In Summary
- Offline navigation apps offer several advantages. They allow users to download maps and routes for later use, so they do not need an Internet connection while using the maps.
- Offline maps often include detailed information such as points of interest, landmarks and restaurants. They also provide turn-by-turn directions and help you navigate to different locations without an internet connection.
- There are several apps that support offline navigation. In this post, you’ll learn about the 10 best offline GPS apps and what features and benefits they offer.
Digital maps have completely changed the way we explore and connect with the world around us. Today, if you want to go somewhere, you can simply type in the address, and the map will show you the way with clear step-by-step directions.
Maps have made it easy to explore new places and provide instant access to a wealth of information with just one click. Most of us use maps online. But what happens when we’re in a place where the Internet signal is weak or when we have no Internet connection at all?
Don’t worry, there are many apps that allow us to use GPS even when we are offline. In this blog post, we will introduce you to the 10 best offline navigation apps. These apps offer turn-by-turn directions, plan routes, and provide information such as points of interest, landmarks, and restaurants without the need for an internet connection.
Table of Contents
Benefits of Using Offline Navigation Apps
- Don’t Need Internet: The biggest advantage of using maps offline is that you don’t need an internet connection to use them. You can easily download the maps and navigate to different places, plan routes, and much more without needing an internet connection.
- Saves Your Data: Offline maps are downloaded and stored locally on your device, so you don’t have to use up your data allowance to view specific locations or plan a route.
- Loads Fast: Compared to online maps, offline maps load very quickly. You don’t have to wait for them to download over the Internet.
- Saves Battery: When you use navigation maps, the battery usually drains faster. If you use maps offline, you can save a little battery life.
- More Private: Some apps like Google Maps store your location history. When you use offline maps, you’re not sending your location over the internet. So it’s a little more private.
Best Free Offline GPS Apps for iPhone and Android
Google Maps
Google Maps is the most popular app used by billions of people around the world. It is the default navigation app for most people, especially Android users. Google Maps was launched in February 2005 and brought offline maps support in 2015. With it, you can download a specific area or place, like a city or town. Google Maps is available in over 220 countries and territories. You can select any area on the map and download it for offline use.
The Google Maps app shows how much storage and data is needed to download the maps offline. Offline maps expire after about 15 days or less unless you have a data connection. To keep your maps offline, you need to connect to the Internet and enable automatic updates. If your device supports a microSD card, you can transfer data to your SD card. Go to Profile icon > Offline maps > Gear icon > Storage Preferences and select Device on SD card.
You can search for places, find businesses, and get driving directions while using Google Maps offline. Features such as bike routes, walking directions, and traffic information are not available when you use Google Maps offline. But the turn-by-turn feature is supported in offline mode. Google Maps offers recommendations for must-try places from local experts, Google, and publishers. Google Maps offers indoor maps so you can quickly find your way around large places like airports, shopping malls, and stadiums. When you use the maps offline, the app includes information on arrival times and more.
Speaking of other features in Google Maps, it provides information about trending places and new openings in the areas you’re looking for. You can also review places you’ve visited and add photos of missing streets and locations to get more accurate information. The offline maps are automatically updated with the new information when you reconnect to the Internet. So you’ll always get the latest information about the areas you’ve downloaded for offline use.
Google Maps also has collaboration features. You can share a shortlist of options and vote in real-time. You can also create lists of your favorite places and share them with friends. Another big highlight of the app is the user interface. It’s clean and easy to use and makes it easy for you to search and navigate to different places.
If you’re using Android, Google Maps is the default map app on your smartphone. If you use an iPhone, you can download the app from the Apple Store. Google Maps is available for free on almost all devices, including Android, Windows, iPhone, Mac, and even Apple CarPlay.
Here’s a simple step-by-step guide on how to use Google Maps offline:
- Open the Google Maps app on your smartphone.
- Tap on your profile picture in the upper right corner.
- Tap “Offline Maps. “
- Tap on “Select Your Own Map.”
- Move the rectangle over the area you want to download. You can easily drag the rectangle, and zoom in and out of the map area you want to download.
- Click “Download.” The map area will be downloaded and will be added to the downloaded maps section. By default, downloads happen only over the WiFi network. You can go to the settings > Offline maps settings > Download preferences and then select Over Wifi or mobile network and click Save to download maps over the cellular network as well.
Download Google Maps: Android | iOS
Apple Maps
Apple recently introduced support for offline maps in Apple Maps. Similar to Google Maps, in iOS 17, you can download parts of the maps and get turn-by-turn navigation, find places nearby, get directions, and more.
