Offline navigators for Android rating. Free GPS navigators for Android with offline maps

If you have a smartphone or tablet with GPS and GLONASS support, it would be strange not to use it for navigation. And for the device to learn how to lay out routes for you, it is enough to equip it with a navigator application with area maps. There are quite a lot of applications of this kind, but not all of them are equally useful. We hope this article will help you choose a navigator for Android that will satisfy your needs in the most worthy way. The rating is based on the opinions of experienced drivers and travelers.

Waze

The developer positions Waze as a navigator that the Russian driving community helps develop. And, I must say, such collective support is beneficial for the application: many drivers switch to Waze from other navigators that they had previously used for years.

The program allows each traffic participant to add information to it themselves: report accidents, traffic jams, road works, traffic police ambushes, prices at gas stations and other things that may be useful to other users.

Waze features and functionality

Drivers value Waze for its up-to-date information, laconic interface, stable operation and, of course, free use. A big plus is that the program does not lose routes when Internet access is lost and automatically stops accessing GPS if not used during stops. This reduces the rate at which the battery drains.

Some users cited the lack of a 3D mode and voice search that does not always work correctly as the shortcomings of Waze.

Yandex.Navigator

Another free application that travelers have ranked among the top navigators for mobile devices. Contains very detailed and detailed information useful for both drivers and pedestrians who are in unfamiliar areas in Russia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Moldova and even Turkey (note to tourists).

Features of Yandex.Navigator

• Construction of up to three route options to a given object, taking into account traffic jams and other road events.
• Warning about toll roads and ferry crossings.
• Displays the number of kilometers left to travel to the final destination, as well as the remaining time until arrival.
• Voice accompaniment of the trip with notifications about maneuvers, speed limits, road events, radars and traffic police crews, etc. Displaying them as symbols on the map.
• Driver warning about speeding.
• Voice control. The option is designed much better than in Waze. By activating control of the “Listen, Yandex” command, you can request a route to a desired point or search for an object on the map.
• Reporting information about traffic events to the program, including by voice.
• Storing the history of trips and routes.
• Search for parking lots (all - only in Moscow within the Third Ring Road; in other places of the capital and some large cities - St. Petersburg, Kazan, Kyiv, Minsk, Nizhny Novgorod, etc., separate large parking lots are displayed).

The best thing that, according to users, Yandex.Navigator has is the coverage of a large territory (especially convenient for those who travel a lot in Russia and neighboring countries) and the ability to control without hands. Disadvantages: maps are not always up-to-date, especially in regions remote from the center and small towns. And also that the program takes up too much space in the device’s memory due to the inability to move cards to removable media.

Despite the fact that it is a paid application (the cost of content starts from 560 rubles), it is preferred by more than 20 million users around the world. After all, this is, in fact, the standard by which developers of other navigation programs are compared. Among its analogues, it has perhaps the largest range of functions, and there is no driver who would say that Navitel’s capabilities are not enough for him.

A short list of functions and features of Navitel

If you install Navitel from the Google Play store, it will be linked to your Google account, not to your device. Thanks to this, you can use the program on different gadgets.

Navitel's greatest strengths, according to drivers, are rich functionality, always up-to-date information, a large selection of maps and technical support. The reasons for negative reviews are, as a rule, limitations of the 7-day trial version, local failures, minor inaccuracies on the maps - the same as with all similar programs.

Maps.me

Maps.me is a free and open source Android navigator from Mail.Ru Group. It also works without Internet access if you download the necessary maps in advance. Designed not only for drivers: in addition to roads, Maps.me maps contain walking and cycling tourist routes in many countries around the world.

Key features of Maps.me

• Saving mobile Internet traffic and battery power. Important for those traveling by bicycle and on foot, especially where there is no cellular coverage (for example, in the forest).
• The routes are always up to date and very detailed. Maps include features that other apps don't have, as the latter are more geared toward the needs of motorists rather than pedestrians.
• On walking and cycling routes, the degrees of slope of the area are indicated - downhill or uphill.
• Users of the program, of whom there are more than 65 million worldwide, participate in the compilation of maps. And you can join their community too.
• In addition to drawing up routes, Maps.me helps you search for various objects on the ground. Search categories: catering outlets, hotels and hostels, ATMs, public transport stops, attractions. The search function is available both online and offline (offline).
• You can book a hotel room directly from the app (only available online through the Booking.com website).
• The program allows you to send messages to your loved ones indicating your current location. For this, cellular communications (SMS), social networks and web messengers can be used.

The main advantages of Maps.me, according to experienced travelers, are free access to all functions, a large selection of maps (the latter, by the way, are well optimized for mobile devices: with the same amount of content as in other programs, they take up much less space in gadget memory), as well as taking into account the needs of pedestrians and cyclists.

