OsmAnd bicycle navigation in the test: What can the route planner do?
There are now dozens of navigation apps in the app stores. We took a closer look at OsmAnd’s bike navigation in the test.
Summer is in the starting blocks. When it was warm and sunny in the past few weeks, many cyclists were already cavorting on the cycle paths in Germany. A navigation solution is essential for people who are not familiar with the area or have a poor sense of direction.
After examining Apple’s rather poor navigation, we looked for other alternatives to Google Maps. while coming OsmAnd into play: A free app for Android and iOS, that wants to score particularly well in the outdoor area. But does that work?
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One thing quickly becomes apparent in the app: the design takes a little getting used to and looks old-fashioned. Although individual display options such as the map display can be changed in the settings, the interface still appears overloaded and sometimes confusing. But that may also be due to the large range of functions of OsmAnd.
Because in addition to the actual navigation of roads, cycle paths, footpaths and public transport lines, the application also allows routes to be planned in advance. So if you are planning a bike tour in nature, you can plan the exact route in advance.
This is done using waypoints. OsmAnd then finds the optimal path between two set points and adds it to the route. Once saved, any previously defined route can be accessed later.
If you want to navigate to a destination ad hoc, you can select an address, a favourite, a point on the map or a previously set marker as the destination. There is also the option of avoiding certain streets and paths or excluding steep gradients in the navigation.
The pre-configured driving style then defines whether you use short routes or cycle over unpaved roads. When it comes to navigation, OsmAnd does an excellent job and sometimes even better than the competition from Apple or Google. The system knows the difference between bike lanes and footpaths and will not navigate you via streets or pedestrian zones if there are bike lanes.
The announcements are clear and yet provide timely information about necessary turning manoeuvres. I also like that OsmAnd allows me to define intermediate goals. So if I drive to the center of Munich and want to stop by my family beforehand, I can set both options as waypoints.
My conclusion: OsmAnd is a worthy competitor to Apple Maps and Google Maps. The navigation by bike works perfectly, thanks to the gigantic range of functions, not only short routes, but also entire excursions can be planned.
Only the user interface is a bit overloaded and therefore probably not easy to understand, especially for beginners. Hopefully OsmAnd will improve this soon. The basic version of the app is free and contains standard navigation features.
If you would like to download unlimited map material or unlock additional functions (e.g. contour lines, the weather, monthly map updates and CarPlay), a paid version is required.
This currently costs EUR 29.99 per year in the Pro version and EUR 9.99 per year in the Plus version (does not contain cloud functions, weather and hourly map updates), or a one-time fee of EUR 14.99.
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