You can search for a specific area in the app or a location and download it offline. At the timing writing this article, Apple’s offline map support is limited to a few locations. If you have offline map support, just tap on the avatar, select the area or location, and click download to save the map offline. You can see all downloaded maps in the Downloads section on the map.
We have a detailed guide on how to use Apple Maps offline. You can visit the guide for a more detailed step-by-step process. To save you time, here are some quick steps you can follow to download Apple Maps on your iPhone.
Keep in mind that Apple Maps offline support is only available on devices running iOS 17 or later. If your device doesn’t meet the requirements, you can use the best alternatives like Google Maps, Maps.Me and other best apps to use maps offline. There is no alternative method to download and use Apple Maps offline without iOS 17.
How to download and use Apple Maps offline
- Open the Apple Maps app on your iPhone.
- Tap your profile avatar in the bar and then press the new “Offline Maps” button.
- Select “Download New Map”.
- Search for the area you want to download. The app will automatically suggest your home area.
- In the preview, the app will show you how much storage space you need to save the map. Confirm with the “Download” button, and the map will appear in the “Downloaded” list.
Download Apple Maps: iOS
Sygic GPS Navigation & Maps
The Sygic app is best for commuters and professional drivers. It has real-time traffic information, the fastest route correction, and other features like speed limit warnings, dashcam, head-on display, voice navigation, mobile speed camera, and more.
The map also works offline without an internet connection. You can choose from maps for over 200 countries and save the maps you need on your phone. All the features of the maps, such as high-quality offline maps, millions of points of interest, and route calculation software, are stored on your phone and allow you to navigate offline to different places.
Sygic offline maps support also includes popular landmarks, restaurants, and more. The app also allows you to search for places and points of interest in offline mode. You can simply use the search bar and find the places you want to navigate to. The app also offers offline voice-guided turn-by-turn directions. You can enable this feature to get voice instructions when you navigate to a specific location.
Sygic is available for both iOS and Android platforms. It supports multiple languages for navigation. The Sygic app comes in a free and a premium version. The free version of the app comes with features like offline maps, search, route calculation, places of interest, alerts of static speed cameras, and more. The app updates the offline maps 3 times a year for free. You can also upgrade to the premium version to update the maps more frequently. You also need a premium subscription to get voice-guided navigation, turn-by-turn navigation, intersection view, smart cam, and more.
Download Sygic GPS Navigation & Maps: Android | iOS
NaviMaps
Navimaps by MapmyIndia is an app designed specifically for offline use. The app allows you to download maps and use them offline. Currently, NaviMaps only supports offline maps of India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, including 3D landmarks, terrain models, city models, and more.
Unlike Google Maps or other popular apps we’ve reviewed that rely on user-uploaded data, NaviMaps has a team of over 400 surveyors who visit locations and collect data about each place.
You can simply select the country and state and download the map. After installing the app, you will be prompted to select the country and then the state within the country. The app will display a list of all states and the size of the map. You can simply select the state and start downloading. You’ll need an internet connection to download the map. NaviMaps offers free lifetime map updates, but the frequency of these updates is not mentioned.
NaviMaps also allows you to search for locations and points of interest in offline mode. The offline maps include points of interest, such as gas stations and parking lots. The app also offers voice-guided navigation in English and 10 regional languages when you use the app offline.
The app is simple and easy to use. NaviMaps is available for both iOS and Android platforms. You can download maps for offline use directly in the app. The app comes in a free version and a paid version. The free version of the app includes features like offline maps, offline search, route calculation, places of interest, live traffic data, and more. Upgrade to the premium version and get voice and visual turn-by-turn directions, lane assistance, speed alerts, POIs along the route, automatic rerouting, house number search, 3D landmarks, and more.
Download the NaviMaps app: Android | iOS
Maps.Me
MAPS.ME is another popular maps app developed for offline use. The app is free and provides offline maps based on OpenStreet Maps data. The maps are updated daily by millions of OpenStreetMap contributors. The app also lets you add, save, delete, import, and export favorite places or destinations.
You can check and download maps from all over the world. MAPS.ME is available in 345 countries and islands around the world. With the app, you can select driving, biking or hiking routes in offline mode. You can search for a specific location and download the maps for offline use.
You can find a lot of interesting places with trails and routes. You can do a quick search on the offline map, for example, for restaurants, shopping centers, national parks, beach resorts, amusement parks, and much more. The app allows you to sort places by categories. It also has collaboration features. With it, you can save your favorite locations and share them with others.
