In this guide
For everyday directions and nearby places, start with Google Maps. Choose Waze for driving alerts, Citymapper for public transportation, or AllTrails for hiking. iPhone users should also try Apple Maps, while Roadtrippers and MapOut serve more specialized planning needs.
Amnah Asghar has personally used and tested all seven apps in this guide. The right choice depends on your destination, travel mode and whether you will have an internet connection.
Compare the best map apps
| App | Best for | Cost | Offline limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Maps | everyday directions and place search | Free | Downloaded areas support driving; no offline walking, cycling or transit directions |
| Waze | traffic-aware driving | Free | Needs a data connection for reliable routing and live reports |
| AllTrails | finding and following hiking trails | Free Base; paid Plus and Peak | Map downloads are included in paid plans |
| Apple Maps | navigation on an iPhone | Free | Offline iPhone maps support several travel modes in selected areas |
| Citymapper | public transportation in supported cities | Free core app; optional paid features | Keep a backup; live departures and disruptions need current data |
| Roadtrippers | planning stops in the US and Canada | Limited free planning; paid memberships | Offline maps and larger itineraries depend on membership |
| MapOut | offline route planning on iPhone and iPad | Paid App Store download | Downloaded maps, search and route planning work offline |
1. Google Maps: best for everyday directions and place search
Best for: People who want directions and local information in the same app.
Keep in mind: Download the whole route, not just your destination, and keep offline maps updated.
Google Maps is the best starting point if you want one app for directions, business listings and finding places nearby. It is especially useful when your day mixes driving, walking and public transportation. Shared lists also help a group keep possible stops in one place.
Download an area before a trip if mobile coverage may be unreliable. The important limit is the travel mode: offline maps support driving within the downloaded area, but not walking, cycling or transit directions. Live traffic and alternative routes also need a connection. Check opening hours with the business when a wasted trip would matter.
Pros
Several travel modes; useful place search; downloadable maps for driving.
Cons
Offline directions have important limits; business details can be outdated; advanced features vary by location.
Availability: Android, iPhone and web. Cost: Free.
2. Waze: best for traffic-aware driving
Best for: Drivers with mobile data who want traffic and incident information.
Keep in mind: Set your destination and alert preferences before driving; follow road signs over app instructions.
Waze is the driving-focused choice for commuters who value reports of congestion, hazards and road closures. Reports from other drivers can add useful context to an ETA, particularly on a route you already know.
It is designed for private cars, motorcycles and taxis, not walking, cycling or truck-specific routing. Waze expects an internet connection, so it should not be your only navigation tool on a trip with long coverage gaps. No app can promise the fastest route every time: reports may be late, and conditions can change after you set off.
Pros
Driver reports; traffic-aware routing; alerts relevant to a daily commute.
Cons
Not a walking or transit planner; depends on connectivity and fresh reports; alerts can be distracting.
Availability: Android and iPhone. Cost: Free.
3. AllTrails: best for finding and following hiking trails
Best for: Hikers and trail runners comparing routes and planning time outdoors.
Keep in mind: Check closures and weather with the park or land manager, and carry a suitable backup.
AllTrails is our pick for choosing a hike rather than simply finding the road to its starting point. Trail descriptions, elevation information, photos and recent reviews help you judge whether a route fits your time and ability.
Base covers trail discovery and basic use. Plus adds offline maps, wrong-turn alerts and live sharing; Peak includes Plus features and adds tools such as custom routes and activity heatmaps. Download your map before leaving coverage. Live sharing is not an emergency-response service, and a review from another hiker cannot confirm that a trail is open or safe today.
Pros
Trail-focused search; elevation and community information; paid offline navigation tools.
Cons
Offline maps require a subscription; reports may be outdated; conditions and access need a separate check.
Availability: Android and iPhone. Cost: Free Base; paid Plus and Peak. Subscription prices and features can vary by region and plan.
4. Apple Maps: best for navigation on an iPhone
Best for: iPhone users who want a built-in daily navigation app.
Keep in mind: Confirm the Download option is available for the area you will visit.
Apple Maps is the natural first app to try on an iPhone if you want directions integrated with Siri, CarPlay and Apple Watch. There is little setup, and you can use it for everyday driving, walking and transit where those features are available.
On iOS 17 or later, downloaded maps can provide driving, walking, cycling and transit directions in supported areas. That is a useful distinction from Google Maps’ offline driving-only directions. Downloads are stored on the device and do not automatically sync across all your devices. Check regional availability before a trip, especially for specialized features such as EV routing.
Pros
Convenient Apple-device integration; useful offline travel modes; no separate navigation subscription.
Cons
Features vary by region; downloaded maps do not sync across devices; web access is not identical to the native app.
Availability: Apple devices and web. Cost: Free.
5. Citymapper: best for public transportation in supported cities
Best for: Commuters and visitors combining walking with public transportation.
Keep in mind: Check the local operator when an outage or last departure could leave you stranded.
Citymapper is the first specialist to try if your trip involves changing between buses, trains and walking. Its focus is getting you through a city’s transportation network, with details that help you compare connections and choose where to board or exit when available.
Check that your city and transport modes are supported before relying on it. Live data depends on local coverage, and an estimated departure is not a guarantee that a service will arrive on time. For an unfamiliar station, leave time to find the platform and check the operator’s notices if a disruption could affect your connection.
Pros
Transit-focused route comparison; connection guidance; useful city-travel information.
Cons
Coverage varies by city and operator; not a general road-trip planner; live information needs connectivity.
Availability: Android and iPhone. Cost: Free core app; optional paid features. Subscription prices and features can vary by region and plan.
