Apple Maps vs. Google Maps: Which Is Better?

[Mr_Ed]

Yep I am in Sweden, as an example I search for a store opened 4 months ago in the most busy area in the capital and Apple Maps returns nothing while Google Maps have all the information listed for the place.

Just searching for “restaurants” in both will show another problem with AM, first of all it doesn’t show all of the restaurants for some reason (even if they are in AM). But it also becomes a lot harder to find the few good ones since AM doesn’t have a review score visible for each place on the actual map.

I live in the US and see the same thing. When searching AM often returns nothing for restaurants/businesses that have been operating for months, or includes businesses that have been gone for months. The attached Yelp reviews often have a fraction of the number of reviews that GM has.

I also really dislike the behavior you observe in the map view, where it shows you a fraction of all the restaurants unless you zoom in. Unless you are aware of this, you may avoid some parts of town when looking for food thinking there are few choices there.

 

[MrMojo1]

You haven't used Apple Maps in several years:

How to report an accident, hazard, or speed check in Apple Maps for iOS 14.5 | AppleInsider

When using iOS 14.5 or later, Apple Maps lets users report road hazards, accidents, or speed checks, and here's how.

appleinsider.com

Some of your other points are also incorrect... but it's been a long day and I'll let others point them out.

Amazing. Every word of what you just said was wrong.
To being with, GOOGLE bought Waze, not Apple.

Can’t read past follow up but be butt hurt with reply because people don’t have same experiences like yours?
Not everyone uses Apple Maps.

Already updated that Google bought Waze & not everyone uses Apple Maps. Typical trolls!

 

[DrDane]

I live in Aarhus, the second largest city in Denmark (Europe), and I commute everyday and anywhere by bicycle (as does 30% of the population). Apple Maps still does not support transport by bicycle in Denmark and therefore is useless. Actually I removed Apple Maps from all my devices long ago. Google Maps supports transport by bicycle and does it very well.
I find it quite embarrassing, that Apple is so far behind. Only discomfort is that I still haven't found out how to use Siri with Google Maps

 

[ApplesAreSweet&Sour]

I live in the second largest city Denmark, and I commute everyday and anywhere by bicycle. Apple Maps still does not support transport by bicycle in Denmark and therefore is useless. I have removed Apple Maps from all my devices. Google Maps support transport by bicycle and does it very well.
I find it embarrassing, that a company as Apple is so far behind.

Have you used Apple Maps within the last 6 months?

Apple Maps was updated with full support for several more E.U. countries in late 2023, including Denmark: https://www.apple.com/dk/newsroom/2023/10/apple-rolls-out-all-new-map-across-denmark/

Are you saying it doesn't work as intended or have you not tried it since the major update?

 

[lartola]

On iOS/iPadOS there is one feature left in Apple Maps. Maps in light mode, even if my System is in dark mode. Like it's possible in Apple Maps on macOS and in Google Maps on iOS/iPadOS. In daylight dark maps looks awful for me. BTW, also on Apple Watch, where it even can't be changed.

That may be a recent bug. Apple usually does support Apple Maps automatically changing to light or dark mode according to your device setting.

 

[lartola]

I live in the second largest city Denmark (Europe), and I commute everyday and anywhere by bicycle (as does 30% of the population). Apple Maps still does not support transport by bicycle in Denmark and therefore is useless. Actually I removed Apple Maps from all my devices long ago. Google Maps supports transport by bicycle and does it very well.
I find it quite embarrassing, that Apple is so far behind. Only discomfort is that I still haven't found out how to use Siri with Google Maps

It doesn’t embarrass them because they are extremely US centric. As long as Apple Maps is up to date in the US, that’s enough for them. They don’t care too much about its lack of features and updated info in other countries.

 

[lartola]

Have you used Apple Maps within the last 6 months?

Apple Maps was updated with full support for several more E.U. countries in late 2023, including Denmark: https://www.apple.com/dk/newsroom/2023/10/apple-rolls-out-all-new-map-across-denmark/

Are you saying it doesn't work as intended or have you not tried it since the major update?

Maybe they didn’t include his particular city. Apple might have updated maps for the capital, but not other cities in Denmark. They often do that and still list the whole country as updated.

 

[brofkand]

What a fantastic argumentation, one can see you invested a lot of effort in these words.

</irony>

Some examples maybe would be great. Or at least "it works better *for me*". Otherwise you come over someone can't be bothered to put in the minimal effort in writing a proper comment. It's just lazy, detrimental to the conversation and it's insulting to people as you basically waste their time.

