In the early days of consumer GPS, you always had an offline copy of your maps with you. There was no mobile internet yet, so you had to update maps when connected to a computer or bring them to your dealer to get updates. Live traffic? Forget it!
Almost all of us use our smartphones for GPS navigation these days, and thanks to the widespread adoption of mobile internet, we retrieve our maps from the internet in real time. Now is a great time for technology, but there are times when you need offline GPS navigation.
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These nine apps offer free offline GPS services for Android phones and cover everything from off-the-beaten-track driving to desert hiking.
Google Maps
It’s a GPS app that you almost certainly already have on your Android phone, but it’s also a great offline GPS solution. You can preload your region or specific regions to keep navigation working when your connection is down.
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While you won’t have access to all the great cloud-based features like real-time traffic information, you still get the same Maps app. With support for walking, cycling and driving, and an industry-leading interface, this should be the first stop for most people.
OsmAnd
You may have never heard of the awkwardly named OsmAnd, but this app offers great value for a royal amount of free use. The free version of the app allows you to download up to seven maps. If more, you will have to pay for a subscription.
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However, most people will not need more than maps of their country or region, so this is not a major limitation.
Voice and visual navigation is included, and there are special modes for cycling, walking, hiking, and public transportation. The software itself is open source, so if you do decide to upgrade to a paid version or subscribe, it will be sent to an open mapping project.
Sygic
Sygic is one of the most popular GPS apps for Android. In fact, this author is using it as a backup when Google Maps cannot get a working connection. Maps can be downloaded for offline use with turn-by-turn navigation.
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There is a paid option on Sygic, but the features that are exclusive to the paid version are not critical for most people. These include HUD mode, dash cam recording, real-time traffic information and route setting. Only the latter may sound tempting to most people, but the premium features are really aimed at people who make a living as drivers, such as courier drivers and truckers.
While Sygic seems a little dated compared to Google Maps, you’ll find a solid and reliable navigation product here that’s perfect as a fallback in case the internet goes down.
maps. I am
Maps.Me doesn’t just offer offline GPS map services for Android as a bonus, it specializes in offline maps and navigation. With the ability to download world maps as needed, you can navigate while driving, cycling or walking. All this is free, but you have to put up with ads.
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Maps.Me has also been enhanced with content from Wikipedia to provide you with instant contextual information about places, and it has suggested routes built in. It even looks pretty decent considering you don’t have to pay anything to use it.
The app is almost universally recommended by users and should definitely be on the list of all apps worth trying before settling on your own.
here WeGo
This app from Here Apps is specially designed for city navigation. This will provide you with more information on, for example, public transport. You can also order a taxi directly from the app, or easily get detailed information on attractions.
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Route planning is also one of the best city trips we’ve ever seen. The app will show you the best routes for different modes of transport, including the best bike routes. There are also great walking instructions here that will also show you when and where to change to public transport.
Of course, the main reason it is on this list is the addition of offline maps. The list of downloadable maps of the application contains just over 100 countries. It also has information on public transport in more than 1,300 cities, so it is truly a must for city dwellers, no matter what mode of transport you use.
Polaris GPS
There are two versions of this GPS app, a free version with ads and a paid version without ads and with some additional features. However, for most people, the free version of Polaris will be more than enough.
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Unlike most of the apps on this list, Polaris is not intended to replace the likes of Google Maps. Instead, it is a dedicated tool for outdoor enthusiasts. So if you enjoy hiking to remote locations but don’t like the idea of ??becoming a missing person statistician, Polaris GPS is a great choice.
There are special opportunities and maps for hiking, hunting, sailing and fishing. Polaris also offers a compass tool and a wealth of sensor data to help you survive far from civilization. If that sounds like you, download this app today.
Genius maps Strong>
Turn-by-turn navigation is a premium paid option with Genius Maps, but the free version of the software allows you to download maps to your device and use them to plan your route.
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The maps themselves have been praised for their granularity and innovative route calculation, but if you don’t want to pay for the professional navigation component of the service, you still have to use a different app if you want traffic and cornering information. – rotary guide.
However, it’s worth comparing the maps that Mireo put together for Genius Maps with the ones you currently use. You may discover routes and information that you would never have seen otherwise.
Handy GPS
You will find three different versions of Handy GPS on the Google Play store. Free version, subscription version and then premium version with preliminary price.
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The free version does not include offline maps, but offers basic offline GPS services for Android without an internet connection. In particular, it will show you live data about your location, altitude, speed, heading and so on. You can save your location, record your movement logs, and do other technical exercises such as showing you the position of GPS satellites.
Handy GPS is really handy, but not for everyone. If you’re looking for a pure GPS app and not a guided navigation tool, this might well work. It can appeal to surveyors, researchers, and anyone else who needs access to raw GPS data.
MapFactor
The last app on our list is insanely popular with over thirty million installations. It uses the same Open Street Maps resource as many other free offline GPS apps, but offers a complete package more in line with the paid apps.
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In fact, the only things you’ll miss out on with the free feature set are alternate routes, HUD mode, and color themes. You will also have to put up with ads, but this is almost normal in the world of free maps.
The list of included features is impressive, so the advertising money goes somewhere. There is a 3D mode, points of interest, route models for different types of vehicles, the ability to block certain roads for your navigation, and much more.
It’s pretty obvious why this has so many installations. With nearly a million reviews and an average rating of 4.6 stars, it’s clear that the MapFactor staff are doing something very right.
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