The application has, perhaps, only one significant drawback. Because maps are created by users, the data often contains errors. In addition, some maps are better designed than others. This again comes down to user engagement: where people are more active, maps are more detailed and accurate. And vice versa.

Google maps, transport and navigation

is another free and widely available Android navigation app. Used and supported by perhaps the world's most impressive user community. Helps you navigate unfamiliar terrain and plan a route for travel in almost any locality on the globe.

Features of Google.Maps

• Quickly build routes taking into account the situation on the road. If obstacles appear - traffic jams, accidents, etc., the route is automatically rebuilt. Automatic selection of the least congested lane.
• Dynamic POI.
• The ability to quickly obtain information about objects of interest in the area, for example, catering outlets. Information about the latter may include user ratings, interior photos, reviews, opening hours, prices, menus, etc.
• Possibility to leave reviews about the places visited.
• Always up-to-date information on public transport routes.
• Unique feature: displays the interior layouts of large public buildings: shopping centers, train stations, airports and stadiums, which helps visitors not get lost in them.
• Description of more than 100 million objects around the world, as well as more than 220 regions and countries.

Travelers value Google maps primarily for its simplicity, accessibility and convenience. And many people called the strange experiments of the developers, such as the integration of the Pac-Man game into the program, as shortcomings, or rather, excesses, which only distracts the driver while driving and does not carry anything useful.

Previously we looked at free ones. Today we will select a navigator, focusing on offline operation - to work with maps without the Internet, by activating the GPS connection on the phone. Let's focus on the offline functions of navigators and maps that come with Android applications.

Offline navigators - review participants:

Benefits of offline maps

By default, all mobile navigators work online and may behave unstable without a direct Internet connection. If there is no Network, navigators do not display maps and do not build routes. All this can become a serious problem.

The problem can be easily resolved by downloading offline maps to your gadget. They will work offline: in Russia, neighboring countries and Europe. Offline maps are indispensable for navigation if you have expensive mobile data or if you open a map in a place where there is no Internet access.

Waze is a free GPS navigator that works without the Internet

Waze is a navigation app developed by a community of enthusiasts. Displays traffic on the roads in real time, alerts about accidents and notifies about cameras. Available in Russian and adapted to the road conditions of most countries of the world.

Waze - free navigator with offline functions for Android

The Waze Android app doesn't have the obvious feature of saving maps offline, like Google Maps does, say. The navigator requires an Internet connection from time to time for full operation. However, there are some workarounds to download offline offline maps.

How to Save Maps Offline Using the Waze App

To download the Waze offline map, you need to:

1. First connect to the Internet;
2. Open the Waze app on your phone;
3. Enter the address that you want to save for offline operation;
4. After finding the specified location, Waze will store the data in the cache.

You can use the offline map when traveling in Europe or Russia. Please note that in offline mode you will not be able to update your data until you connect your mobile device to the Internet. Traffic information will also not be available offline.

How to load traffic information into Waze

1. Make sure your mobile device is connected to the Internet;
2. Open Waze GPS and enter the location where you want to go;
3. Waze will calculate routes to your destination and display them in the app as you navigate;
4. Click on the Waze icon to open the menu, find the Settings icon in the new pop-up window;
5. To save your current traffic information, go to Waze > Advanced Settings > Data Transfer > Load Traffic Information > Enable.

In addition to traffic information, Waze will display how much data the app has already downloaded and cached.

Google Navigator: enable offline maps on Android

Saving offline maps

1. Connect to a WiFi network, open the Google Maps app on your mobile device.
2. Make sure you're signed in to your Google account in Google Maps.
3. Find the city or place in your GPS navigator that you want to save as an offline map.
4. Click on the bottom panel of the Google Maps application - the name of the location will be displayed here.
5. In the upper right corner of Google Navigator, a menu will be available with the option to save an offline map.

Some features of Google Maps offline maps:

• You can pan and zoom the map before saving it. The largest offline map size is about 30 square miles.
• You can save an offline map under any name. It is convenient to give a clear name so that you can delete the file or check whether the desired city is in the list of saved maps.
• For each map, its expiration date is indicated: it is advisable to check the relevance and update the files as needed.
• After deleting the card, you will not be able to use it without the Internet until you download/update it again.

Viewing saved offline maps in Google Navigator

1. Open Google Maps on Android through your previously used account;
2. Go to the main menu of the application through the sidebar by clicking on the button with horizontal stripes;
3. Go to the “Offline maps” section;
4. For each offline map, the following actions are available: Download, View, Rename, Delete.

Yandex Navigator in offline mode (without Internet connection)

Free vector maps can be downloaded through the main application settings. This option is available to owners of both Android and iOS versions of the Yandex navigator. True, the list of offline maps is limited to the CIS countries and a number of adjacent territories. For most of Europe, alas, offline maps are not available.

