The Best Navigation App for iPhone (and Excellent Alternatives)
Whether you’re behind the wheel every day, or only sporadically on the road: a good navigation app is indispensable. We have tested a lot of apps and these are the best in our opinion. We also list some good alternatives.
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That said, it’s very personal which navigation app suits you best. For example, some applications are ideal for motorists, but not so much for cyclists. Then there are also apps that are very all-round, but fail in other areas.
We have therefore taken into account as many preferences as possible in the list below. You know what they say: so many people, so many wishes. What is certain is that your next favorite navigation app is probably on the list.
1. Waze
Waze is the best navigation app for iPhones in our opinion, but not necessarily because the app itself is so good. The users are especially important. The Waze user community is very active and keeps each other informed about traffic jams, speed traps, speed cameras and other things that (can) affect your trip.
Furthermore, the app does everything you would expect from a good navigation app. It navigates you to your destination on time, looks well-arranged and also works well with CarPlay, Apple’s platform to be able to use your iPhone on the go.
Also handy: Waze is well versed in local attractions. The app is therefore ideal for holidays, because you can plan routes around museums, monuments and, for example, architectural highlights.
Waze also has drawbacks. For example, you can’t save offline maps, so you always have to have an active internet connection to navigate. Now you can circumvent this drawback by loading the route at home (if you are connected to WiFi), but this is not ideal.
It is also a pity that the app is sometimes a bit too optimistic when calculating arrival times. On the other hand, Waze does excel in presenting alternative times to go on the road. With this he tries to actively navigate you around the traffic jams by showing that it is better to leave home in an hour than now.
Waze Inc.
2. Google Maps
It’s a no-brainer, but Google Maps is an excellent alternative to Waze, which incidentally is also owned by the search engine’s parent company. Unlike Waze, Maps does have an offline mode, making it better suited for a holiday outside the European Union, or if you have a small data bundle.
We also have very little to say about the quality of the navigation. However, Google’s maps are sometimes somewhat dated, especially if you live in a busy city center for example. In hectic traffic situations, Waze is often more up-to-date. This is, of course, due to the previously discussed community behind the app.
Furthermore, Google Maps is also more all-encompassing than Waze. When navigating, you can choose walking, cycling, car or public transport routes. The app is therefore very useful for when you are abroad, because you only have to specify a destination: Google Maps calculates how to get there.
3. Apple Maps
Apple Maps isn’t necessarily the best navigation app for iPhone, but it is the easiest. The app is standard on your device, so you don’t have to download anything. Apple Maps, also called Apple Maps, is therefore ideal for when you are looking for a simple navigation app without too much fuss.
The biggest advantage of Maps is that it is an Apple product. So the app works very well with CarPlay, Siri and is available on other devices like the Apple Watch.
The biggest disadvantage of Apple Maps is that the app is not that extensive. For example, he cannot find all the addresses of companies. It is also a pity that the application receives many updates from Apple, but that these hardly ever come to the Netherlands or only much later. Apple Maps is therefore especially a good alternative if you spend a lot of time in the United States, for example.
Also read: Comparison: Apple Maps vs Google Maps for CarPlay
4. Flash Master
Like Waze, Flitsmeister also has a large group of users behind it. The originally Dutch navigation app does everything it can to keep you informed of all traffic conditions while planning your trip and en route. Flitsmeister is therefore ideal for people who occasionally score a fine, and want to prevent this in the future.
Speed cameras, speed traps and other situations are passed on by users at lightning speed, so that you are well aware of what is happening on the road.
Flitsmeister also has a built-in parking function. As soon as you are parked, you do not have to look for a payment terminal, but simply turn on the timer in the app. As soon as you get back into the car, you set the parking alarm to stop again and you do not pay a cent too much.
Also interesting: Flitsmeister FAQ: 8 tips for the popular navigation app
flash master
Flitsmeister BV
Also worth it
There is not one best navigation app. There are dozens (if not hundreds) of programs in the App Store, each with their own unique features, advantages and disadvantages. We think that the above navigation apps will get you a long way, but the alternatives below are certainly worth mentioning.
Sygic
Sygic is also a very nice navigation app, but not free. To be able to use all functions you have to take out a subscription of 19.99 euros per year. You can then download route maps of countries so that you can navigate offline and receive current traffic information along the way.
An absolute plus of Sygic is the realistic rendering. This allows you to see what the streets look like while driving and how, for example, the bend runs. For this function, the company works together with the Dutch TomTom. It is also great that you can see the silhouettes of buildings while navigating.
Another ‘fun’ feature of Sygic is head up. The navigation is projected onto the windshield of your car. All in all, Sygic is a very complete navigation app. Whether you are waiting for these bells and whistles is mainly a personal decision.
Also Read: Offline Maps: The 6 Best Offline Navigation Apps for iOS
Sygic as
maps.me
Maps.me is also an excellent navigation app. He uses the maps of OpenStreetMap, a popular alternative to Google Maps. OpenStreetMap is run by volunteers and anyone can contribute improvements, so it works a bit like Wikipedia.
If you are looking for very accurate maps, Maps.me is the best navigation app. You can even show the house numbers of buildings. This makes Maps.me ideal for delivery drivers, for example, because you can look up addresses quite easily even in busy city centers.
That detail is also the immediate disadvantage. Maps.me is so detailed that it quickly becomes cluttered. If you don’t mind, Maps.me is an excellent navigation app for you. For example, it has an offline mode, travel guides for when you’re on vacation and it’s free (with ads).
MAPS.ME – Offline Maps, GPS
STOLMO LIMITED
