The 4 best offline maps for Android and iPhone

1. Google Maps – Sync across devices

When it comes to navigation, Google Maps is one of the most popular mapping apps for Android and iPhone. Over the years, Google has made sure to add updates that bring new features and make the platform smoother. While most of these features are available online, you can also use Google Maps offline.

The app features a minimalist and user-friendly interface, a common design language in Google apps. Despite all the possible information and features, Google has made sure that the app is intuitive and beautiful. Navigating the icons is easy, as are the options.

Google Maps is available in over 220 countries. You can search for locations and get detailed directions while offline. The offline maps are updated with the necessary information when you go online. Additionally, the sync feature allows you to access all of your previous routes and saved locations on any device, including Android, Windows, iPhone, Mac, and even Apple CarPlay.

Once you've found and opened a location in Maps, tap the three dots in the top right corner and select “Download offline map.” Select the area to download and click Download. Once downloaded, you can start searching the offline map. You can download up to 2GB of maps or an area of ​​approximately 200 x 120 miles. The downloaded maps are automatically deleted after 30 days.

Above all, Google is always pushing updates to iron out bugs while adding features and improving the user experience. However, Google is one of the largest advertisers, which means that Google can track you at any time to serve ads based on your activity. Therefore, if you are a privacy freak, you should consider other options.

Average app rating: 4.4

Price: Free

Get Google Maps for Android

Get Google Maps for iPhone

Visit Google Maps online

2. Maps.Me – Apple Maps for everyone

If you don't want Google to track you everywhere, Maps.Me is a good option. It is based on OpenStreet Maps data, a mapping service updated by millions of users worldwide. Because of this huge community, Maps.Me has data from more than 345 nations.

Maps.Me offers a great user interface. Some may find it a little inspired by Apple Maps. However, once you use it once, you will understand that it is not just a rip-off; Practical UI and design guidance has been adopted from industry experts.

You can download the map of an area or a route. Once downloaded, you can use features such as search, turn-by-turn navigation, and even get information about your altitude. This is an excellent feature for hikers. However, you must be online to receive live updates about a location.

Even if you are offline, you can get information about restaurants, hotels, groceries, attractions and even WiFi information. Other features like public transport updates, taxi availability and hotel bookings make it a perfect option.

Average app rating: 4.4

Price: Free; In-app purchases: from $0.99

Get Map.Me for Android

Get Map.Me for iPhone

3. Organic Maps: Hike Bike Drive – Open source offline map

Organic Maps is a great option if you don't want ads or trackers. The app ensures the best experience with the best offline maps. This is an open source app licensed under the Apache License 2.0. In addition, the app has been tested by Exodus Privacy Project and TrackerControl for Android and iOS respectively.

Like Maps.Me, Organic Maps also uses data from OpenStreetMap and is curated by MapsWithMe founders. When you open the app, the surrounding areas are downloaded. Organic Maps is the only 100% free offline GPS app. Although the interface is not the best, it still includes all the necessary features, including bookmarks, direct search for places or services based on different categories.

Above all, features such as the energy saving mode and various privacy options make it possible to adapt the app individually to your own needs. In our testing, the app was easy to navigate offline compared to other options on this list. For navigation options such as hiking and cycling, altitude is specifically mentioned. However, there is no option for taxis or public transport.

Since the app doesn't track you or run in the background (unless you keep navigation in the background), you don't have to worry about battery drain on your devices. It is the best option for travelers, tourists, hikers, cyclists and privacy-minded people who don't want ads and are okay with the average user interface.

The app is maintained based on community contributions. If you find the app useful, you can also contribute.

Average app rating: 4.4

Price: Free

Install Organic Maps for Android

Install Organic Maps for iPhone

4. Apple Maps – Exclusively for Apple users

This might surprise you, but despite being one of Google Maps' biggest competitors, Apple only introduced offline maps with iOS 17. Like Google Maps, you can download portions of the maps for turn-by-turn navigation. Find nearby places and access lots more information.

Unlike Google, Apple currently has fewer areas that support offline maps and hopes to expand soon. You can search for a specific area and download it for offline viewing. At the time of writing, Apple's offline map support is limited to a few locations.

To save the location, tap your profile picture and select “Offline Maps” from the list of options. Select “Download New Map” to search and download the location of your choice. With offline maps, you can get information such as reviews of places, detailed directions for various modes of transportation, and estimated arrival times.

Average app rating: 2.6

The app is available by default on Apple devices

Criteria for choosing free offline GPS apps

The apps on the list were selected and ranked based on the following criteria.

• User friendliness: It is always best to choose a mapping app with user-friendly interfaces. The app can help you navigate unfamiliar areas.
• Map coverage and details: One of the first and most important things to consider with offline maps is the area coverage and the details it contains. This will help you explore your area better offline.
• Navigation functions: The app should have good navigation options, whether offline or online. This includes turn-by-turn instructions, voice guidance, lane assistant, etc.
• Offline search function: This doesn't come as a surprise. The app should allow you to search for important services offline.
• Constant updates: Not only the location map, but also the app should be constantly updated. It reduces the error rate and fixes any errors in the application.
• Evaluation: When creating this list, the opinions of existing users were also taken into account. It's always best to hear from users to understand what to expect.