The app is free to use, and you can download unlimited maps for free. The app detects your location and downloads the offline map for the detected location. You can also search and download specific locations. When you zoom in on the location you’re interested in, the app will automatically ask you if you’d like to download the map. You can simply tap on the location and start downloading.
There is no specific information about how often the maps are updated, but according to the support page MAPS.ME, the OpenStreetMap data in the app is updated with a new version almost every month. The app is free and easy to use. MAPS.ME is available on both iOS and Android platforms.
Download MAPS-ME app: Android | iOS
OsmAnd — Maps & GPS Offline
OpenStreetMap (OSM) is one of the most popular and best offline maps you can use. It offers high-quality offline maps and voice-guided turn-by-turn navigation and provides millions of points of interest in offline mode. Similar to other apps, you can download and save the map data offline and use the map when you don’t have an active internet connection. You can download unlimited offline maps , and the downloaded maps are highlighted in the map preview.
You can plan a route to a location without an internet connection. The app offers customizable navigation profiles for different vehicles, including cars, motorcycles, bicycles, public transportation, and more. It also provides information about the route, such as distance, speed, remaining driving time, distance to turn, and more. You can tap on any place or popular landmark to get more information about the place or specific landmark and plan your trip.
The user interface is simple and easy to use. The app also supports plugins that allow you to extend the app and add additional features. Popular plugins in the app include weather support, adding contour lines, slopes, hillsides, and more. To install the map plugins, you’ll need a premium subscription. The app also has a travel guide feature that lets you get detailed trip reports in the app.
Download OsmAnd — Maps & GPS Offline: Android | iOS
HERE WeGo
HERE WeGo is another simple navigation app that supports offline maps. The app offers a simple and easy-to-use interface. With it, you can download offline maps for the whole country or maps for a specific location. You can navigate to the offline map feature, search for the country or a specific location, and click the download button to download the app.
The app allows you to plan routes offline. You can set your location, navigate to a destination, and return to your starting point without an internet connection. You can select locations on the office map and get turn-by-turn navigation. You can also tap on any location and get more information about it.
Currently, the app only supports offline maps for car, walking, and bike routes. Moreover, in offline mode, the map also shows fuel stations, restaurants, parking garages, and more. When connected online, you can view real-time traffic information, share your location with others, and get information about public transportation. You can also get speed alerts and quickly switch to online mode, and much more.
HERE WeGo is available on both iOS and Android platforms. You can download maps for offline use by going to the “Download Maps” section in the app’s settings. There you can select the regions you want to download. If you don’t have an internet connection, the app will automatically switch to offline mode. You can also turn on the offline map feature manually.
Download HERE WeGo app: Android | iOS
Avenza Maps
With Avenza Maps, you can import and download your custom maps based on OSM map data. You can manage and view all offline maps in a single place. In addition, Avenza Maps includes its own map store that contains various maps such as hiking, topographic, cycling, city, nautical, travel, and trail maps from publishers such as National Geographic, National Park Service, and the US Forest Service and more. Maps are downloaded offline and added to your map list.
Avenza Maps recently added support for OSM Basemap, which is still in beta as we write this article. With the free version of the app, you can find your location, record GPD tracks, draw on the app and measure the distance between places, take photos, and, most importantly, download the maps for offline use. Similar to Google and Apple Maps, you can select a specific area on the map and download the map. The app will tell you how much data is needed to download the app. The downloaded maps are automatically added to your offline map list.
Also, you can import custom maps with the app. You can import maps from the URL, cloud store, or directly from your device. The imported maps will be added to the list, and you can edit or manage the apps from there. Speaking of the app’s other features, it also supports layers and offers the ability to add custom layers to maps. You can add photos and notes to any location on your map. Avenza Maps does not offer turn-by-turn navigation.
Avenza Maps is simple and easy to use, but it might take a bit for users to understand how to import and use the maps effectively. The app is available for both iOS and Android platforms.
Download Avenza Maps offline: Android | iOS
MapFactor Navigator app
MapFactor offers free and professional versions of offline maps. The free version of the maps on the app comes from OpenStreetMaps contributors and consists of offline maps for more than 195 countries. You can use the free version of the maps to navigate to different places, find your coordinates, plan routes, set navigation, add places to your favorites, and more.
Mapfactor also supports TomTom professional maps and offers features like alternate routes, head-up display, no ads, app color themes, live HD traffic information (over 80 countries), online search, remote control, and more. You can upgrade to the premium version to get access to professional maps.
Similar to other apps, you can select the area and download the map. You can also browse different countries and states and download an offline version of the app. The app displays the space and data needed to download the app. The downloaded maps are added to your map list, and you can use them when you don’t have an internet connection. The app offers routing modes for cars, buses, trucks, pedestrians, bicycles, and motorcycles. The offline version of the app also includes points of interest that help you find and navigate to popular and useful destinations.
