15 Best Google Maps Alternatives for Efficient Navigation in 2024

What comes to your mind the moment you hear the word ‘’navigation app”? 

Google Maps, right? It’s absolutely a no-brainer!

Simplicity and convenience are what have transformed Google Maps into the go-to choice for navigation today. 

Surprisingly, the Google Maps app downloads amounted to a whopping 21 million downloads in the United States alone.

While Google Maps is undeniably popular, have you ever been concerned about how it uses your private location data? Or left clueless in poor network areas while using it? 

If YES, it’s time you started looking for Google Maps alternatives

This blog walks you through navigation options besides Google Maps while offering flexibility, efficiency, and enhanced privacy.

6 Reasons Why You Should Consider Alternatives to Google Maps

As we rely more on mapping technology, it is essential to be aware of potential drawbacks. 

Google Maps, despite being widely used and trusted, has its limitations, making it imperative to look for alternatives.  

Here are a few major ones:

  • Google Maps allows for route planning to a maximum of 10 stops only.
  • It lacks built-in route optimization for multi-stop journeys.
  • Many users have concerns about Google’s data collection practices, including location tracking.
  • It offers limited customization options to set priority stops, delivery time windows, and other time and distance-related constraints.
  • While Google Maps lets you download maps for offline use, it may not function properly at times, especially in remote areas.

Now that we know why considering Google Maps alternatives is crucial, it is time to delve into the details of the top 15 alternative navigation apps.

Top 15 Google Maps Alternatives, Competitors & Similar Software

Here is the list of the 15 best Google Maps alternatives:

1. Upper

2. Apple Maps

3. MapQuest

4. WAZE

5. Bing Maps

6. HERE WeGo

7. Open Street Map

8. Sygic GPS Navigation & Maps

9. CityMapper

10. Maps.Me

11. NavMii

12. KoMoot

13. OsmAnd

14. inRoute

15. MileMaker by RandMcNally

1. Upper

Upper is the go-to software for route planning and optimization and can prove to be an intuitive alternative to traditional mapping services, including Google Maps. Upper allows you to easily create routes with unlimited stops, providing effective navigation without any restrictions.

Using the advanced route optimization it provides, you can save time and fuel on multi-stop trips. A noticeable aspect is that it respects your data privacy and doesn’t engage in extensive data collection practices like Google Maps. Moreover, Upper offers customization options to tailor routes to your specific needs, from priority stops to time windows and service times.

Key Features

  1. Multi-stop route planning: Upper helps you overcome Google Maps’ 10-stop restriction. It allows you to plan routes with an extensive number of stops, making it a go-to solution for businesses with multiple destinations.
  2. Advanced route optimization and scheduling: Upper goes above and beyond by including built-in route optimization for multi-stop routes. Rather than following a strict stop sequence, Upper ensures that your routes are as efficient as possible, saving you time and fuel. It further enables you to schedule routes ahead of time by simply importing a list of stops and drivers. 
  3. Enhanced privacy control: In a world prioritizing data privacy, Upper respects your boundaries. It doesn’t engage in extensive data collection practices, such as location tracking, giving you peace of mind. It focuses on what matters most—efficient route planning and optimization—without compromising your privacy or bombarding you with ads.
  4. Customization excellence: Unlike Google Maps, Upper empowers you with extensive customization options. You can set priority stops, time windows, and other distance- and time-based constraints to meet your specific needs and ensure on-time deliveries. 
  5. Independence from Google ecosystem: With Upper, you’re not tied to an extensive ecosystem of Google services. You can enjoy route planning and optimization without creating dependency on associated Google app(s) or products.
Pros
  • Generation of optimized routes for multiple vehicles simultaneously
  • Precise ETAs for better customer communication
  • Export of routes to GPS devices for driver guidance
  • Proof of delivery with photos, notes, and e-signatures
  • Automated customer notifications via email or text
  • Last-minute changes and updates to routes
  • In-depth reports and analytics for route performance
  • Hassle-free swapping of routes between drivers
  • Seamless API integration with third-party platforms and software
  • Load planning to schedule vehicles on the routes that enable their maximum utilization in terms of space and capacity
Cons
  • Optimal functioning may vary based on internet connectivity
  • Limited functionalities in the free version

Ditch Your Google Maps Limitations with Advanced Multi-Stop Route Planning

Take a step beyond traditional routing and leverage Upper’s sophisticated routing algorithms to optimize your multi-stop routes based on:

  • Traffic conditions
  • Delivery distances
  • Customers’ preferred time slots
  • Drivers’ legal working hours
  • Maximum speed limit
  • Vehicle and load specifications

2. Apple Maps

Apple Inc. released Apple Maps on September 19, 2012, making it the default map system for iOS or MacOS users. This web mapping service provides a clean and simple user interface for navigation and works smoothly across any Apple device. 

