Maps alternatives

Alternatives to: Google Maps, Bing Maps, Apple Maps

Google loves to know where you are, and what better way than track and record everywhere you go using their maps app.

Sadly for us rebels Google maps is far and away the best maps service out there, so it's really hard to switch. So far we've not been able to completely stop using it, mainly because its business listings are so complete.

However, the following come close, and are all privacy-focused. They all use Open Street Map's data apart from Komoot. In Magic Earth's case it is a total replacement for Google maps turn-by-turn navigation for most destinations. Only occasionally a business is not listed there and you need to go back to Google.

App name	Open Source	Structure; Business model	Features	Turn-by-turn nav	Country of origin	Link
Magic Earth	No	Private company; Free for personal use / Paid SDK for businesses	Accurate turn-by-turn nav; Crowd-sourced traffic; Save parked car position; Good privacy policy	Yes	Netherlands	MagicEarth.com
Organic Maps	Yes	Free Open Source	Good for hiking; Good sat nav but sometimes businesses missing	Yes	Open Source	OrganicMaps.app
OsmAnd	Yes	Free Open Source	Good for hiking and biking; Includes OSM's topography layer	Yes	Open Source	OsmAnd.net
Open Street Map	Yes	Free Open Source	No phone apps but great in a browser; Good cycle map layer; Topography layer	No	UK	OpenStreetMap.org
Komoot	No	Private company; Freemium (pay for offline maps)	Excellent for hiking and cycling - shows all hikes in the area; Shows elevation profile; Good privacy policy	Yes	Germany	Komoot.com

RTA's choice

We use Magic Earth for day to day sat nav, and Komoot for hiking & cycling.

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