I didn’t realize I had to write a legal brief in the comments. Look at App Store reviews of both if you don’t believe me.

 

[brofkand]

Please tell me you’re kidding. Are you seriously asserting that just because Apple has an Advertising division its privacy practices are equivalent to Google, essentially a surveillance company with 80+% of its revenue coming from Ads driven largely through coercive data collection and who has been fined $400M for privacy violations? Wow, not sure how to take this; but I’ll assume it’s simply a matter of being uninformed and suggest you take a look at this objective comparison of Google and Apple with respect to privacy.

It will only be more true as Apple continues to invest in customer data-driven services to drive revenue growth as their hardware sales continue to slump. You can only play ostrich to that fact for a certain amount of time.

 

[ApplesAreSweet&Sour]

I've been using Google Maps ever since I can remember and up until October last year where I switched to Apple Maps.

It's not that I vastly prefer one over the other. But the UI in Apple Maps is nicer and the integration with iOS and Siri makes it better overall.

Before "full support" was added last year I would only rarely use Apple Maps as there was next to no support for anything but basic navigation.

I'm still baffled at how long it takes for Apple to translate all its native apps and all parts of iOS for countries with millions of iPhone, iPad, Mac and Watch owners. How are profits pr. unit sold not enough to translate and offer us the full experience that Americans get?

Spending what equates to hundreds or thousands of dollars for a market leading smartphone or smart watch and then seeing all the "*not yet supported in your language/location" type messages certainly does not make you feel happy about your purchase.

What do I care that most of Apple's customers live in the U.S.? Deduct the higher sales taxes and I pay the same if not a tiny bit more per device. But I get a second rate iOS experience? That's b.s. and the kinda ignorance from Apple that really makes you consider switching to Android.

But specifically in regards to Apple Maps, I don't think Apple truly grasps how deeply the average person relies on smartphone GPS navigation in day-to-day life, and how many market shares Google/Android has won because Apple offered something so basic for over ten years while Google Maps was super reliable and way more advanced and adapted with full support for most countries and languages almost since its launch.

Shame on Apple for refusing to spend the billions it takes to compete with Google Maps.

Knowing that the full version of Apple Maps I have now still isn't available around the World is unforgivable.

 

[Someirishguy]

UK: Apple Maps for navigation (dropping the pin at the entrance to where I want to go). The UI is so incredibly clear and easy to follow compared to Google or Waze. I missed enough exits or turns using Google/Waze that any time they may save is lost by multiples. Google maps for everything else.

 

[metamorphoses]

Even today the only thing better about Apple Maps is it's pre-installed. Google Maps is better in every way.

ditto - - your to the point statement reflects my experiences precisely - - thank you.

 

[Someirishguy]

ditto - - your to the point statement reflects my experiences precisely - - thank you.

Except that it isn’t. Apple Maps provides clearer easier to follow driving instructions in the UK. So that’s at least one thing it’s better at.

 

[CarAnalogy]

While I agree somewhat, Apple could absolutely build their own - as they appear to be doing in small steps, as another user pointed out.

If their App Store reviews are any indication of quality, they probably shouldn't bother.

 

[SteveClark1000]

Once Apple Maps allows Satellite view in CarPlay I'll switch over.

 

[Beyo]

Why are you comparing the second and third best maps and not even mentioning the best one? WAZE by a country mile! If I have to, then I will use Google (mainly when walking)....never Apple.

Because owner of this site are in bed with Apple or Google whoever pay them more at the moment.

 

[NotTellinYou]

Not a word about privacy? Shame.

 

[Trip Mitchell]

This article would be far better if you would create a simple 2 answer poll so we can see a consensus.

Apple Maps looks beautiful and is better integrated with my Apple-centric lifestyle, but it is still sends me on some of the dumbest routes far too often and I begrudgingly switch to google maps. It's offensive that after 10 years I still have to load both apps just to double check if apple is sending me on some wasteful goose chase. I often wonder how much time Apple Maps has wasted in the past when I've driven in unknown areas and hadn't checked up on it.

 

[gimarbazat]

Google maps.

 

[BC2009]

Yep I am in Sweden, as an example I search for a store opened 4 months ago in the most busy area in the capital and Apple Maps returns nothing while Google Maps have all the information listed for the place.

Just searching for “restaurants” in both will show another problem with AM, first of all it doesn’t show all of the restaurants for some reason (even if they are in AM). But it also becomes a lot harder to find the few good ones since AM doesn’t have a review score visible for each place on the actual map.