The best part is that it provides turn-by-turn navigation guidance based on real-time traffic data and suggests a detour in case of heavy congestion. Another USP is its high level of privacy as it doesn’t require a sign-in using your Apple ID and hence, doesn’t keep a history of where you visited.

Key Features:

  1. Route planning: Based on the estimated traffic, it generates accurate estimated times of arrival (ETAs) for your future journeys. It also alerts you about upcoming exits and turns with lane guidance to avoid wrong turns or missed exits.
  2. Transit support: This feature shows real-time information about public transport vehicles like buses or trains, including their arrival and departure times, to make navigation around a town easier. 
  3. Advanced search capabilities: It leverages ultra-specific filters like price or distance to find restaurants, hotels, or clubs. You can also tap on Nearby to locate petrol stations, hotels, groceries, and coffee shops in your vicinity.
Pros
  • Advanced navigation support for driving, walking, cycling, and public transit
  • Interactive place cards containing details like address, hours, website, and contact number
  • Immersive 3-D views of major cities through the Flyover feature
Cons
  • Requires a special JavaScript API (MapKit JS) to integrate into your website
  • Not available for Android users
  • Route planning is available for only up to 15 stops in one go

3. MapQuest

Launched in 1966, MapQuest is the trailblazer of web-based mapping services and forms a great turn-by-turn GPS navigation app. Equipped with voice-navigation capabilities, it guides you through your routes when driving or cycling. Furthermore, it also serves as a route planner that allows you to optimize routes based on traffic constraints and reduce your driving distance, time, and fuel costs.

It also features a speedometer that enables you to compare your actual speed against the maximum legal speed along your route to ensure compliance. This online mapping tool also facilitates comparing prices at nearby gas or fuel pumps to help choose the most cost-effective station.

Key Features

  1. Multi-Stop Route Planning & Optimization: Allows for setting a start point other than your current location, adding multiple stops, and optimizing them based on traffic and toll/highway avoidance preferences
  2. Multiple Route Choices: It generally displays two or three similar route options and ETAs for you to choose from based on your urgency and route preferences.
  3. Favorites: Lets you save your favorite routes to addresses, like home, office, or shop, for quick referencing whenever needed.
Pros
  • Up-to-date satellite view, enhancing your user experience
  • Local weather information to help plan your trip accordingly
  • Hands-free navigation and custom icons
Cons
  • Route planning available for only up to 26 stops
  • User-reported issues with driver-tracking search functionalities
  • Lack of industry-specific features

4. WAZE

Waze is among the most popular community-driven navigation apps and provides real-time road alerts based on continuous inputs by the community of drivers. These alerts can include information on traffic congestion, construction, accidents, police, or speed cameras. You can use them to pick the fastest and safest driving route while ensuring legal compliance. 

It further considers factors like weather, live traffic, and roadblocks to provide accurate ETAs and schedule your journey accordingly. It also lets you leverage directions from celebrities or experts to customize your road trip. 

Key Features: 

  1. Information on cheapest gas stations: This page shows all gas stations in your vicinity and their prices to help you choose the most cost-effective option.
  2. Waze map editor: Allows the community of Waze Map Editors to edit the map globally to keep it accurate and up-to-date.
  3. Live speedometer: Displays your actual driving speed to stay compliant with the legal speed limit and avoid penalty charges.
Pros
  • Sync with your car’s built-in display to enable hands-free driving
  • No need to switch between apps to listen to music
  • Highly accurate traffic situations through drivers’ real-time updates
Cons
  • Unsuitable for oversized or emergency vehicles
  • High battery consumption due to continuous data reporting even when not in navigation
  • Lack of offline mode

5. Bing Maps

Bing Maps, formerly known as Live Search Maps or Windows Live Maps, is a web mapping service provided by Microsoft’s Bing. A highlight feature is that it provides not only the standard road map styles but also Aerial, Bird’s eye, Grayscale, Canvas Dark, and Canvas Light.

Bing Maps also auto-suggests real-world locations as you type the first few characters of your intended address, expediting your search. It also provides density maps (or heat maps) that help you visualize your data points when they are high in number to assess their density easily. This navigation app also shows real-time traffic conditions and incidents on your map. 

