If you have a smartphone or tablet with GPS and GLONASS support, it would be strange not to use it for navigation. And for the device to learn how to lay out routes for you, it is enough to equip it with a navigator application with maps of the area. There are quite a lot of applications of this kind, but not all of them are equally useful. We hope this article will help you choose a navigator for Android that will satisfy your needs in the most worthy way. The rating is based on the opinions of experienced drivers and travelers.

Waze

The developer positions Waze as a navigator that the Russian driving community helps develop. And, I must say, such collective support is beneficial for the application: many drivers switch to Waze from other navigators that they had previously used for years.

The program allows each traffic participant to add information to it themselves: report accidents, traffic jams, road works, traffic police ambushes, prices at gas stations and other things that may be useful to other users.

Waze features and functionality

Drivers value Waze for its up-to-date information, laconic interface, stable operation and, of course, free use. A big plus is that the program does not lose routes when Internet access is lost and automatically stops accessing GPS if not used during stops. This reduces the rate at which the battery drains.

Among the shortcomings of Waze, some users noted the lack of a 3D mode and voice search that does not always work correctly.

Yandex.Navigator

Another free application that travelers have ranked among the top navigators for mobile devices. Contains very detailed and detailed information useful for both drivers and pedestrians who are in unfamiliar areas in Russia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Moldova and even Turkey (note to tourists).

Features of Yandex.Navigator

• Construction of up to three route options to a given object, taking into account traffic jams and other road events.
• Warning about toll roads and ferry crossings.
• Displays the number of kilometers left to travel to the final destination, as well as the remaining time until arrival.
• Voice accompaniment of the trip with notifications about maneuvers, speed limits, road events, radars and traffic police crews, etc. Displaying them in the form of symbols on the map.
• Driver warning about speeding.
• Voice control. The option is designed much better than in Waze. By activating control of the “Listen, Yandex” command, you can request a route to a desired point or search for an object on the map.
• Reporting information about traffic events to the program, including by voice.
• Storing the history of trips and routes.
• Search for parking lots (all - only in Moscow within the Third Ring Road; in other places of the capital and some large cities - St. Petersburg, Kazan, Kyiv, Minsk, Nizhny Novgorod, etc., separate large parking lots are displayed).

The best thing that, according to users, Yandex.Navigator has is the coverage of a large territory (especially convenient for those who travel a lot in Russia and neighboring countries) and the ability to control without hands. Disadvantages: maps are not always up-to-date, especially in regions remote from the center and small towns. And also that the program takes up too much space in the device’s memory due to the inability to move cards to removable media.

Despite the fact that it is a paid application (the cost of content starts from 560 rubles), it is preferred by more than 20 million users around the world. After all, this is, in fact, the standard by which developers of other navigation programs are compared. Among its analogues, it has perhaps the largest range of functions, and there is no driver who would say that Navitel’s capabilities are not enough for him.

A short list of functions and features of Navitel

If you install Navitel from the Google Play store, it will be linked to your Google account, not to your device. Thanks to this, you can use the program on different gadgets.

Navitel's greatest strengths, according to drivers, are rich functionality, always up-to-date information, a large selection of maps and technical support. The reasons for negative reviews are, as a rule, limitations of the 7-day trial version, local failures, minor inaccuracies on the maps - the same as with all similar programs.

Maps.me

Maps.me is a free and open source Android navigator from Mail.Ru Group. It also works without Internet access if you download the necessary maps in advance. Designed not only for drivers: in addition to roads, Maps.me maps contain walking and cycling tourist routes in many countries around the world.

Key features of Maps.me

• Saving mobile Internet traffic and battery power. Important for those traveling by bicycle and on foot, especially where there is no cellular coverage (for example, in the forest).
• The routes are always up to date and very detailed. Maps include features that other apps don't have, as the latter are more geared toward the needs of motorists rather than pedestrians.
• On walking and cycling routes, the degrees of slope of the area are indicated - downhill or uphill.
• Users of the program, of whom there are more than 65 million worldwide, participate in the compilation of maps. And you can join their community too.
• In addition to drawing up routes, Maps.me helps you search for various objects on the ground. Search categories: catering outlets, hotels and hostels, ATMs, public transport stops, attractions. The search function is available both online and offline (offline).
• You can book a hotel room directly from the app (only available online through the Booking.com website).
• The program allows you to send messages to your loved ones indicating your current location. For this purpose, cellular communications (SMS), social networks and web messengers can be used.

