Contemporary devices based on Android are mandatory equipped with a GPS module. This allows you to use a smartphone as a navigator. In this article we will try to determine which navigation application is better than its competitors.
GPS technology penetrated our life completely unnoticed. Most recently, the corresponding chip was equipped with only flagship mobile phones, and now it is in every smartphone. Today, even budget devices allow themselves to the navigator! However, do not hurry to rejoice. If you install a bad navigation application, the trip to the route created by them will turn into torture. That is why we decided to compare the best navigators and find out which one is better than the rest copes with their responsibilities.
Yandex. Navigator
This application is not very different from traditional Yandex. Cart. The creators added 3D mode and improved the route laying system. They also introduced voice prompts, thanks to which during the movement, you can not be distracted by the smartphone screen. And, of course, this navigator is completely free, like all other products "Yandex".
The application has very precise cards. This is not good, because on the Yandex website, it is possible to edit them with any person. You can use navigation online or offline, after downloading the map of the desired region (Russia or foreign countries) in memory of the smartphone.
Yandex. Navigator allows you to build routes with regard to car parameters (cargo, passenger). This means that you will not go there where the passage for you is prohibited. The application provides a training mode, thanks to which you are easy to learn how to use its main opportunities.
Advantages:
- The presence of a 3D mode.
- Offline Maps of Russia and other countries.
- Voice prompts.
- A large number of POI objects.
- Competent Route Laying.
- The presence of the "Cork" service.
- is distributed free of charge.
- The ability to add road events.
- Support for voice commands.
Disadvantages:
- Not detected.
Evaluation: 10/10
Google Maps
Free navigator with 12 million downloads from Google Play, operating in online and offline modes. If you have access to the Internet, the application reports traffic jams, accidents, overlapped areas, allowing the driver to coordinate the route in a timely manner.
The application will be a good solution for pedestrians, because Shows travel options to the desired public transport object, and also provides an alternative route for a walking trip. Google Maps You can find the nearest restaurants, cafes, attractions, hotels and other organizations and see against reviews, find out the work schedule, get acquainted with their photos, added owners and visitors.
Advantages:
- Working in offline mode.
- Cards of Russia and 220 countries.
- Millions of companies, organizations and attractions with detailed data on their work schedule, address, photographs and reviews.
- Pedestrian routes.
Disadvantages :
- The application periodically incorrectly provides (or does not show it at all) information about public transport.
- Advertising is demonstrated.
Evaluation: 8/10
2 GIS
2GIS is completely Free Cards of Russian Cities and GPS Navigation for Drivers and Pedestrians. It works without connecting to the Internet: just to pre-download the cards of the required city or region.
An application helps to build an accurate route for traveling around the city on your own or public transport, as well as walking on foot. In 2GIS Millions of POI points, while the addresses, telephones, official sites and social networks are indicated for many organizations. There are photos of objects: users themselves add them.
In the presence of an Internet connection, the application not only builds the route, but also notifies about traffic jams, cameras, road signs, barriers on the way. Pedestrians 2GIS will like that it knows the schedule and routes of urban transport and thanks to this it is capable of choosing the optimal version of the trip at the selected address.
Advantages:
- Navigation in Offline mode.
- Displays traffic jams and other barriers to the way.
- Schedule and routes of public transport.
- Millions of POI points with detailed data on organizations.
- Finding paths for pedestrians.
- Navigation for trucks.
Disadvantages :
- An advertisement is present in the appendix.
Evaluation: 9/10
Navitel
You may have heard about the availability of Navitel GPS Navitel. They work using the program of the same name. Today it can be downloaded for the phone. Interestingly, not only Android and iOS are still supported by the company, but obsolete operating systems, such as Symbian. The Navitel application is improving for a good decade. It is impossible to say that now it has become perfect. But for the motorist, nothing better was not created.
The program was created for use in the car, so 3D-mode and voice prompts are present here, and among POI points, special attention is paid to gas stations, hotels and maintenance points. On the map there are only those roads for which you really drive - all sorts of paths are forgotten. And it is impossible not to note the fact that the Internet application Navitel is only required to display traffic jams, road events and weather. If you are ready to sacrifice it, you can use the offline mode.
Advantages:
- Beautiful drawing of cards.
- support for traffic jams and "Navitel. Driges".
- offline mode.
- A large number of settings.
- Competent route gasket.
- The presence of the SpeedCam option (display of traffic chambers).
- Detailed maps of many foreign cities.
Disadvantages:
- Not suitable for a pedestrian.
- The license is worth a lot of money (it is required after 7 days).
- Not the widest list of POI objects.
Evaluation: 9/10
Sygic GPS Navigation & Offline Maps
Popular application for offline navigation with 50 million downloads from Google Play. A simple and intuitive interface allows you to quickly deal with control and comfortably use the service. After downloading, the navigator offers to select the necessary cards and download them into the memory of the smartphone. There are two modes - for the driver and for a pedestrian.
In Offline mode, you can use the navigator and cards loaded into the phone's memory. Connect to the Internet and Get Additional Functions - Cork Notification, tracking of the high-speed mode on the track and warning about its exceeding, tracking fuel prices and search for the most favorable refueling places, etc.
By default, after installing the application, access to all tools is available. Seven days later, the Premium version will be disabled. You can use basic functions or, if you wish to buy a license to resume access to all opportunities.
Advantages:
- Autonomous maps of Russia and countries of the world.
- Regular free card updates.
- Voice navigator.
- The presence of millions of POI points.
- Navigation for pedestrians.