Key Features

  1. Enhanced localization: Supports over 79 languages to localize your navigation experience.
  2. High contrast support: Auto-renders a high-contrast version of your road maps when you switch to a high-contrast module.
  3. Custom map styles: This enables customizing the appearance of your road maps to align them with your applications, user interface, or company branding.
Pros
  • Detailed maps with different interactive styles
  • Modular structure to allow adding only desired functionalities
  • Enterprise-level customer service
Cons
  • Privacy concerns
  • No advanced route planning capabilities
  • Not-so-accurate ETAs at times

6. HERE WeGo

HERE WeGo Maps is one of the go-to navigation apps to help you during local or foreign trips. It provides interactive guidance to reach any intended destination on foot, in a car, or using public transit. 

HERE WeGo Maps also lets you add waypoints along your route as you traverse it to optimize it accordingly. Besides, this app keeps you updated on real-time traffic alerts and ensures fuel-efficient and time-saving trips. You can also get information on the nearest parking spots for a hassle-free parking experience using this online map tool. 

Key Features:

  1. Offline access: This lets you download map data of not just regions but also entire countries or continents to avoid an uninterrupted journey even when offline. 
  2. User-friendly interface: Provides a decluttered and intuitive user interface to facilitate easy navigation.
  3. Turn-by-turn voice guidance: Gives you accurate driving directions while driving and easily comprehensible walking guidance when you are on foot.
Pros
Cons
  • Limited offline customization functionality
  • Missing active rerouting and compass functions for pedestrians
  • Inadequate support for third-party app integrations

Delight Your Customers with Up-to-the-Moment Delivery Statuses

Leverage Upper’s dynamic SMS and email notifications to convey the delivery statuses, including:

  • Out for Delivery
  • Successfully Delivered
  • Missed Delivery
  • Next on the List to Get Your Order Delivered

7. Open Street Map

Open Street Map (OSM) is a free and collaborative platform that a community of volunteers maintains and updates regularly. These volunteers leverage data they collect from surveys, aerial imagery, and licensed geodata sources to maintain up-to-date geographic databases in maps. 

They also provide exhaustive details on landmarks like parks, trails, or rivers. OSM Maps stores geographical features through its topology and exports them in different Geographic Information Systems (GIS) file formats. 

Key Features:

  1. Worldwide coverage: Supports over 96 languages to provide localized navigation experience across the globe.
  2. Editable and adaptable: Facilitates easy edits on Maps based on volunteers’ inputs to maintain accurate and up-to-date detailed maps.
  3. Security: Doesn’t require you to sign up or log in to access features, making it safer.
Pros
  • Free and up-to-date due to being open-source
  • Clean user interface
  • Highly customizable
Cons
  • No centralized technical support unlike other mapping services like Google
  • Lack of Points of Interest (PoI) like hotels and restaurants
  • Unintuitive navigation interface

8. Sygic GPS Navigation & Maps

Sygic is among the most popular route planner apps, loved by 200 million drivers worldwide. It provides high-resolution 3-D offline maps for countries worldwide and precise information on speed camera alerts and live traffic situations. 

With a database of millions of Points of Interest (PoI), Sygic Maps also lets you look up your intended destination in the satellite view. Its voice-guided navigation directions make it easy to get around new places easily and efficiently. You can also save on your roaming charges by leveraging the offline maps Sygic offers. 

Key Features:

  1. Advanced safety features: Displays speed limit alerts, dynamic lane assistance, head-up display (HUD) projects, sign recognition, and dashcam cords combine to secure your trip.
  2. Hands-free navigation: This lets you connect your phone to your car’s built-in display to avoid distractions.
  3. Live fuel and parking prices: Shows live fuel and parking prices in your proximity to help you find the most affordable fuel stations and parking areas.
Pros
  • High-quality 3-D maps
  • Regular map updates to avoid obsolescence
  • Premium customer support
Cons
  • Limited functionalities in its free version
  • No cycling or public transit guidance
  • No unwanted ads in search results

9. CityMapper

With over a decade of experience, CityMapper has emerged as a leading urban mobility solution. It lets you compare all your travel options and transit modes in real time to make an informed choice. Furthermore, you can easily navigate your city with turn-by-turn instructions that it provides whether you are driving, walking, or cycling.

CityMapper displays live wait times and ETAs for public transit vehicles to ensure you are on time to catch a train, bus, or ferry. It also evaluates all the possible transit modes to come up with the best route you can take for your trip. 