Speaking of other features: The app can be connected to Android Auto for use in vehicles that support the feature. You can switch between day and night map modes. You can save your favorite routes and locations for quick and easy access in the future. The app warns you about speed limits and cameras.
Download MapFactor App: Android | iOS
Waze
Waze is another popular navigation app available for both iPhone and Android. The app is mainly used for navigation to various destinations. It displays information like real-time traffic, turn-by-turn directions, average speed, real-time gas prices, and more while you use the app. The app uses crowd-sourced information and provides real-time traffic info from other users to help you find the best route and reach your destination.
Unlike other apps that support offline maps, Waze does not have offline map support. However, you can still use Waze without an internet connection. You can select your destination while you have an internet connection. When you go offline, the Waze app will still provide basic navigation features. Waze will still guide you to your destination, much like the offline maps in Google Maps. However, you won’t be able to take advantage of many of the Waze benefits, such as real-time traffic alerts and information or updated routes.
Download Waze app: Android | iOS
Comparing the Best Offline GPS Navigation Apps
| App | Offline Maps | Turn-by-Turn Navigation | Points of Interest | iOS & Android | Multiple Languages | Updates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Maps | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Deletes downloaded maps after 30 days without internet |
| Apple Maps | Yes | Yes | Yes | Only on iOS | Yes | Deletes downloaded maps after 30 days without internet |
| Sygic GPS Navigation & Maps | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Regular updates |
| NaviMaps | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Regular updates |
| Maps. Me | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Regular updates |
| OsmAnd — Maps & GPS Offline | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Regular updates |
| HERE WeGo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Regular updates |
| Avenza Maps | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Depends on the map publisher |
| Waze | Yes (limited areas) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Regular updates |
| MapFactor Navigator | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Regular updates |
The Final Destination: Offline vs. Online GPS Navigation
Offline maps are very useful, especially in areas with poor or no internet connection. Popular apps like Google Maps and Apple Maps offer offline maps that allow you to search and download the specific area on the map. Apps like Maps.me, Sygic Maps, and NaviMaps are designed for offline use. With these apps, you can download the entire country or state map offline. Finally, apps like Avenza let you import maps from different places and manage them in a single place.
The advantages of offline maps are obvious, but they also come with some limitations, such as the lack of real-time updates like traffic, road closures, and other dynamic changes in the location, the storage space required to download the map, the frequency of updates, limited navigation features, and more.
Make sure you update offline maps frequently so you don’t miss any important map changes. I hope you find this guide helpful. If you have any other suggestions, feel free to share them with us in the comments below.
FAQs about the Best Free Offline GPS Apps
Can offline GPS apps still show real-time traffic updates?
No, offline maps do not show real-time traffic updates. Since your smartphone is not connected to the internet, the map app cannot get real-time traffic information. You can reconnect to the Internet to view real-time traffic updates.
How often should I update the offline maps?
That depends on the offline map updates provided by each app. If you use the apps frequently for navigation, it is recommended to update the offline maps once a week. However, some apps allow you to update the offline maps only a few times a year, and some apps update the map location as soon as you are connected to the Internet.
Can I use these offline GPS apps outside my home country?
Yes, most of the apps listed in this post support offline maps worldwide. You can search for a specific location or select a specific map area and download it for offline use.
How much storage space do offline maps typically require?
Most apps specify the amount of storage required before downloading the map. It varies from app to app. The size of offline maps depends on the length of the area you download. You can always check the required storage space before downloading the map.
What are the drawbacks of using offline GPS apps?
The main drawbacks of using offline GPS apps are:
- Map updates: Offline maps may not be as up-to-date as online maps.
- Size: Offline maps can take up a lot of space on your device's storage.
- Features: Some offline GPS apps may not offer all of the same features as online navigation apps.
Which offline GPS app is right for me?
The best offline GPS app for you will depend on your individual needs and preferences. Here are a few factors to consider when choosing an offline GPS app:
- Features: Consider the features that are important to you, such as 3D maps, lane guidance, or public transportation directions.
- Map coverage: Make sure the app offers maps of the areas you'll be traveling to.
- Size: Consider the size of the app's offline maps and how much storage space you have on your device.
- Price: Some offline GPS apps are free, while others offer premium features for a fee.
Can I use offline maps apps for hiking and outdoor activities?
Yes, many offline maps apps offer specialized features for outdoor activities, including hiking trails, topographic maps, and points of interest related to outdoor recreation.