The main advantages of Maps.me, according to experienced travelers, are free access to all functions, a large selection of maps (the latter, by the way, are well optimized for mobile devices: with the same amount of content as in other programs, they take up much less space in gadget memory), as well as taking into account the needs of pedestrians and cyclists.

The application has, perhaps, only one significant drawback. Because maps are created by users, the data often contains errors. In addition, some maps are better designed than others. This again comes down to user engagement: where people are more active, maps are more detailed and accurate. And vice versa.

Google maps, transport and navigation

is another free and widely available Android navigation app. Used and supported by perhaps the world's most impressive user community. Helps you navigate unfamiliar terrain and plan a route for travel in almost any locality on the globe.

Features of Google.Maps

• Quickly build routes taking into account the situation on the road. If obstacles appear - traffic jams, accidents, etc., the route is automatically rebuilt. Automatic selection of the least congested lane.
• Dynamic POI.
• The ability to quickly obtain information about objects of interest in the area, for example, catering outlets. Information about the latter may include user ratings, interior photos, reviews, opening hours, prices, menus, etc.
• The opportunity to leave reviews about the places you visit.
• Always up-to-date information on public transport routes.
• Unique feature: displays the interior layouts of large public buildings: shopping centers, train stations, airports and stadiums, which helps visitors not get lost in them.
• Description of more than 100 million objects around the world, as well as more than 220 regions and countries.

Travelers value Google maps primarily for its simplicity, accessibility and convenience. And many people called the strange experiments of the developers, such as the integration of the Pac-Man game into the program, as shortcomings, or rather, excesses, which only distracts the driver while driving and does not carry anything useful.

A GPS navigator turns out to be useful not only when traveling to unfamiliar cities and neighboring countries, but also for daily use. Voice prompts, warnings about approaching objects, choosing the optimal path and saving travel time are its main tasks. Separate devices are intended for navigation, but it is much more convenient to download a special application to your phone or tablet. You can choose the best of them only through direct comparison, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of each. Our review presents the five best navigators for Android with maps without the Internet, which you can download for free from our website.

Application screenshots

What is the application about?

A multifunctional navigator created in Slovenia, which will delight you with stable operation and intuitive controls. The program interface has been translated into more than 30 languages, including Russian.

Sygic GPS Navigation is a high-quality navigation app for Android with detailed 3D maps, voice guidance and many advanced features. A special feature of the navigator is that it works offline; you just need to download a map of the desired city in advance and follow its updates. In addition, the application boasts a pleasant interface, navigation for pedestrians and the Glympse service, thanks to which you can share your route with friends.

Advantages and disadvantages

Sygic GPS Navigation will become an indispensable assistant for taxi drivers, travelers and simple trips around the city. Its main advantages include:

• Detailed maps of all continents.
• Work without an Internet connection.
• Free map updates several times a year.
• Step-by-step navigation with the ability to choose the optimal route.
• Warnings for speed cameras, sharp turns and railroad crossings.

The disadvantages include the following:

• There is no routing for trains. What would be useful when traveling by this type of transport: which station to get off at, how to accurately navigate the place of arrival, etc.
• Severe battery discharge.
• Sometimes problems arise in the algorithms for constructing routes on complex sections of road junctions.

Based on all its characteristics, Sygic is a good free navigator that will be the best choice in most cases.

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Navfree Free GPS

Application screenshots

What is the application about?

Travel around the world with Navfree Free GPS. This is a completely free navigator without the Internet with voice prompts and without any hidden fees.

For navigation, the program uses map data received by millions of users around the world. This way, you yourself work on the quality of the maps by making changes to an existing service. User feedback and open access to editing downloadable content are not the only features of this Android application. The navigation system works great both with and without the Internet. And the user-friendly interface makes working with the program as comfortable as possible.

Advantages and disadvantages

The strengths of the navigator include the following points:

• Free maps updated daily.
• Ability to make edits using built-in tools.
• Full voice navigation.
• Almost instant creation of routes without an Internet connection.

The disadvantages of the program are the flawed maps, which is due to the fact that they are compiled by the users themselves. Also, you cannot find an address here by simply clicking on the selected area of ​​the map. Otherwise, this free navigator, which can be downloaded in Russian, copes well with its responsibilities.

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MapsWithMe Pro

Application screenshots

What is the application about?