Navitel is a popular navigator with offline function

Offline Android Maps transforms your phone into a full-fledged GPS device. At the same time, you don’t need to spend money on mobile traffic, which is often very expensive.

Not all users want to spend time downloading individual locations (as described above). You can download a one-time set of detailed maps for a specific country or region. One such solution is. It is available for Android smartphones and tablets, iOS devices, and car navigators.

In the "Buy" section on the developer's website, special packages of offline maps are posted. And not only for Russia, but also for neighboring countries, Europe, the USA, and Latin America.

In terms of the quality of map detail, this is perhaps the best offline navigator for mobile devices.

Sygic – offline navigator for Europe and the USA

Sygic is a GPS navigation application. Supports free 3D offline maps for Android, you can travel anywhere with them (at least > 200 countries). Offline maps display Points of Interest - gas stations, cafes, shops, attractions. All that is required to use the maps is to first download them to your mobile device.

Realtime functions work only in online mode. In particular, Sygic offers the most accurate traffic information based on data from 500 million users worldwide. Information is also provided by global automakers, mobile operators, mapping and traffic information providers.

During the first 7 days, you can test all navigator features (including those available with a Lifetime Premium subscription). After 7 days, Sygic leaves only basic capabilities, but this is quite enough for full-fledged work.

Maps.me – GPS navigator for your phone with OSM maps

Maps.me is an excellent free navigator for users who need offline operation and traffic savings.

Maps.me supports offline OpenStreetMap maps, which are characterized by good detail. Ordinary users participate in the development of maps. Some maps are qualitatively better than Google Maps. It comes to the point that a shop or path that is not in other navigators can be marked on the Maps.me map.

Working offline is convenient: in fact, you can get directions without having an Internet connection on your phone. To work offline, you must first download the map to your device through the Maps.me navigator menu.

Maps.me: detailed offline maps for Android

The second option is to go to the desired location and zoom in on it. The map fragment of interest will be loaded into the phone cache. Offline maps take up only a few tens of megabytes. free

Which offline navigator is the best?

Let's summarize.

If openness and free maps are important, all offline navigators are good except Navitela. If you are willing to pay about $30 for quality, Navitel Navigator will be an excellent solution and, without a doubt, will be worth the money invested. This GPS program holds its own and is popular.

Navigation Google Maps works without an Internet connection, but there is still a limitation for Android and iOS versions: you can save only certain sections of the map (one or several cities) for offline use, while motorists most often need more detailed sections of the maps .

Waze– a promising navigator with a large community. But keep in mind: not all traffic information will be available offline, and maps are not always perfect in their detail.

Sygic: GPS Navigation displays 3D offline maps for 200+ countries. The application will be convenient when traveling around Europe and the USA without the Internet.

Advice. Install not one, but two navigators on your phone. Download offline maps and test each option. Leave the app you like best.

Navigators on Android allow you to receive accurate location information and plot routes taking into account all kinds of obstacles. Such software is most in demand when traveling through unfamiliar areas, where it is quite difficult to navigate without tips. Although some may find it useful for short walks or bike rides. If you have a car and an Android smartphone, then with a 90% chance you also have a navigation application. This article will help you choose a worthy alternative to the navigator you are already using, or choose the best navigator for you that meets all your needs.

An Android smartphone with a navigator installed is better than a separate GPS navigator
A GPS navigator can be purchased as a separate device, but this solution has a number of significant disadvantages. Why buy another device when the same functionality is available through an application on Google Play? Moreover, smartphones and tablets are much more productive than GPS navigators, which affects the speed of operation. Most often, they differ significantly in the amount of RAM, processor power, etc. It is also worth noting the situation with updates - on GPS navigators this may require periodic firmware changes, which is not very convenient. On your smartphone, just download the new version of the application from Google Play or ours.

When choosing a navigator for Android, you should be guided by which country you plan to use it in most often and for what purposes. Some applications are better adapted for use in Russia, but at the same time there are also programs aimed at Western users. They are also available on the territory of the Russian Federation, but do not contain such detailed information about it.

For a comparative review, 10 navigation programs from Google Play were selected, which will be considered in descending order of their popularity. When assigning ratings, we took into account not only the convenience and set of functions, but also a number of secondary parameters characteristic of applications of this type. The presence of a 3D mode, traffic data, offline access and a number of other characteristics were taken into account. A comparative table with editorial ratings is located at the end of this article.

The Google application is a confident leader in its segment, significantly ahead of its competitors in terms of the number of installations. This is due not only to the fact that the developer integrates its own services into Android, but also to significant changes that have occurred over the past few years. During this time, the number of supported countries has increased and the functionality has expanded significantly. But first things first.

