Navigation apps have become one of the essentials on everybody’s smartphone, and Google Maps is one of the most popular of these. However, there are many more navigation apps to choose from if you feel Google Maps isn’t working for you.

Here are some of the best apps for GPS and navigation available.

Waze

Waze is a unique GPS navigation app focusing on the social aspect of driving with others. You can see other Waze users on the map, and users can report hazards so that you can get alerts for them on your own drive.

  • Community-oriented.

  • See amenities around you.

  • Real-time traffic data.

  • Hazards may not be accurate.

  • Little advantage in areas with few users.

  • Drains battery in background.

The app is also extremely customizable, allowing you to add your home/work address, change your car icon for others to see, and save your favorite places. Waze really makes driving an enjoyable experience.

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Mapquest

Mapquest is a very easy-to-use navigation app, where you just put in your destination and go. In addition, you can customize the map as you wish to show amenities, traffic hazards, and more.

  • Easy to find amenities.

  • Turn traffic alerts on or off.

  • Ability to change the map style.

  • Can be a little slow.

  • No public transit directions.

  • No photos option.

If you want an app that can be tailored to your needs, whether you want it to show you everything along your way or just the bare-bones directions, Mapquest is a great option.

Scout GPS Link was made to work well with display screens in cars, so you can easily connect to the app via Bluetooth and see your directions without having to look at your phone.

  • Provides multiple route options.

  • Made to work with a car display.

  • Traffic and safety camera alerts.

  • Outdated UI.

  • Ads in database.

  • Pedestrian mode can be buggy.

The app provides 3D and 2D maps, shows where you can find amenities, saves recent locations, and more. If you would rather use it on your phone, you can do that as well.

Sygic GPS Navigation & Maps

If you like to have most of your maps saved offline, Sygic is a great app for this. It allows you to search for offline maps and download them to your phone, so you don’t have to worry if you get stuck without service. You can also use offline maps whether or not you have a Premium membership.

  • Download maps to use offline.

  • Feature-rich.

  • 3D maps available.

  • Premium membership required for many features.

  • POI icons detract from map view.

  • No voice controls.

Another great feature Sygic has is 3D real view maps, so it’s much easier to understand where you are and where you need to go in relation to what’s around you.

CoPilot GPS Navigation

If you are using navigational tools while driving larger vehicles, like RVs or trucks, you may notice that the routes most apps give you aren’t the best for your situation. CoPilot fixes this issue, giving you the best routes no matter what kind of vehicle you drive.

  • Routes can be optimized for different vehicles.

  • Maps can be downloaded and used offline.

  • Real-time traffic updates.

  • Lengthy setup.

  • Navigation errors.

  • POI search somewhat lacking.

You can also download your maps to use offline whenever you need to, and you can plan your trips by adding multiple stops along the way to your destination. These features make CoPilot especially great for long road trips.

Citymapper

Are you in a large city where you don’t really use a car much? Citymapper is a great alternative to Google Maps so you can get more information on public transportation.

  • Provides info for many major cities.

  • Updates with issues in local public transportation.

  • Shows easiest route.

  • Some cities unavailable.

  • Routes not based on current conditions.

  • Doesn’t provide nearby restaurants.

You can search for the location you want to go within the city, and the app will give you all your options for getting there, and shows you how much time each option might take. Citymapper is a great, efficient app if you live in the city and need a navigational app tailored to this experience.

Maps.me

Maps.me is a great option for those who don’t want to use data or Wi-Fi for navigation. All the maps the app uses are offline, so you don’t have to worry about getting errors while trying to find your way.

  • Create routes with multiple destinations.

  • Offline navigation available.

  • Topographic and subway map layers.

  • Navigational alerts can be slow.

  • No display of speed limit.

  • Doesn’t distinguish between fastest, efficient or shortest route.

If you want to plan a route, you can do so by entering in your destinations and then the app will show you what route to take in order to visit them all efficiently. Maps.me also makes a point of showing POI (points of interest) within the maps so you can discover new places you may not have found otherwise.

Pocket Earth

Pocket Earth has tons of maps you can download and use with GPS navigation. The app has hiking, boating, and cycling maps you can use. It’s a great app to use for all-around navigation, no matter where you are or what you’re doing.

  • Highly customizable.

  • Offline and off-road maps available.

  • Detailed trips and map plotting.

  • Learning curve.

  • Not available for Android.

  • Limited support.

You can also plan trips by entering multiple destinations, adding a name, and saving the route for later. Pocket Earth is great if you want to plan travel in advance, or if you also want to use off-road maps.

  • How do I find alternate routes on Google Maps?
  • There are several ways to plan an alternate route in Google Maps. One way is to open the Google Maps app and search for a destination, select Directions > Driving > More > Route Options and choose any options you want, such as Avoid highways. Tap Done to apply the changes and select a route.
  • How do you choose an alternative voice for Google Maps?
  • You can change the voice in the Google Maps app. Go to Menu > Settings > Navigation Settings > Voice Selection and choose an option from Suggested Voices or All Voices.

There are several ways to plan an alternate route in Google Maps. One way is to open the Google Maps app and search for a destination, select Directions > Driving > More > Route Options and choose any options you want, such as Avoid highways. Tap Done to apply the changes and select a route.

You can change the voice in the Google Maps app. Go to Menu > Settings > Navigation Settings > Voice Selection and choose an option from Suggested Voices or All Voices.

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