If you want to have the best offline maps and navigation on your smartphone, then feel free to download the MapsWithMe Pro program. This application has a record high level of map detail and works on all continents of the world.

1. MapsWithMe Pro provides users with detailed offline maps of all countries in the world that can be used offline.
2. The application's information base contains more than a million points of interest (POI): restaurants, gas stations and other organizations. In order not to search again each time, you can save them in the list of bookmarks.
3. You can also load created bookmarks from other maps.
4. In addition, the application can also be used as a navigator.

Advantages and disadvantages

Without exaggeration, MapsWithMe Pro can be called one of the best offline navigators of 2016. It has a lot of advantages, the main ones are:

• Current and highly detailed maps of all countries of the world.
• An innovative way to compress cards, as a result of which they occupy a small amount of space in the device’s memory.
• Ability to quickly search for points of interest (POI).

The application has no significant drawbacks. Minor disadvantages include the inability to get directions by public transport.

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Maverick Pro GPS

Application screenshots

What is the application about?

An easy-to-use service for tourism, navigation in and outside the city, working on almost all mobile devices running Android OS.

The program is designed to work with maps in offline mode, which can first be downloaded to Android for free. Geotracking is supported, with the ability to record a track in one click. They can later be viewed in Google Earth and other applications, as well as sent by email. You can download the navigator and use navigation for free, but the full capabilities of the program are available only in the Pro version.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of Maverick Pro GPS are:

• Ability to convert maps from other formats.
• Geotracking.
• On-board computer that shows speed, altitude and much other information.

The disadvantages include:

What is the application about?

The last one on our list is a free offline navigation program with some unique features.

The downloaded OsmAnd navigator on your device provides not only automobile, but also pedestrian and bicycle navigation around your city.

1. Detailed terrain maps showing streets, alleys and intersections are available for almost every country in the world.
2. Use night mode, which is ideal for viewing information in the dark.
3. OsmAnd will allow you to freely navigate in unfamiliar areas, allowing you to save the path you have taken to the memory of your smartphone.

Advantages and disadvantages

The main advantages of OsmAnd are:

• High-quality, auto, bicycle and pedestrian navigation.
• View public transport stops and routes.
• Flexible interface settings.

Minor disadvantages include the inability to find the specified address on the map by tapping on it in contacts. There are also sometimes problems with the voice prompts working.

Download

The five offline navigation apps reviewed do an excellent job of providing users with unique features. It is not possible to unambiguously determine which navigator of 2016 is the best; personal preferences come into play. We can only note that the most detailed maps are provided by the MapsWithMe Pro program.

Mobile devices with access to the World Wide Web make life much easier for people who prefer to travel far from civilization. However, when you go on the road, you can’t always be sure that there will be a stable connection to the Internet throughout your journey.

Fortunately, there are many GPS navigators for Android that can work without the Internet. By downloading one of these programs onto your gadget, you can choose the safest route and avoid getting lost among unfamiliar streets and highways.

Some time ago it was difficult to rank among the best navigation apps. But thanks to numerous improvements and free updates, it has become one of the most reliable and convenient programs for Android OS.

Once you have downloaded MapFactor to your device, any need for an Internet connection is completely eliminated. You only have to update the app once a month to include new items.

A voice navigation system available in various languages ​​is integrated, and it is also possible to pre-develop a route. By switching modes, you can see both detailed and simplified maps in 2D and 3D planes.

When traveling on intercity routes, it is more convenient to use simplified diagrams, since here you only need to follow the direction of travel. In populated areas, it is more advisable to switch to detailed maps that indicate gas stations, cafes, restaurants, parks and other landmarks.

Sygic

Sygic is one of the most popular applications in different countries. However, with its long-term use, it turned out that the information provided is not absolutely reliable. It is possible that some regions of our planet are no longer supported.

Despite minor glitches, Sygic remains one of the undisputed leaders among offline mobile navigators. It has a pretty good interface, easy on the eyes and easy on the fingers. The application can only work with GPS, which eliminates the need for a constant Internet connection. Free updates to databases and terrain maps are available in most countries.

Overall, Sygic can be considered an excellent choice for those who spend a lot of time on the road. Even if you don't use navigation, locally saved maps will be a good help on the road. For additional features such as voice guidance and detailed instructions, you need to purchase the premium version.

The application has not yet received wide distribution, although it undoubtedly deserves it. We tested OsmAnd a few years ago and it worked quite well in both online and offline modes. Its performance, especially when used locally, is relatively slow, but the interface is one of the best among other similar programs.

