Recent EU regulations have led to changes in how users in Europe and the EEA interact with Google Maps and other tech services.
Following the entry of the Digital Markets Act, European users have seen the removal of direct links to Google Maps from Google search results.
With this being said, it may be interesting to explore alternatives to Google Maps, as there are quite a few more good platforms to use and try out:
1. Waze
Waze is a community-driven navigation app offering real-time road alerts and updates. This user-friendly alternative to Google Maps alerts you to traffic, construction, crashes, and police to improve your driving experience.
It provides instant route changes to dodge traffic, ensuring quicker travel times. With Waze, you also get updates on the cheapest gas stations along your route and can listen to your favourite music or podcasts directly through the app.
Ideal for everyday commuters, Waze fosters a sense of community by allowing drivers to share road information, making every journey smoother and more enjoyable.
2. Apple Maps
Apple Maps offers a streamlined navigation experience across multiple devices. This alternative to Google Maps provides driving, transit, walking, and cycling directions, catering to various modes of transport.
With features like Look Around for virtual exploration and detailed city experiences, it enhances travel planning.
Apple Maps integrates seamlessly with CarPlay for safer driving and puts importance on privacy, so location history remains confidential.
Additionally, it includes interactive globes, place cards, and expertly curated guides, making it a comprehensive tool for discovering new places and navigating with confidence.
3. HERE WeGo
HERE WeGo is a user-friendly navigation app designed to simplify your travels. Offering both online and offline capabilities, it ensures you can navigate confidently, even without an internet connection.
Prioritising your privacy, HERE WeGo delivers real-time traffic updates, dynamic ETA calculations, and multi-stop guidance. The app supports seamless, turn-by-turn directions with voice commands in various languages, lane assistance, and speed limit warnings.
Downloadable maps for different regions enhance its offline navigation feature, making HERE WeGo an excellent companion for frequent travelers, vacationers, or daily commuters looking for a reliable mapping solution.
4. OpenStreetMap
OpenStreetMap (OSM) is a collaborative project creating a free, editable map of the world, built by volunteers largely from scratch and released with an open-content license.
Putting a focus on local knowledge, OSM offers detailed information about roads, trails, cafes, and railway stations globally. The platform is supported by a diverse and passionate community, including GIS professionals and humanitarian groups.
As open data, it permits usage for any purpose, provided there is attribution to OSM and its contributors. It’s an ideal choice for users seeking an alternative to mainstream map services, offering rich, community-driven content.
5. MapQuest
MapQuest offers a fresh approach to navigation and travel planning. Beyond traditional map directions, it provides tools for managing life’s unpredicted events, enhancing daily routines with recommendations, reservations, and real-time rerouting.
MapQuest creates connections, aiding travelers from point A to point B, and beyond. It encourages exploration and re-experiencing familiar places with fresh perspectives, showing personal growth through travel.
Ideal for those seeking a blend of practical navigation and enriching life experiences, MapQuest redefines journey planning with a focus on user relationships and discovery.
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6. Bing Maps
The Bing Maps API platform offers diverse, location-aware application capabilities with high-quality geolocation, AI-powered search, and extensive geospatial data.
It’s designed to enhance various scenarios from site planning and real estate to routing for personal, commuter, and commercial travel. With the integration of Microsoft’s Power BI, users can visualise location data and gain spatial insights.
Boasting over 20 years of experience, Microsoft guarantees 99.9% uptime and provides round-the-clock support.
The Bing Maps API is a compelling choice for businesses looking to leverage geocoding, advanced routing, and logistics tools in their map-based applications.
7. 7. OsmAnd
OsmAnd is an offline navigation app offering detailed maps worldwide. Users can enjoy turn-by-turn voice guidance without roaming charges, making it ideal for travel.
The app supports bike, pedestrian, and public transport modes, enhancing outdoor activities with routes and POI displays.
OsmAnd prioritises user privacy with offline functionality and updates maps monthly, ensuring accuracy. The app includes features like lane guidance, speed limit warnings, and optional contour lines for hiking.
8. Sygic
Sygic GPS Navigation is an offline navigation app, trusted by over 200 million drivers. It incorporates advanced technologies like augmented reality for safer, more intuitive directions.
The app ensures seamless car connectivity, allowing drivers to display navigation directly on their car’s dashboard. Sygic includes specialised versions for various vehicles, including trucks and RVs, and integrates travel planning with global maps.
Sygic offers solutions for personal use, fleet management, driver scoring, and smart mobility, making it a versatile tool for both individual travelers and businesses seeking reliable navigation solutions.
9. TomTom
TomTom GO Navigation is a premium, pocket-sized navigation app that offers real-time traffic updates, speed camera alerts, and offline maps for seamless travel.
It ensures you stay informed about the road ahead, making your driving experience smoother and safer.
Whether you’re planning an adventure or updating your in-dash navigation maps, TomTom provides all the tools you need.
With this app, you can plan your drives, explore new destinations, and stay updated with the latest road conditions.
Ideal for those who need reliable navigation both in everyday commutes and during travel, TomTom moves the world with you.
10. Karta GPS
Karta GPS is a user-friendly navigation app that offers free offline maps and advanced turn-by-turn instructions.
Praised by the Huffington Post and The Next Web, it provides unique features like voice guidance from well-known personalities.
Ideal for exploring new areas without data charges, Karta GPS supports offline navigation, ensuring you remain on course even in remote locations.
It includes pedestrian mode, multiple route options, and a wrong-way driver alert system for enhanced safety.
Available for both iOS and Android, Karta GPS caters to a variety of navigation needs, making it a notable contender among map apps.
