best navigation app? (free)

MapQuest (free)
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mapquest-4-mobile/id316126557?mt=8

Though I am not sure if it offers offline navigation,

waze is a good free one

Since you suggested pay - I really do like TomTom's app. If you can catch it on sale, you can snag it for a decent price.

Such as now - just checked and at $35 its a steal. Purchase traffic and you are golden.....

I have a tomtom in my Jeep and an iPhone on the seat. Here is my argument for a dedicated gps -

First, I don't want to use a dash mounted phone. It's a personal choice, sure, but if I get a text, call, email, alert or whatever, then you're leaving the gps app to look at that text, take the call or whatever. I'm not a fan of that. I'm sure some people will say use a hands free device and I shouldn't be reading texts in the car. I have a BT headset but it's not always charged and when I do read something in my car I'm smart about it. If someone has an issue with that then it's a discussion for another time.

Second, if you don't have the iPhone plugged in, you're going to kill your battery using it as a gps. Occasional use is probably ok but if you're using it every day then you must invest in a car charger, and probably a cradle for it. Decent gps units can be found for $99 with bigger screens than the iPhone. If you're buying a charger and dashboard mount, you're 1/2 way there.

Data or storage. Depending on the gps software you're using, you're either downloading maps all the time and/or they're taking up storage on your iPhone. If space is an issue, a gps app will make it more of an issue.

I'm not saying everyone should get a dedicated gps. It's right for me and I thought I'd throw out a couple of things for you to consider.

Congrats on the car.

Using an iPhone (or any phone) as a GPS is a real PITA, but nice if needed. A stand alone GPS is the way to go, especially since they're so cheap nowadays. Get a Garmin Nuvi. Traffic is a nice bonus if you can swing it.

YMark said:

Using an iPhone (or any phone) as a GPS is a real PITA, but nice if needed. A stand alone GPS is the way to go, especially since they're so cheap nowadays. Get a Garmin Nuvi. Traffic is a nice bonus if you can swing it.

Click to expand...

I strongly disagree. Navigon on my iphone is much nicer to use than my dedicated garmin nuvi imo

engaged44 said:

i just want a gps app that has offline..i would be willing to spend a few bucks on it too.

Click to expand...

Most will reccomend tomtom or navigon.

dukebound85 said:

I strongly disagree. Navigon on my iphone is much nicer to use than my dedicated garmin nuvi imo

Click to expand...

Same here.
Im never using a standalone GPS any more.
As long as I have a car charger for my iphone Im good to go.
Navigon is great.

another vote for navigon. Watch for a sale, I've seen it as cheap as $24.99 for USA.

saving107 said:

MapQuest (free)
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mapquest-4-mobile/id316126557?mt=8

Though I am not sure if it offers offline navigation,

Click to expand...

I'm cheap and don't use GPS navigation often, so I use Mapquest as well. You're right, I don't think they offer offline navigation.

Nav software is moving forward pretty fast these days. Dedicated units will fall behind a year or so after release. Nav apps, on the other hand, have seen frequent and substantial upgrades since launch, due to the more competitive environment.

Even if your usage pattern makes a dedicated unit more practical, it may still be worth having an app loaded on your phone for those cases when one device fails you.

I paid $35 for TomTom for the iphone because even though I own a standalone garmin gps I usually only take it with me if I know I'm going somewhere I might get lost. But on the off chance I get lost somewhere and don't have my GPS I always have my phone

Another vote for Navigon, the only bad part about using your phone is if you get a call when you're close to your destination and you don't know which way to turn.

Diode said:

Since you suggested pay - I really do like TomTom's app. If you can catch it on sale, you can snag it for a decent price.

Such as now - just checked and at $35 its a steal. Purchase traffic and you are golden.....

Click to expand...

What is that app called for Traffic. Is that what I search for. Does it work with Tom Tom.

Thanks for the help.

John

ROADDOG01 said:

What is that app called for Traffic. Is that what I search for. Does it work with Tom Tom.

Thanks for the help.

John

Click to expand...

It's an in-app purchase inside TomTom:

- TOMTOM HD TRAFFIC: Experience the most-accurate, real-time traffic coverage available with revolutionary TomTom HD Traffic service. TomTom HD Traffic is more accurate, provides more road coverage, and delivers updates every 2 minutes to get you around traffic more effectively than ever before. Available via in-App purchase.

There's also MotionX GPS in the App Store for .99. I love it and use it all the time at my job. I did upgrade to the voice guidance for a year at $20 or so, but I find that I don't use it all that much and probably won't renew it again. But the app itself is great and is updated often.

Oh, and I like Waze too. It's a pretty darn cool little app, especially considering it's free.

sbddude said:

It's an in-app purchase inside TomTom:

- TOMTOM HD TRAFFIC: Experience the most-accurate, real-time traffic coverage available with revolutionary TomTom HD Traffic service. TomTom HD Traffic is more accurate, provides more road coverage, and delivers updates every 2 minutes to get you around traffic more effectively than ever before. Available via in-App purchase.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply

John

MotionX GPS Drive in the app store has been my faovrite GPS app for iPhone for years now. I love it. It's amazing!

It's .99 in app store, this basically gives you a free month of service with it. After that it is $2.99/month or $25 for a year I believe. I always choose a year.

I am just not sure if it does offline navigation. I don't believe so but really not sure.

TomTom has that feature as others posted.