Apple introduces offline Maps—but how does it compare with Google Maps?

Another +1 for Apple Maps from me. I prefer how it handles navigation and even the look of the maps is nicer after years of using Google Maps. It plays nicely in the car with CarPlay too, naturally

I’ve used Apple Maps for years and it’s never steered me wrong. It’s no better or worse than any other map app.

It depends where you are. Apple Maps gets its data from different places depending on where you are. If you’re in any place with Apple’s “new map” which is data collected and maintained by Apple themselves, Apple Maps will be pretty dang good! Better than Google in most cases. This includes places such as the U.S., UK, Australia, France, Spain and many more. In some larger cities such as San Francisco, London, Melbourne, Paris and more, Apple Maps has a dataset (also collected and maintained by Apple) called the detailed city experience. This is pretty comfortably the most detailed map available and is super good! In other countries it’s hit or miss. The data will either come from Tom Tom, OSM, or a local provider. Sometimes this data is super good, sometimes it’s average, and sometimes it kinda sucks. But that’s all just the actual map bit. When it comes to locations on the map, chances are, Google will have more information. Personally, I prefer using Apple Maps (I’m in a location with the detailed city experience) but you’d have to have a look. Feel free to tell me your region if you’d like to know what data they have where you live

Visually, it’s fantastic imho, and absolutely my daily driver so to speak. Tons better than google maps, waze etc. Visually. I use it almost exclusively, for driving. It is decently up to date on traffic, handles high traffic with extra time well, offers re-routing etc., although not as aggressively as waze.

Google maps has more features still. I use it more to look up places, restaurants, see street views, biking paths which are not available in Apple Maps for my area yet, and I’ve so far used it for offline maps when traveling abroad.

I would also say Google Maps still offers more correct data if you’re in edge cases, but it’s seldom a problem for me. However, I have ended up driving hours on extremely narrow roads into the most remote places in the Scottish Highlands where there is absolutely nothing but nature in sight, and when finally arriving to my “destination” in Apple Maps - it wasn’t there. Nothing in sight. Am up the wrong valley? That would be a four hour detour.

Luckily, I had also downloaded offline maps from Google for the area (there was no cell coverage), and it showed the destination just some hundred meters further, around a bend and a twist and it became visible. I’m not saying I would have turned around without looking. But I would have been much more uncomfortable.

@EyesEyesBaby @enu I prefer it to Google maps as far as turn by turn directions. It’s also feels more natural with spoken directions. For example turn right at the second light or stop sign instead of 30 feet. Google has it beat for information though. Nothing beats google search. What I hate about Google maps are their weird directions. They will put you in back roads pretty frequently. I’ve been in dangerous roads because of Google and never had that happen on Apple Maps.

Check if 'organic maps' app is available on ios. Thats what i use on android.

OsmAnd is also in App Store. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/osmand-maps-travel-navigate/id934850257