There are no questions about the appearance of the application; everything is in perfect order. Most of the screen is occupied by a map; at the top there is a search bar, where voice input is also available. You can find not only a place by address, but also a store or restaurant, knowing only its name. The main menu opens by swiping from the left edge and contains almost everything you need - a list of saved places, chronology, traffic data, etc. When you first start, you will need to connect using a Google account, in the future all statistics will be stored on it. You can leave reviews about the establishments you visit directly from the application.

The functionality of Google Maps is truly comprehensive - the user can not only plot routes, but also plan visits to certain establishments. Each of them has a rating with reviews from visitors, be it a cinema, pharmacy or clinic. For some there is also more detailed information - operating hours, workload, etc. The journey will take less time if you choose the optimal route taking into account traffic jams and public transport schedules.

The mobile version of Google Maps offers the well-known Street View, designed for viewing locations in 3D mode. Not long ago, an offline mode appeared, allowing you to receive data without access to the Internet. To use the map without connecting to the network, you need to open the Offline maps item in the main menu and select the required area there. Depending on its size, the size of the downloaded package will be determined. For example, for Moscow it is about 160 MB. Cities with a population of over a million “weigh” about 30-50 mb. It is worth remembering that it is still advisable to constantly have access to the Internet. You can get directions without it, but you won’t be able to view data about establishments.

Google Maps can be considered an absolutely deserved leader among navigators on Android. At the time of writing the review, the application contained maps of 220 countries, 15,000 cities with driving directions and detailed descriptions of more than 100,000 establishments. Most of the functions are available in the Russian Federation, the maps are quite accurate, and there are more than enough reviews about different places from Russian users. Google maps can become an indispensable assistant both for navigation in your home region and for trips abroad. Unlike most competitors, the application is completely free; you only have to pay for Internet traffic. The final score is 4.9 points out of 5.

Waze can be considered one of the main competitors of Google Maps. In some respects, this application is significantly ahead of its famous competitor - social interaction is better organized here and more data is presented about the situation on the roads, police checkpoints, accidents, etc. The detail of the maps depends on the region - the larger the settlement, the more detailed the information about it.

The Waze interface is quite convenient, and the appearance is not for everyone - visually it is made in the style of 2010. When starting, you should register, although this is not necessary, it is still worth creating an account - more functions are available to authorized users. The main screen contains a map and a search bar, and you can call up the main menu by swiping from the left edge - here the user has access to account information, settings, travel plans, etc.

The functionality of the navigator in Waze does not stand out much from its competitors - you can select the current route taking into account the traffic situation, find the cheapest gas station along the way, etc. There are also voice prompts\search and a 3D overview. The detail of the maps is quite good and the application is quite suitable for use in the CIS countries.

Waze can be considered a very worthy alternative to Google Maps. It is unlikely that the developers of this application are able to catch up with their main competitor in terms of the number of supported countries, but in terms of social interaction, everything is done perfectly. Waze supports dozens of different languages, including Russian, in which not only voice input is available, but also hints. There is also an offline mode and no paid content, but there are advertisements. Overall, Waze gets 4.8 points. 

Sygic is one of the most advanced navigation apps on Android. It has a large number of maps from different suppliers, including offline 3D maps from TomTom, relevant for more than 120 countries.

Visually, Sygic looks quite decent, and there are no questions about the ease of control. Some users may find the fonts in the application too large and cannot be changed in the settings. In general, the Sygic interface is quite similar to a regular navigator - most of the screen is occupied by a map, it also has a search bar and a quick menu.

One of the key benefits of Sygic is the high quality maps that can be stored on the device. In addition to the aforementioned TomTom, other providers are available. Free map updates occur several times a year. The application supports voice commands with pronunciation of street names and receives information about changes on the road in real time. This allows you to avoid traffic jams and use the most optimal routes.

Sygic is a very high quality navigation app with lots of maps and a wide range of features. Unfortunately, not everything is available in the free version. The trial period is 7 days, after which you can limit yourself to free functionality or upgrade to Premium. The cost of a subscription depends on the region and ranges from 50 to 100 euros, but at the time of writing the review there were discounts and you could get unlimited Premium for only 16-20 euros. Given the availability of very decent free navigators, most users will not pay for a subscription. Moreover, the free version is not particularly limited in terms of map detail. The final score for Sygic is 4.6 out of 5. 

MapFactor is a navigator using Open Street Map data. Maps can be installed on a memory card or internal storage of the device so as not to connect to the network during a trip.