Key Features:

  1. Exhaustive routing guidance: Provides three different map views and step-by-step guidance tailored to your mode of travel while helping you avoid tolls or no-parking zones.
  2. One-shop mobility: Collaborates with leading cab service providers and bike-sharing service providers like Uber, Lyft, JUMP, and Scoot to help you compare fares, book a cab, or locate the nearest e-scooter. 
  3. Live trip sharing & personalization: This lets you share your live trip to keep your travel partners informed about your progress and archive daily routes to your office or retail store.
Pros
  • Interactive navigation interface
  • Accurate public transit information
  • More route alternatives
Cons
  • Currently limited to only major cities worldwide
  • Offline access constraints
  • No support for third-party app integrations

10. Maps.Me

Trusted by over 140 million travelers globally, this mapping app leverages data crowdsourced by OpenStreet contributors to maintain maps up to the moment. Equipped with routing guidance for driving, walking, and cycling, it partners with travel content creators to guide you on your trip to hundreds of destinations globally.

Not only that, but Maps.me offers detailed maps even in offline mode, saving your memory and data while ensuring uninterrupted navigation in poor network areas. It also lets you bookmark and share your favorite locations with your friends for group trips.

Key Features: 

  1. Accuracy in maps: Relies on OpenStreet Maps to make sure maps are updated and accurate all the time to enhance your navigation experience.
  2. More detailed maps: Displays Points of Interest, hiking trails, and unique places that any other online map tool may not have. Indicates an uphill or downhill terrain while cycling or walking. 
  3. Third-party app integrations: Integrates with travel apps like Booking.com to let you book hotels without any additional travel app.
Pros
  • Free to use
  • Offline category search capabilities
  • Intuitive map styles
Cons
  • High battery consumption
  • Absence of the web version
  • Lack of satellite or aerial imagery

Navmii is a globally renowned free-to-use community navigation app that lets you transform your navigation experience with easy access to voice-guided routing and up-to-date maps. With over 24 million drivers using it, Navmii is a proud supporter of OpenStreetMaps, the free Wiki world map.

You can also add multiple waypoints to plan your routes optimally. Navmii lets you use maps offline, reducing your dependence on a stable internet connection. It also provides reports & analytics to analyze and score your drivers’ and overall trip performance.

Key Features: 

  1. Real-time traffic and safety alerts: Provide you with turn-by-turn routing navigation using live traffic information. Sends you speeding and safety camera alerts to prevent expensive tickets and ensure safe driving.
  2. Robust search functions: Lets you search a destination precisely through 3-word addresses (what3words), containing City, Street Name, and ZIP code.
  3. Automated smart rerouting: Generates a detour immediately based on changes in road conditions to prevent congestion and delays.
Pros
  • Offline mobile map functionality
  • Accurate and real-time ETAs
  • 3D touch to identify your current location
Cons
  • More storage space requirements
  • Slower updates compared to Google Maps

12. KoMoot

KoMoot can be your go-to and popular Google Maps alternative if you are fond of excursions and adventure trips. It leverages the hand-picked collections of outdoor trip experiences from renowned travelers to generate ready-to-use routes for you. It offers you topographic routing guidance to know and prepare for what lies ahead in your adventure journey. 

Be it hiking, bike touring, mountain biking, or road cycling, Komoot can be your go-to app to make it unforgettable. It also provides offline navigation to keep you on track in far-flung areas with poor network coverage.

Key Features: 

  1. Activity-specific route planning: Generates sport-specific routes on their topography based on whether you are planning a bike trip, mountain biking, hiking, or road cycling. 
  2. Seamless navigation: Gives voice instructions to guide you through uphill or downhill paths or narrow passages along your routes to stay prepared. 
  3. Customization: Allows for adding every point you wish to visit along your route to customize your trip as per your interest.
Pros
  • Global coverage
  • Multi-day trip planning
  • Seamless sync across all devices
Cons
  • Hard-to-navigate curated content at times
  • Clunky and complex for beginners
  • Absence of health-related features

13. OsmAnd

OsmAnd, an offline world map application based on OpenStreetMap (OSM), enables you to navigate roads based on preferred roads and vehicle dimensions. You can also take into account inclines and slopes to plan routes accordingly. 

Being an open-source app, it doesn’t require your email address to sign in and lets you control the data you want to provide access to. Further, it supports map styles tailored to activities, including touring view, nautical map, desert, or off-roading. 