I guess it is true what they say: Your Mileage May Vary. It sounds like Apple needs to invest more in some regions.

 

[BC2009]

This is something I fully stand behind as the report feature in Maps is amazing, and I've actually received dozens of messages from Apple about reports I've submitted - and when I don't, they still alert you to when they've updated their map database with the info I've provided. I suspect that they have a weighted system, so the more one leaves accurate feedback, the quicker it is applied, but really, they give OpenStreetMap a run for their money in terms of using user feedback to push out map updates quickly! This goes from simple "business has moved" kinda things, to "roundabout installed at this intersection now" and "only one exit lane for this off-ramp, not 2" and lots, lots more.

I love the customer-focus Apple has here. Google does not have customers, but users and when I have needed tech support from any kind from Google in the past (even simple feedback) I have gotten referred to forums that are not monitored actively by the company. Google wants people to self-service without paying a support staff. The best way to fix a problem with a business in Google maps is to tell the business owner to login and update their information themselves.

 

[TheWatchfulOne]

I'm not surprised Apple Maps, after the iffy start, has caught up with Google maps in terms of what people expect a maps app to be - namely accurate and up to date. There's only so much more you can do to improve, once map accuracy is getting close to 100%.

For me, I still use Google Maps only because of habit. It works, works well, tracks real-time traffic and routes well enough, and I'm happy with it - so why mess with a good thing? I'm sure if I switch to Apple Maps now, it'll probably work just as well and I'll just be as happy - but unfortunately for Apple, Google had first-mover advantage.

No mapping service is going to be 100% accurate. Staying up-to-date with the real world is always a moving target.

 

[Ruggy]

Depends what you want to do with it.
Google street view is unrivalled. Maps sometimes lets you see a street view but rarely. Unfortunately, Google isn's as good at this as it used to be as you can be following something and then suddenly arrive inside a shop and it has problems with flyovers and bridges.
If you want to look at buildings and spin the map round, that sort of thing Google wins again for control but Apple has way more up to date imaging and better quality.
If you're walking then Maps. Turn by turn directions when driving: Maps although Waze gives particularly clear directions but the voices can be really annoying especially for pronouncing street names
If you want accurate destination time: Maps. Google sometimes gets it way out, I went on a long journey recently where it gave me a predicted range of over 2 hours as destination time.
If you want info about accidents and police then Waze- but the police report themselves everyfew minutes too so it isn't all that accurate in fact because it often looks like the police are everywhere.
If you want the best route then nowadays it's Maps. It used to be Waze or Google but Maps is now surprisingly good at this. We were using all three in the car at the same time and eventually we decided Maps was making the best predictions. Waze updated much faster on the journey but actually led me into a big problem.
If you are looking for restaurants hotels etc then Google by a mile.

 

[vjl323]

This article would be far better if you would create a simple 2 answer poll so we can see a consensus.

Apple Maps looks beautiful and is better integrated with my Apple-centric lifestyle, but it is still sends me on some of the dumbest routes far too often and I begrudgingly switch to google maps. It's offensive that after 10 years I still have to load both apps just to double check if apple is sending me on some wasteful goose chase. I often wonder how much time Apple Maps has wasted in the past when I've driven in unknown areas and hadn't checked up on it.

When it gives you a bad route, at the very bottom of the app, use the 'Report an Issue' feature and then tap the 'Report Route Issue' - while this may not be true for every Apple department, I can say that the Maps team is very, very receptive to feedback sent from the Report Issues feature in Maps. They will even e.mail you back if they have followup questions, and at the very least, you'll get a push notice when they've updated the database to give a better route. I know that doing the reporting is a lot of work, but if the route you want is consistently wonky, reporting it will definitely fix that issue.

I live in what is considered in the geography world as a 'super rural' area - so I've used the report feature a lot, as there's a lot of roads that are not maintained by the city/county/state, and as such, digital maps can often have significant inaccuracies. Apple has been very, very responsive in fixing the issues I've reported over the years. It almost feels like they wish to compete with OpenStreetMap vs. Google Maps!

 

[brofkand]

Except that it isn’t. Apple Maps provides clearer easier to follow driving instructions in the UK. So that’s at least one thing it’s better at.

Good for you. Look at the App Store reviews of the two apps and you'll see that the majority disagrees with you. That may partially be because the majority of iPhone users don't drive in the UK often.