When you first start, you need to select the map source and country. For Russia, there is a division by region, which allows you to save space in the device’s memory and quickly access the application. The cards are relatively compact, for example, the Moscow region weighs only 0.3 GB. If you wish, you can use data from TomTom instead of Open Street Maps. Externally, MapFactor looks somewhat outdated - the interface is more similar to applications for Android 2.2.

Open Street Map is a collaborative project for creating maps. Any user can contribute to its development. Having a large international community has a positive effect on the quality of content and frequency of updates.

MapFactor supports voice navigation, route planning, and alerts about upcoming maneuvers. If you get close to the speed recorders, the user will hear an audible warning. Not only is it possible to switch between 2D and 3D modes, but also select a color scheme – day or night.

MapFactor can be called one of the best free navigators on Android. It supports many languages ​​and contains detailed information for dozens of countries. The disadvantages of the application include a somewhat outdated interface and the need to preload maps. The final MapFactor score is 4.4 points out of 5 possible.

MAPS.ME – free and completely offline maps. The Android app supports turn-by-turn navigation and is used by more than 60 million users worldwide.

Externally, MAPS.ME is not much different from other navigators. Most of the main screen here is occupied by the map, and closer to the edges of the display there are control elements - zooming, toolbar, etc. In general, the controls are quite convenient.

The main advantages of MAPS.ME are autonomy and the absence of paid content. Maps are downloaded directly from the application, just select the country and city. The information on them is quite detailed - the user can easily find the way to any establishment. Maps are updated daily by the multimillion-strong Open Street Map community, which is a worthy open-source alternative to Google Maps.

MAPS.ME is one of the best mobile navigators based on Open Street Map. The Android application has a pleasant interface and a large range of tools, and there is no charge for its use. The final MAPS.ME score is 4.6 points out of 5. 

2GIS is one of the most popular navigators in Russia. This application has long been in great demand - back when mobile Internet was expensive and slow, and maps were most often used offline.

The Android version has a user-friendly interface, although it doesn’t stand out much from its competitors. The main screen consists of familiar elements - a map and control panels. It is not necessary to create an account in the application, but it can still be useful for better integration with social networks.

2GIS is convenient primarily because it works without the Internet. After downloading a city map, you can use it in roaming or in places where there is no network connection. 2GIS not only knows the roads and landscape structure well, but also has information about various establishments that the user may need. These include clinics, post offices, cafes, car services and much more. Now you don’t even have to look for the front entrance - the application will do it for you, showing the way to the door itself. In total, the database contains more than 2.5 million different organizations.

2GIS will be an indispensable assistant for drivers. The application will show the most optimal route and warn about all dangerous maneuvers. Traffic jams, overlaps, accidents and other obstacles are also taken into account. The detail of the maps depends on the location. 2GIS is available in all major Russian cities, in some of them there is detailed information about shopping centers, that is, you can see directly from the application where the nearest ATM is located, which stores are present in the shopping center, etc.

2GIS has proven itself well for a long time and the Android version is no exception. Here the user will find all the necessary navigation tools, and completely free of charge. There is no charge for using the application, but there are advertisements. 2GIS gets 4.7 points out of 5. 

Yandex.Navigator will help you quickly get to your destination by calculating the optimal route taking into account traffic jams. Other road events are also taken into account - accidents, repairs, etc.

The application has a very convenient and stylish interface, although nothing else was expected from Yandex. By default, the main screen displays not only a map and a standard toolbar, but also a traffic congestion indicator on a 10-point scale (for those cities where information about traffic jams is available).

When selecting a route, several options are offered, starting with the fastest. The application will notify the user if part of the route falls on a toll section. During your ride, the remaining time and distance are displayed, as well as notifications about maneuvers, cameras and other obstacles. Yandex.Navigator has data on speed limits; if the user is driving too fast, he will receive a corresponding notification.

Control in Yandex.Navigator is quite convenient, especially since you can completely switch to voice input. This will allow you not to touch the device with your hands at all during the trip. The user will be able to give commands by voice and receive all necessary notifications in the same mode.
You can save a history of destinations so you don't have to enter an address each time, but simply select a destination from a list in the future. Data is stored in the cloud and is available on all devices. For this you will need a Yandex account.

Otherwise, this navigator has a standard set of functions. There is a 3D mode and data about various organizations that you may encounter along the way - hospitals, restaurants and much more. The application is intended primarily for the CIS countries, which is reflected in the detail of the maps - for the cities of Russia, Ukraine, etc. there is much more information here. For example, Yandex.Navigator knows everything about Moscow parking lots up to the 3rd transport ring. The application will immediately show you where you can leave your car and where parking is prohibited.

For users from Russia, Yandex.Navigator will be the best option. All the necessary functions are present here, including offline mode, and the program is completely free. The final score is 4.8 points. 

Navitel Navigator is an application with detailed maps of more than 60 countries. In essence, this is a full-fledged navigation service with a huge number of additional functions, but first things first.

