offline use is not possible.
• You can save the addresses that you visit regularly as favorites. You can also save future trips - the app automatically calculates your departure time according to the usual traffic volume and sends you a reminder on time.
• It is possible to search for restaurants, cafes, hotels, ATMs and petrol stations along your route.
• You can forward your current position and the estimated time of arrival to your friends.
• Waze offers you an alternate route in case there are unexpected delays on your way.

HERE WeGo: Navigating from Nokia

Nokia has launched HERE cards. But after the company withdrew from the mobile market, the car manufacturers Daimler, Audi and BMW took over the cards and developed them further under the name HERE WeGo.

• You can find your card data either via the browser or free of charge via the apps for iOS and Android.
• HERE WeGo shows you routes, recommended places near your destination, the weather and traffic.
• As with the other alternatives, you have the choice between paths for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers.

OpenStreetMap: An open world map as an alternative to Google Maps

The OpenStreetMap project has existed for over ten years. Users collect their own map data to get the most detailed map of the world.

• OpenStreetMap is free and free under an open license. The latter means that you can print the cards as needed and share them with other people.
• You can enter your destination address similar to Google Maps. You will also receive information about the road surface and possible one-way streets. You can see nearby sights, industrial areas and railway nodes in a simple list using different categories.
• If you want to display a route instead of a destination, OpenStreetMap differentiates between pedestrians, cyclists and cars.
• The site is financed by donations and does not need advertising. If you are interested, you can collect further map data for the project during so-called mapping parties, correct existing data, or work as a programmer.
• There is no official app, but several apps use OpenStreetMap's maps, such as Maps.me.

Maps.me: Navigation based on OpenStreetMap

Formerly known as MapsWithMe, Maps.me brings you offline maps with navigation on your smartphone. There is no web or PC application.

• maps.me is based on the resources of OpenStreetMap and supplements this with information on traffic volume and public transport.
• This application is not limited to drivers. You can also use it to navigate while running or cycling.
• All maps are available to you for navigation completely free of charge.
• Maps.me also has a number of other functions: saving addresses, searching for places of interest, petrol stations, etc. and sharing your own position with others is also possible.
• You cannot use Maps.me in the browser on your PC. But there are apps for Android and iOS.

NavMii: Free maps only in the basic version

NavMii shows you sights and the traffic situation in offline mode.

• With this mobile app you can find maps for more than 85 countries - even in offline mode.
• The app mainly uses the information from OpenStreetMap, but supplements this with community-based information on speed limits, speed cameras, traffic jams and much more.
• In the free version of NavMii you have to fight advertising. To remove them, you pay 1.74 euros. A further 3.31 euros will be charged for navigation with voice output.
• NavMii can be found as an app for your Android or iOS device.

Conclusion: The best alternatives to Google Maps

• If you only need a map for your routes, you will find an uncomplicated alternative to Google Maps on OpenStreetMap.
• If you want to access maps offline while on the move, Here WeGo is a good alternative - especially if you want to explore the area on foot on vacation.
• As a driver, you benefit most from the always up-to-date information at Waze.
• In the event that your data volume does not allow online use or you are abroad, you can use Maps.me with no worries.

When cycling, it is best to switch to navigation apps that have been specially developed for this. In the next article we will show you a comparison of five apps.

$config[ads_text5] not found