- Notification of the situation on the roads and traffic jams.
- Alerts on the impaired speed mode.
Disadvantages:
- The free version of the application is open only to part of the functions.
Evaluation: 8/10
OSMAND
The application received its name in honor of the OpenStreetMap cartographic service used. The main advantage of these cards is that any user can edit them. That is why even small villages and villages are presented in detail.
The application is capable of working in three modes intended for a pedestrian, a cyclist and motorist. In each of them, the interface elements are included, while others are turned off. You can configure their display and at your discretion. However, I warn you immediately: a newcomer to master the program menu will be extremely difficult.
OSMAND provides a map without internet if you previously downloaded it. As in other similar applications, the POI display function (interest points) is present here - these are all kinds of restaurants, shops, pharmacies, gas stations and even garbage containers. For their presence, also answer ordinary users. Therefore, it is not to be surprised that some points are outdated, and others simply are missing.
Advantages:
- is distributed free of charge.
- The presence of offline mode.
- The presence of a large number of POI points.
- Good details of small settlements.
- The presence of voice prompts.
- The ability to edit the card.
- Navigation for travel by public transport: subway, tram, bus, etc.
- Notifications about pedestrian transitions, speed control chambers.
- Informing about the violation of the speed mode.
- Modes for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.
Disadvantages:
- Lack of 3D- mode.
- Poor laying of the route in rural roads.
- Lack of service "Tubes".
- The free version is limited by the number of downloadable cards.
Evaluation: 7/10
Maps. Me
This navigator for Android over 50 million downloads from Google Play, which, undoubtedly, speaks of his popularity. It works offline mode and saves traffic, using previously downloaded cards and guidebooks. The application is able to build routes for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists, and also shows how to get to the end point on a taxi or public transport.
Maps. Me allows you to search for objects in various categories, such as attractions, hotels, restaurants, refueling, parking, etc. Create tags for your favorite addresses to make the route of the entire pair of clicks. After registering in the application, your data is saved in cloud storage, so you can be sure that they will not be lost in the event of any problems with the smartphone.
Advantages:
- Working in offline mode.
- Detailed maps.
- Find objects on the map.
- The ability to share its location in messengers or social networks.
- The application works quickly even on weak smartphones.
Disadvantages:
- In small towns, there are only streets, the numbering of houses is missing.
Evaluation: 7/10
WAZE
Free navigator for car drivers, motorcycles and taxis. His key feature is social functions. Users registered in the service report situations on the roads - traffic jams, cameras, closed streets, repair work, etc., allowing other drivers to coordinate the route in a timely manner. In addition to people's reviews, Waze is focused on their own base stored on the server.
The application has an open source code and rests on the OpenStreetMap card. They are informative and detailed, but POI objects are missing for them, as well as the numbering of houses. Waze works only in online mode, which is no coincidence that is not subject to its main function - informing about situations on the roads.
Advantages:
- Free distribution.
- A good navigator for drivers.
- Informing about traffic jams and other road barriers.
Disadvantages :
- No offline mode.
- No mode for pedestrians.
- No POI objects and household numbering.
Evaluation: 6/10
HERE WEGO
Fully free application that simplifies navigation around the city on any vehicles, be it trolleybus, bus, taxi or your own car, and while walking on foot or cycling. It is capable of working both in offline mode with pre-downloading the necessary cards and online.
Here Maps draws attention to the simple and intuitive interface, so that you quickly understand with its capabilities and learn to use it. To pave the route, select your location and destination, after which the application will show you all possible ways to get to the set address. Choose optimal and go to the path.
Advantages:
- Suitable for both motorists and pedestrians.
- Work offline mode.
- A large number of POI points.
- Detailed Cards of Foreign Cities.
- Simple interface.
- is distributed free of charge.
Disadvantages:
- The Russian depth is not detailed.
- Some POI objects are outdated.
- Rare card updates.
- Unstable work on some devices.
- Lack of service "Tubes".
Evaluation: 6/10
7 roads
This product first surprises with its interface. It is performed in the "Tiles" manner of Windows 8. Some may not like it. At the same time, all the buttons turned out to be large, with the result that it is not difficult to get on them even when using a very small smartphone.
The 7 Road application uses the OpenStreetMap library, which has already been discussed in this article. This allows you to use offline mode, which is especially relevant when navigating abroad. The engine's engine traditional maps turns into a three-dimensional - this greatly simplifies the understanding of the route. Not forgotten here and the editing function of the route, which should like most drivers. You can regret only the absence of support for the Cork Service.
Advantages:
- Plugins support.
- Voice prompts.
- Creating your own cards.
- Cute card drawing in 3D mode.
- Competent route gasket.
- The ability to download paid cards if necessary.
- is distributed free of charge.
Disadvantages:
- Cards often weigh a lot.
- Lack of numbering of houses in small settlements.
- Lack of service "Tubes".
- Slow work on some devices.
- Not all favorite interface.
Score: 5/10
Conclusion
Summing up, let's decide which navigator to download for Android. If you only want to use the offline mode and if you need the application in the car, the best choice is Navitel. Pedestrians can recommend 2GIS due to the fact that this program functions stably even on weak smartphones, and also shows not only walking routes, but also information about all types of public transport.
If you have the opportunity to spend mobile traffic, we recommend downloading "Yandex. Navigator". It uses a simplified rendering of maps, but you will always be aware of traffic jams and traffic events. Many of them are promptly reported by the users of this application themselves. All this will allow you to timely change the route when any obstacles appear on the way.