Visually, Navitel Navigator looks like an application from 2010; for some reason it even has its own status bar with the current time, battery charge, etc. From the fonts and size of some icons it is immediately clear that the developers were focused on screens with low resolution - everything is in FullHD it looks ridiculous.

Functionally, Navitel Navigator can be called one of the most advanced applications in its segment. There are offline maps, data on traffic jams, weather and various road events. There are also warnings about video cameras, accidents, etc. Three-dimensional maps display not only the structure of the landscape, but also the height of buildings. Multi-level interchanges are also available in 3D mode.

In terms of map detail, Navitel Navigator is ahead of most competitors. When planning routes, many factors are taken into account here, including road lanes, and the on-board computer displays data from more than 100 different sensors - time, speed, weather conditions, etc. The advantages of the application can be listed for a very long time - including voice prompts and an unlimited number of points when constructing a trajectory and much more.

Navitel Navigator would be among the leaders in its segment if not for a paid subscription. The trial period is only one week, after which the carriage turns into a pumpkin. In our case, a significant number of functions are simply disabled - route planning, voice prompts, traffic jams, 3D mode. The premium version costs between $10 and $30 depending on the country. At the same time, there are no maps of most of Europe and America here at all. In total, Navitel Navigator receives only 4.3 points out of 5.

CityGuide is a navigator with detailed maps of the whole world. You can use both data from the CityGuide service and Open Street Maps.
CityGuide looks pretty good (although it is about 5 years behind its competitors in design) and there are no special problems with the controls. At the first start, the user chooses which cards he needs. The CityGID system is paid and more detailed. Maps from Open Street Maps are completely free, but they are updated less frequently and contain less information.

The functionality of CityGuide does not particularly depend on which system the user chooses - CityGuide or OSM. In both cases, he will have access to traffic data and offline navigation. At the same time, CityGID has a number of advantages - in addition to the above-mentioned frequency of updates, these include warnings about traffic police radars and various hazards on the roads, as well as taking into account the schedule of railway crossings and opening/closing of bridges.

In general, CityGuide is designed primarily for the CityGID system; OSM support is more like an additional feature. option. This is far from the only application that works with Open Street Maps. CityGuide also has social interaction features, where you can send messages to friends and plan trips together. An SOS service is also available, allowing you to call a tow truck or various emergency services.

CityGuide can hardly be considered a worthy alternative to other mobile navigators. This is primarily due to the paid subscription model. After the 15-day trial period ends, the application stops running altogether. That is, there is not even a limited free version. Purchasing a license will cost 690 rubles for your home region or 1,490 rubles for all of Russia. There are other options, which can be found on the official website of the application. CityGuide rating – 4 points exactly. 

Maverick is the most modest of the 10 navigators selected for this review. In essence, this is not an independent service, but a shell with support for various offline and online maps.

In terms of design, Maverick is stuck somewhere in 2010-2012, although this is a common problem for navigation applications. When you first launch it, it immediately becomes clear that the developers were focusing on low-resolution screens that were popular 5 or more years ago. And the Russian language is not supported here.

The main advantage of the application is the ability to choose a data source - Bing, Yandex, Open Street Maps, Multimap and many others. Most maps are automatically cached for offline use.

In Maverick, the user can build routes, mark places visited, and receive information about establishments. Also available are speed sensors, altitude sensors, barometer and much more.

The disadvantages of Maverick include not the most user-friendly interface and the presence of significant limitations in the free version. It does not allow you to download maps or save routes. There is also no integration with Foursquare. True, the Pro version is quite inexpensive - 300 rubles. However, for most users this program is useless if there are more worthy free analogues. Overall, Maverick gets only 3.9 points out of 5 possible. 

Results and comparison

In addition to Google Maps and Yandex.Navigator, Waze entered the top three
The Google application received 4.9 points, the other two - 4.8. It is unlikely that such a ranking will surprise anyone. Google Maps is the reference navigator by which developers of other applications are compared. Most of the participants in this review received ratings from 4.3 to 4.7. Only CityGuide and Maverick are left far behind - the first due to the lack of a free version as such, the second due to limited functionality.

Evaluation of additional features

Traffic data is provided by 7 out of 10 applications, but in terms of the presence of paid content, the applications are divided in a ratio of 60 to 40. Only 4 navigators have a paid subscription or maps, and they are not among the top three. Paid navigators are almost in no way superior to free ones, and in many ways they are even inferior, while developers also want to make money from them. Perhaps there are countries in which Maverick or Sygic are superior in detail to the same Yandex.Navigator, but when compiling the final rating, the situation in Russia was taken into account primarily.

