Google Maps has been the go-to navigation tool for decades.
Since its launch in 2005, the platform has guided millions of users to their desired destination with mileage markers, traffic indicators, and transportation options.
However, over the years, Google Maps has become cluttered, especially with its integration of Magic Cue, which suggests non-existent locations pulled from your messaging apps.
Fortunately, Google Maps isn’t the only navigation app on the market, so I’ve been experimenting with alternatives to find a way to my destination that isn’t powered by Google.
I’ve found one Android app to replace it for the foreseeable future, at least when I’m taking a relaxing drive around the neighborhood.
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MAPS.ME for the win
The low-stress navigation I didn’t know I needed
The app is MAPS.ME, and it’s a different kind of navigation app than you’re used to.
If you’re looking for a Google Maps alternative with the same interface but a different design, you’re not in the right place.
For starters, it’s an offline maps app, which means you can access it anywhere, including places without internet, whether through Wi-Fi or mobile data.
This is a perk on its own, even for a city dweller like myself. I’ve been trapped by the poor reception on Lower Wacker in Chicago more than once.
However, it also means that I’m not inundated with ads, review requests, and pictures that other people have taken of the donut shop I’m trying to find. So the offline functionality is a win-win.
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While I’ve been using it to take the internet-driven stress out of my city driving, MAPS.ME is geared towards travelers rather than everyday commuters.
For one, it has a ruler feature that lets you trace a path on the map and gives you the exact mileage. That’s got traveling hiker written all over it.
Additionally, MAPS.ME is more transparent and comprehensive when it comes to showing you specific establishments on the map.
There are a number of tabs at the bottom of the map interface, like hotels, restaurants, groceries, and the “sights.” When you click one, MAPS.ME shows you every listing on the map.
MAPS.ME highlights some of the more popular options while still showing a complete picture of the hotels, restaurants, and grocery stores in your search. Google Maps gives you a jumping-off point and requires zooming and re-searching to see every option.
The biggest indicator that MAPS.ME is for travelers is that there is a MAPS.ME PRO plan that costs $3.49 per month. It provides access to a robust hiking route system to help you find your next trip.
There is also a product hub as one of the five primary tabs at the bottom of the interface that only offers two links: an eSIM Travel Internet app on the Play Store and the Booking.com website. Pretty clear who they’re after on this one.
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There are some serious shortcomings
It’s not for everyone or every situation
MAPS.ME is unusable in some situations, particularly if you live in the city.
While the offline functionality provides a relatively stress-free experience, it creates shortcomings that could be a dealbreaker depending on when and where you’re navigating.
One example is the lack of live traffic information. If you’re in a hurry to get to where you’re going, MAPS.ME will likely stress you out even more. It has no idea how long it will take to reach your destination.
For example, while driving my wife to a doctor’s appointment, it confidently said we would be there in eight minutes. From door to door, the drive took 25 minutes. So, there’s that.
It also seems that the lack of online connectivity on MAPS.ME means that the location search function is far from optimized.
Searching for my daughter’s school by name brought up a massive list of non-schools, even though I typed “school” in the search bar.
I also tested something basic, like searching for one of the largest parks in the city, and it still didn’t show up in the search results.
Still, you can easily set favorites, and it seems to get addresses right on the first try. If you’re looking for a bare-bones Google Maps replacement, there are workarounds for these pitfalls.
Changing the way you drive
Try different ways to get to where you’re going
Google Maps is great for many things. The live traffic updates are hard to compete with, and there are so many non-navigation-related things you can do with Google Maps that it will make your head spin.
That’s part of what drove me to experiment with MAPS.ME. I don’t always need to know how long it’ll take to get where I’m going, and I don’t always need to know how many stars it has. Sometimes, I’m just trying to get where I’m going.