Key Features: 

  1. GPS Navigation:  Allows for plotting a route without internet connectivity for cars, motorbikes, cyclists, pedestrians, or boats. 
  2. Routing and recording: This lets you plan multi-stop routes using multiple navigation profiles and record them using GPX tracks.
  3. Easy search by category: Enables you to choose places by name, coordinates, or category and find the easiest routes to them.
Pros
  • Free to use and allows you to download map data
  • Offers frequent updates
  • Street-level imagery and radius ruler to look distances swiftly
Cons
  • Poor route recalculation capabilities
  • Sharing of routes is not possible
  • Not as intuitive as other mapping services

14. inRoute

inRoute can be your intelligent routing partner whether you go on a trip or drive on the road. Equipped with traffic-aware routes and layovers, it provides accurate ETAs and severe weather alerts to ensure your safe travel. 

You can add multiple stops up to even 150 and determine the most optimal route to cover them. Moreover, inRoute lets you find routes along your route by miles or hours of driving. The turn-by-turn voice navigation that it offers is possible through your dashcam or iOS device.

Key Features: 

  1. In-depth charts: Displays route elevation, descent, curviness, and weather conditions including temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind speed/direction) and sunrise/sunset times for better planning. 
  2. Offline storage: This lets you store routes on your device to access them even without internet connectivity and ensure seamless travel.
  3. Route import: Facilitates importing prebuilt routes from XLSX, GPX, and KML files to use them from within your app.
Pros
  • Advanced weather updates, including sunrise and sunset times
  • Support for setting specific departure and layover times
  • Enables saving, sharing, and printing of your favorite routes and places
Cons
  • Limited functionalities in the free version
  • Not available for Android users
  • Cluttered user interface

15. MileMaker by RandMcNally

Having already carved a niche for itself in the industry of traditional paper maps, RandMcNally has evolved to compete with today’s emerging online mapping tools. Using it, you can plan the most efficient route for your drivers based on traffic constraints, load types, or transit distances.  

It is specifically beneficial if you are a truck fleet dispatcher. This is because it lets you ensure your drivers’ safety by avoiding routes with specific weight or height constraints. Besides, MileMaker offers traffic-enabled routing to ensure accurate ETAs to enhance your customer experience.

Key Features:

  1. Load planning: This lets you plan your load based on your vehicles’ specifications and send them on routes that maximize their payload capacity utilization.
  2. Route saving: This helps save your favorite stops, vehicle profiles, and optimal routes for your recurring trips.
  3. ITFA compliance: Ensures compliance with International Tax Freedom Agreement regulations through regular state mileage reports.
Pros
  • User-friendly web-mapping interface
  • Detailed fuel usage insights to improve mileage
  • Enhanced door-to-door driving directions and batch routing
Cons
  • No mobile app, unlike the Google Maps app
  • Lack of routing for pedestrians and cyclists
  • Reported poor customer service response

Make Your Route Optimization a Cakewalk to Maximize Your Navigation Efficiency!

Don’t miss even a single driving constraint while optimizing routes to maximize your efficiency and reduce your driving distances and times.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, Google Maps is free to use for navigation and basic map features. However, there may be charges associated with using certain advanced features, like ride-sharing or accessing specific data.

Yes, you can add multiple stops to your route in Google Maps. After entering your destination, click “Add stop” to include additional waypoints along your journey.

Some viable alternatives to Google Maps include Waze, Apple Maps, HERE WeGo, MapQuest, Sygic, Navmii, and CityMapper.

For privacy, Upper, OpenStreet Maps (OSM), Apple Maps, Upper, HERE WeGo fit best. They don’t require your location data for improvement or marketing purposes.

For live traffic info, you can choose Waze and BingMaps.

Yes, you can consider Upper for multi-stop route planning. Most users prefer options like Upper, which offers user privacy and a comprehensive set of advanced routing and navigation features.

While choosing Google Maps alternatives, you should consider factors like privacy, offline capabilities, available basic features, and map data when making your decision. It also depends on your specific needs and preferences.

Go Beyond Google Maps to Redefine Your Navigation Capabilities

Google Maps can arguably be the undisputed champion in the mapping and navigation app industry in general. However, when it comes to meeting specific navigation requirements for different audiences, like bikers, hikers, or truckers, it falls short of the desired functionalities. Therefore, it’s time to evaluate and list your navigation needs and pick the best Google Maps alternative that ticks all your expectations from a navigation map.

Author Bio
Rakesh Patel
Rakesh Patel

Rakesh Patel, author of two defining books on reverse geotagging, is a trusted authority in routing and logistics. His innovative solutions at Upper Route Planner have simplified logistics for businesses across the board. A thought leader in the field, Rakesh's insights are shaping the future of modern-day logistics, making him your go-to expert for all things route optimization. Read more.

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