Applications from Yandex or Google have been occupying first places in the top of certain segments for a long time and this will not surprise anyone. A similar phenomenon can be observed among dictionaries (Google.Translate and Yandex.Translator), music programs, browsers, etc. Navigators are no exception, here applications from Google and Yandex also took the top. A worthy alternative is Waze, which is significantly superior in terms of tools for social interaction. The remaining applications in this review cope well with their tasks, but in the opinion of the editors, they cannot yet compete significantly with the above three leaders.

Probably every smartphone user had to turn to a navigator for help. There are times when you are in a foreign city and don’t know how to get to a certain place. Some people ask passers-by in the old fashioned way, but there are not always people willing to answer you. If you have a smartphone, then it is best to turn to your navigator for help. Almost all young people know how to use a navigator on their phone. But older people most likely don’t even know that such an application exists. In this article we will talk about how to use a navigator on your phone, as well as how to handle it in the forest and without the Internet.

Using the navigator

Let's look at the instructions for using the navigator:

• First of all, you need to make sure that your phone model supports the navigation function. If your phone is an old model that does not have this application, then, alas, you will have to purchase a new one.
• Download the application on the website or in the store, install it, after which you need to launch it. After launch, you will see several options: find an address, follow a route, search for a deposit, etc.
• If you need to find a specific establishment or a specific address, then you need to enter it - and the application will find you the way.
• If this is your first time using a navigator, then practice with the nearest address and you will see how it works.
• After entering the required address, the device will give you voice alerts about where you are going and where you need to turn.
• All you need to do is pay attention, because if you take a wrong turn, the device can change the trajectory of the path to the required address.
• You can find a shortcut to the desired location yourself. You can also choose a voice that will notify you.
• If you need to get to a restaurant or store, then you need to select a location search, the navigator will find you all the suitable places.

Using a navigator without the Internet

A huge disadvantage of all navigators is that they only work via the Internet. And, as you know, mobile Internet is quite expensive, and not everyone can afford to connect to it. The Internet consumes your data limit and also drains your battery. This happens due to a constant connection to the Internet. Many users ask the question: how to use a navigator on a phone without the Internet? The answer is quite simple. Now there are many applications that work without an Internet connection. You can also download a map of any city you need and use it without connecting to the Internet. You can view directions using the saved map. How to use a navigator on your phone? This is much easier with downloaded maps if you do not have access to the Internet.

Navigators that work without the Internet

With such applications, you will no longer have the question of how to use the navigator on your phone. Let's look at the most popular applications that do not require an Internet connection:

• SygicAuraMaps.
• MapDroid.
• MaverickPro.
• NavfreeFree GPS.

Navigator and forest

Before you get ready to go into the forest, you need to study all the settlements, roads and railway tracks that are nearby. You also need to take a map and compass with you. If you don’t have this or that item, it doesn’t matter, you can use your phone. You just need to download the navigator and compass. on your phone in the forest? Very simple, just like in the city. Once you enter the forest, save your location. And that’s it, you can walk through the forest as much as you want. You can even turn off your phone so as not to drain the battery. Once turned on, it will show where you are and where the starting point was. So don't worry about getting lost, walk and enjoy the fresh air.

If you like to travel by car, bicycle or on foot, you simply cannot do without a GPS navigator. Plot the optimal route, find a road that is not congested with traffic, choose the appropriate type of public transport - a special application for GPS navigation will help you cope with all these tasks. In today's material we will choose the best GPS navigator for Android, based on several criteria: convenience, functionality, price, license on the basis of which the program is distributed. Having become acquainted with the best representatives of this class of applications, you will be able to choose the most optimal option for yourself, which will help you out both in a large busy city and on impassable rough terrain.

Official page

A universal solution available in most Android smartphones by default. The user can choose from several layers representing one or another type of infrastructure: public transport, bike paths, satellite, terrain. Also, if you want to look at the congestion on major highways, you can do this by turning on the “Traffic” layer. The Google Maps mobile application is closely integrated with another program for exploring the area, Google Earth, which makes it possible to conveniently find points of interest and interesting objects marked by users and cataloged by the application developers. The route planning service is also quite convenient.

Options for tracking the locations you marked on the map and the chronology of interesting objects that you visited are included in separate categories. These functions provide you with advanced search capabilities for positions on the map and automatic route selection. In addition, thanks to integration with the Google Now notification system, by activating the recording of your location history, you will be able to view data about the places you visited on a private map. The “Your Impressions” function is especially useful. So, when you go to a cafe, bar or pizzeria and try something delicious from the menu, you can leave your review about the quality of service, level of service or variety of drinks, so that other users have the opportunity to form their own impression of this or that establishment. This module works similarly to the other mobile program Foursquare, and if you have already worked with it, then understanding this function in Google Maps will not be difficult at all.