It would be logical to expect that the loading speed of maps would be lower during online navigation, but here the exact opposite happens. The main functions are implemented at a fairly good level. But the synthesized mechanical voice grates unpleasantly on the ear.

Navmii

When the Navmii app became available for download, there were high expectations for it due to its beautiful design coupled with a range of useful options. Quite a lot of time has passed, but the functionality has not expanded one iota.

Of course, the navigator works well (if it wants to), but expectations of something unusual, to put it mildly, were not met. This is a classic case of unrealized potential. When testing on the Galaxy S3 smartphone, for unknown reasons, the GPS connection was unstable.

One might assume that Navfree is not compatible with Samsung gadgets, but many people who use it on devices from this brand speak very positively about it. In general, if Navmii works as it should, then there are usually no complaints. An excellent voice assistant, clear instructions, detailed maps - everything is regularly updated and kept up to date.

Google Maps

Continuously improved over ten years, Google Maps has acquired a solid set of features. Therefore, many are quite happy with this application installed on the Android platform by default.

Along with the option to define multiple route options and live traffic updates, you will receive complete information about the terrain being traversed and learn other necessary nuances that a self-respecting navigation application can offer.

However, when using it offline, you must first download the part of the map that you will need on the road. If this is not done in advance, then you will have to connect to the Internet to plot the route. More recently, several new features have been introduced, such as the ability to download large numbers of maps and store them on an external SD drive. You can also enable a mode in which online access is provided only via a Wi-Fi network.

If you're not driving, Google Maps will suggest the best walking or cycling route, tell you how to get to your destination by public transport, and provide the addresses of local taxi parks.

Why are navigators needed?

Losing your way is not a pleasant pleasure, especially when you need to arrive at the desired point at the appointed time. Of course, if you find yourself in such a situation, you can wait for a random passerby or call one of your family and friends to clarify the direction of movement. But it’s much easier to take your smartphone.

Lack of internet connection is one of the unfortunate circumstances that adventurers have to face. In any country there are areas of terrain that are not covered by cellular networks. In such conditions, online navigation applications become completely useless.

It is worth noting that during testing it was not possible to find one that would provide 100% accurate information. Unfortunately, this drawback affects not only GPS navigators that work in offline mode, but also programs that need a constant connection to the Internet.

To ensure consistent results, you cannot rely on the capabilities of any one application. Some of them work great in certain, fairly large areas, but show dismal performance in other regions. Before entrusting an offline navigator with a serious route, test several options to choose the one that best suits your needs.

Previously, we looked at free GPS navigators for Android. Today we will select a navigator, focusing on offline operation - to work with maps without the Internet, by activating the GPS connection on the phone. Let's focus on the offline functions of navigators and maps that come with Android applications.

Offline navigators - review participants:

Benefits of offline maps

By default, all mobile navigators work online and may behave unstable without a direct Internet connection. If there is no Network, navigators do not display maps and do not build routes. All this can become a serious problem.

The problem can be easily resolved by downloading offline maps to your gadget. They will work offline: in Russia, neighboring countries and Europe. Offline maps are indispensable for navigation if you have expensive mobile data or if you open a map in a place where there is no Internet access.

Waze is a free GPS navigator that works without the Internet

The Waze Android app doesn't have the obvious feature of saving maps offline, say, like Google Maps. The navigator requires an Internet connection from time to time for full operation. However, there are some workarounds to download offline offline maps.

How to Save Maps Offline Using the Waze App

To download the Waze offline map, you need to:

1. First connect to the Internet;
2. Open the Waze app on your phone;
3. Enter the address that you want to save for offline operation;
4. After finding the specified location, Waze will store the data in the cache.

You can use the offline map when traveling in Europe or Russia. Please note that in offline mode you will not be able to update your data until you connect your mobile device to the Internet. Traffic information will also not be available offline.

How to load traffic information into Waze

1. Make sure your mobile device is connected to the Internet;
2. Open Waze GPS and enter the location where you want to go;
3. Waze will calculate routes to your destination and display them in the app as you navigate;
4. Click on the Waze icon to open the menu, find the “Settings” icon in the new pop-up window;
5. To save your current traffic information, go to Waze > Advanced Settings > Data Transfer > Load Traffic Information > Enable.

In addition to traffic information, Waze will display how much data the app has already downloaded and cached.