6. Roadtrippers: best for planning stops in the US and Canada
Best for: Travelers building a multi-stop US or Canadian road trip.
Keep in mind: An RV route suggestion does not replace posted height, weight or road restrictions.
Roadtrippers is best for deciding what to do between your starting point and destination. It combines route planning with places to stop, campground information and itinerary organization, making it useful for a vacation that involves more than reaching a single address.
The developer lists free planning with up to three stops and Premium trips with up to 150. Paid features include offline maps and RV-oriented navigation. The service is designed for trips in the United States and Canada. Check the current membership comparison before paying, and independently confirm vehicle restrictions, campsite availability and opening hours.
Pros
Stop discovery; saved itineraries; camping and RV planning tools.
Cons
The free stop limit is restrictive; useful tools require payment; intended for US and Canadian trips.
Availability: Android, iPhone and web. Cost: Limited free planning; paid memberships. Subscription prices and features can vary by region and plan.
7. MapOut: best for offline route planning on iPhone and iPad
Best for: iPhone and iPad users planning walks or bike rides away from reliable data coverage.
Keep in mind: Treat it as a map and route-planning tool, not a substitute for a live traffic app.
MapOut is the best fit here for people who want to study a map and draw their own walking or cycling route. Its OpenStreetMap-based maps, elevation profiles and route tools are useful when the path matters as much as the destination.
Download the relevant map tiles first. You can then search the downloaded area, draw routes, record a trip and work with imported tracks without a mobile connection. GPX and KML import support makes it useful for routes shared by others. Check those routes for access restrictions and keep downloaded maps current; a line on a map does not establish a public right of way.
Pros
Offline search and route planning; route recording; track import and export; elevation information.
Cons
No Android version; requires advance downloads; less suited to live traffic and daily driving.
Availability: iPhone and iPad. Cost: Paid App Store download.
What offline navigation actually includes
A GPS position and a downloaded map are different things. Your phone can determine its location without mobile data, but the app still needs the maps and routing information for the area. Download maps over Wi-Fi, then check that the area opens before you leave.
Google documents offline driving limits, including the absence of walking and transit directions. Apple’s offline Maps guidance covers several travel modes in supported areas. Choose according to the trip, rather than assuming every downloaded map offers the same help.
Keep your route, accommodation and meeting-point details somewhere you can access without a connection. For a longer day, review these ways to manage battery-draining apps and our travel power-bank guide. Lowering screen use can help, but do not disable the location permissions needed for navigation.
Choose around your route and privacy preferences
Try each app on a familiar route before relying on it somewhere new. Check the entrance it selects, the travel mode, toll preferences and whether your car display is supported. Set up voice guidance before moving and pull over safely before making changes.
Review location permissions, history settings and sharing controls rather than assuming one brand provides complete privacy. If you share a live location, choose your recipients carefully and stop sharing when the trip ends. For outdoor trips, check official closures and weather, tell someone your plan and carry a backup appropriate to the terrain.
Use a specialist only when it solves a real problem. Citymapper can complement a general map app, while MapOut can help with offline route planning. Our Google Maps commute guide covers another way to organize routine travel.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free map app?
Google Maps is a useful all-round starting point for directions and place search. Waze suits drivers who want traffic reports, while Apple Maps is a convenient free option on an iPhone. The best choice depends on local coverage and travel mode.
Can Google Maps give walking directions offline?
No. Downloaded Google Maps areas support driving directions, but offline walking, cycling and transit directions are unavailable. Downloaded Apple Maps can support those modes in selected areas; MapOut is another option for offline walking-route planning on iPhone and iPad.
Does Waze work without internet?
Waze is designed around an active data connection. Without one, route lookup and live traffic information are not dependable. Use a downloaded-map option as a backup for areas with weak coverage.
Do you need to pay for AllTrails offline maps?
Map downloads are part of AllTrails Plus and Peak. Download the area before leaving coverage. Live sharing and alerts do not replace trail checks, a backup navigation plan or emergency equipment.
Is MapOut available for Android?
MapOut is an iPhone and iPad app, not an Android app. Its downloaded maps, search and route-planning tools are intended for offline use after you prepare the area in advance.
My faborite feature of google maps is the option for most fuel efficient route. Unfortunately, it only works with wifi or data service.
Trying de-google my life… what’s the next best free “map” app?… for road travel in Canada.
What I miss on these map apps is the lack of information. Boundary lines are often missing. No millage key. Not everyone looking at a map is going somewhere. Paper maps always have more information.
can’t find MAPOUT for ANDROID in GOOGLE PLAY….link you have takes you to MAPOUT24 which is some auto service link.
In the GOOGLE PLAY store it says MAPOUT is only available for iOS/Apple.
can you please review your research and advise?
I rely on the “voice” directions on my iPhone app Waze. I need “readers” to see directions but not to drive
Having trouble with voice cutting off long before I reach my destination. Arrow directions continue on the app but I need my glasses. Why do I lose the voice?
Hello I love all those information thanks for putting it out here really appreciate it,and if you have more you could help people like me do more thanks so much
Thanks, Lucy — glad the GPS roundup helped. If you tell me which devices you use (Android, iPhone, car head unit), I can point you to the best follow-up guides on TechEngage for offline maps and battery-friendly navigation.
Thanks for explaining your setup, Patricia. If Waze voice directions are cutting out, check iPhone Settings → Waze → Microphone, also Silence Unknown Callers / Focus modes, and in Waze: Settings → Voice and sound → ensure voice navigation is on and not muted by Bluetooth. If you say whether you are on CarPlay or phone speaker, I can narrow it further.