One of the latest features of Google Maps is a module for downloading selected areas for later viewing offline. If you want to navigate the area without constantly connecting your smartphone to the network, you can download a map of a given area and use it completely offline. However, due to its novelty, this function is not yet sufficiently optimized (maps of only large cities are available. When leaving the city limits, you immediately have to connect to the server again to download a map of the area to your mobile device).

Yandex Navigator - the highest quality GPS Navigator for Android in Russia and the CIS countries

Official page

Among all free analogues, Yandex Navigator stands out due to its user-friendly interface, wide range of functions and low hardware requirements. The maps are very detailed and include a wide variety of POIs: restaurants, gas stations, hotels, etc. By simply clicking on the traffic light button in the upper right corner, you can get detailed data on the degree of congestion on roads, highways and highways. Another nice feature is a discrete layer that informs the user about accidents and traffic jams, which will undoubtedly be quite appropriate for motorists and other road users. Separately, it is worth noting the high-quality voice search, which will appeal to fans of voice services that were previously unique to products from Google, and have now migrated to third-party products from competing development companies. Just like Google Maps, Yandex Navigator can be used as a GPS navigator without the Internet. By downloading maps offline, if necessary, you can explore the area you need without additional financial costs for mobile traffic.

In the GPS navigator for Android from Yandex, the user has three main viewing modes, which can be switched between literally on the fly. The first of them (“Scheme”) provides a normal, two-dimensional display of the map, the second (“Satellite”) allows you to look at the area in satellite mode (similar to the Google Earth mode in Google Maps) and the third (“People”) provides an overview taking into account the schematic location of buildings in the selected area.

The routing mechanism is also not particularly difficult. You can make a path from a given object to a specified location either directly or through an intermediate point, which is very convenient if you want to refuel or stop at a car wash along the way.

Taken together, Yandex Navigator is a full-featured free application with a set of both standard (several layers of map display, display of traffic density, downloading maps offline) and exclusive features (voice dialing, night and 3D views, the ability to view and pay fines online) .

Official page

Perhaps one of the most extensive paid GPS navigators for Android is a software product from Czech developers called Navitel Navigator. Distributed on a paid basis, Navitel contains all the functions required by the most demanding and sophisticated users. There are several map display modes, the ability to plot routes using voice commands, taking into account the timbre and personality of speech, and select the satellite you need from several available.

In addition to the individual features described above, the program can even find out the weather forecast, which will help you make more accurate plans when traveling outside the city. There is also a function for switching between profiles for different types of transport, which will be especially important if you are not moving around the city by car.

Navigation along the route is quite convenient, there are functions for zooming, adding discrete waypoints on the map that are taken into account when drawing up the route, as well as exporting and importing them.

To find the object you need on the map, you will have to first download it from the developer’s website ( navitel.ru) the corresponding map, and then specify it in the search settings.

It is worth noting that most of the functions are not available in the free version, and to fully use the program it is suggested to purchase a license. However, to install, try out the main functional modules and evaluate the design of the application, the free version will be enough.

OsmAnd Navigator – the best GPS navigator for offline use

Official page

A free, open-source GPS navigator that supports custom geotagging and access to data from the Open Street Maps (OSM) service. The manufacturing company offers the user several versions to choose from (free with a limit of 7 downloads and no data pumping from Wikipedia, and several paid ones: for tourists who love to conquer mountain heights; for motorists with parking locations; for skiers with markings of mountain trails and routes). However, the free version and its functions will be sufficient for full personal use.

What are the advantages of OsmAnd? The main advantage of the application is its openness. Due to the fact that any user of the service has the right to add tags with the attractions, museums, pubs, clubs and other POIs he has found, sometimes, after carefully studying the active map, it is possible to find objects that are not available in other navigators. However, some diligent users are diligent in the process of plotting objects on the map, as a result of which we receive detailed, rich cartographic information for both motorists and supporters of other means of transportation, and for pedestrians. The program has a built-in function for creating routes for any traveler, taking into account the terrain and relief - you just need to select the starting and ending points.

Also worth noting is the fully functional offline mode. Having downloaded the map once, you can no longer connect to the network at all, searching for POIs and plotting routes completely offline.

Another proprietary bun is a huge variety of online maps (raster or tile) and layers for special purposes, among which we can highlight height shading layers, geological and climate maps, weather maps, satellite images, etc. Finally, the final chord in favor of OsmAnd is optimization of the distance between given points, taking into account highways, dirt or toll roads, as well as the possibility of covering the distance by ferry.

In this review, we described only the most popular applications for GPS navigation, leaving behind such mobile products as others. All that remains for your consideration is to choose the most optimal GPS navigator for Android, based on your own preferences and tastes , which is what this material will help you with.