Google Navigator: enable offline maps on Android

Saving offline maps

1. Connect to a WiFi network, open the Google Maps app on your mobile device.
2. Make sure you're signed in to your Google account in Google Maps.
3. Find the city or place in your GPS navigator that you want to save as an offline map.
4. Click on the bottom bar of the Google Maps application - the name of the location will be displayed here.
5. In the upper right corner of Google Navigator, a menu will be available with the option to save an offline map.

GPS navigator Google Maps allows you to download free offline maps (one of the best in detail)

Some features of Google Maps offline maps:

• You can pan and zoom the map before saving it. The largest offline map size is about 30 square miles.
• You can save an offline map under any name. It is convenient to give a clear name so that you can delete the file or check whether the desired city is in the list of saved maps.
• For each map, its expiration date is indicated: it is advisable to check the relevance and update the files as needed.
• After deleting the card, you will not be able to use it without the Internet until you download/update it again.

Viewing saved offline maps in Google Navigator

1. Open Google Maps on Android through your previously used account;
2. Go to the main menu of the application through the sidebar by clicking on the button with horizontal stripes;
3. Go to the “Offline maps” section;
4. For each offline map, the following actions are available: Download, View, Rename, Delete.

Yandex Navigator in offline mode (without Internet connection)

Free vector maps can be downloaded through the main application settings. This option is available to owners of both Android and iOS versions of the Yandex navigator. True, the list of offline maps is limited to the CIS countries and a number of adjacent territories. For most of Europe, alas, offline maps are not available.

Navitel is a popular navigator with offline function

Offline Android Maps transforms your phone into a full-fledged GPS device. At the same time, you don’t need to spend money on mobile traffic, which is often quite expensive.

Not all users want to spend time downloading individual locations (as described above). You can download a one-time set of detailed maps for a specific country or region. One such solution is Navitel Navigator. It is available for Android smartphones and tablets, iOS devices, and car navigators.

In the “Buy” section on the developer’s website, special packages of offline maps are posted. And not only for Russia, but also for neighboring countries, Europe, the USA, and Latin America.

In terms of the quality of map detail, this is perhaps the best offline navigator for mobile devices.

Sygic – offline navigator for Europe and the USA

Sygic is a GPS navigation application. Supports free 3D offline maps for Android, you can travel anywhere with them (at least > 200 countries). Offline maps display Points of Interest - gas stations, cafes, shops, attractions. All that is required to use the maps is to first download them to your mobile device.

Realtime functions work only in online mode. In particular, Sygic offers the most accurate traffic information based on data from 500 million users worldwide. Information is also provided by global automakers, mobile operators, mapping and traffic information providers.

During the first 7 days, you can test all navigator features (including those available with a Lifetime Premium subscription). After 7 days, Sygic leaves only basic capabilities, but this is quite enough for full-fledged work.

Maps.me – GPS navigator for your phone with OSM maps

Maps.me is an excellent free navigator for users who need offline operation and traffic savings.

Maps.me supports offline OpenStreetMap maps, which are characterized by good detail. Ordinary users participate in the development of maps. Some maps are qualitatively better than Google Maps. It comes to the point that a shop or path that is not in other navigators can be marked on the Maps.me map.

Working offline is convenient: in fact, you can get directions without having an Internet connection on your phone. To work offline, you must first download the map to your device through the Maps.me navigator menu.

Maps.me: detailed offline maps for Android

The second option is to go to the desired location and zoom in on it. The map fragment of interest will be loaded into the phone cache. Offline maps take up only a few tens of megabytes.

Which offline navigator is the best?

Let's summarize.

If openness and free maps are important, all offline navigators are good except Navitela. If you are willing to pay about $30 for quality, Navitel Navigator will be an excellent solution and, without a doubt, will be worth the money invested. This GPS program holds its own and is popular.

Navigation Google Maps works without an Internet connection, but there is still a limitation for Android and iOS versions: you can save only certain sections of the map (one or several cities) for offline use, while motorists most often need more detailed sections of the maps .

Waze– a promising navigator with a large community. But keep in mind: not all traffic information will be available offline, and maps are not always perfect in their detail.

Sygic: GPS Navigation displays 3D offline maps for 200+ countries. The application will be convenient when traveling around Europe and the USA without the Internet.

Advice. Install not one, but two navigators on your phone. Download offline maps and test each option. Leave the app you like best.