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Apple Maps vs. Google Maps: Which Is Better?

Google Maps. I HATE that Apple will not let me switch to Google Maps for all of my navigation needs. Apple Maps has given me erroneous directions too many times, while Google Maps has never, once, given me bad directions. Apple Maps has also failed on a number of occasions to steer me around traffic issues, while Google Maps reliably tells me about alternative routes when traffic is a problem. Neither of them give me directions in my HUD. Only Audi's proprietary navigation system will do that, and even though it sits on top of Google Maps, it is slow as molasses and often times just glitches, so I use Google Maps on CarPlay and forego the HUD directions.
 
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I have an iPhone and I never use Apple Maps or Google Maps, Waze is the best navigational map to me. It will suggest exiting the highway and crossing to immediately reenter to avoid heavy traffic and save 10 minutes of drive time that Apple and Google just had you waiting in that traffic. Waze isn’t just maps alone, it tells you if there is a police officer on your route so you know where to slow down to avoid speeding tickets. It’s amazing. 10/10 highly recommend Waze for everyone!
 
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lartola said:
It’s not subpar in the US, the only place that really interests Apple (they are extremely US-centric). It is subpar everywhere else because they don’t care too much about the rest of the world.
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I live in the US (in Southern California) and Apple Maps still provides inferior routing directions as compared to Google Maps and Waze. Apple Maps gives totally illogical detours that are miles and miles out of the way, routes that lead to dead ends, and wrong way down one way streets. Not all the time, but on a regular basis. I don’t care that it’s easier to report, I care about getting to where I need to go..
 
I do regularly review and compare several CarPlay Navigation apps.

The latest compared fines that would have been generated on a reference track, when following the speed limit as provided by the Navigation app.

Apple Maps: EUR 600,-
Google Maps: EUR 360,-

Others:
TomTom would have brought you before court.
OpenStreetMap apps were EUR 320,-
Here had the best accuracy on this reference track, with one app yielding to 0 EUR penalties (the others had penalties because of radar warners, which are illegal to have around here).

In general, Apple Maps is catching up. Offline maps and multipoint routing are highly appreciated.
Also it turns out that Apple Maps is much better in responding to map error reports.
At the same time, I see the quality of Google Maps in a decline and bugs to the app increase.
Right now I see both of them pretty much on par.


(use auto-tranlate into your language)
 
I have not used Waze or google in years. I have used Apple Maps for years for both local and long distance vacation travel with no problems. This was reinforced last year when I bought a house in a new development. The street didn’t exist on maps when I moved in. It showed up on Apple Maps about a month and a half to two months before google. This was not important for me finding my way home. But it was critical information for taxi drivers and delivery services.
 
I used to use Waze, but then it stated to not detect planned road closures for roadworks etc, Apple Maps did so I’ve pretty much stuck with that when I needed a satnav. Never really bothered with Google Maps apart from the odd occasion.

Best thing to do really is have Waze and Apple Maps and Google Maps all installed as they are all free, one of them will guide you to where you need to go lol. I remember the days of paying for SatNav apps. Think I used CoPilot, also tried the TomTom app.
 
Apple’s biggest blunder is not buying Yelp years ago or coming up with a contract to have Yelp integrated into Apple Maps seamlessly. Due to this, I use both apps. I use Apple Maps to get me places and Google Maps to research places.

They’re both pretty similar when it comes to navigation, these days. Google Maps just added 3D buildings in their navigation (finally), so their UI is catching up to Apple’s. I’ve always said eventually both of the apps would be similar in usage, and I think we’ve arrived at that statement.
 
Apple Maps (still) uses reviews provided by Yelp. Yelp reviews are absolutely horrible. Here's why. Yelp outsmarts themselves. They remove many legitimate POSITIVE reviews that companies receive, calling them "suspicious." But they allow all NEGATIVE reviews to go through, assuming they're all legit. The result is inaccurate lower ratings for businesses. Do you ever wonder why the same businesses ALWAYS, or 99% of the time anyway, have LOWER ratings on APPLE MAPS OR YELP vs. Google Maps?! It's because of that reason I've just explained. How do I know this? It's happened to me as a business owner with listings on Yelp/Apple Maps, as well as to other business owners I know. Apple Maps no longer relies on Yelp to register listings, but Apple Maps still uses their reviews, which means they also take the same attitude toward ratings/reviews. Anwyay, I am often looking for reviews AND directions. Apple needs to get rid of Yelp and their entire review system that may still remain within Apple Maps.
 
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I prefer Apple Maps in the US, but I cannot use it Saudi Arabia. It finds the places, but it will not give me directions to get to them. Google maps works perfectly in Saudi Arabia.
 
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When copying addresses from various places (like homepages) into Apple Maps it continues do disappoint me. Sometimes places can't be found at all. Other times they are clearly not the correct locations.
Meanwhile, doing the same in Google Maps gives me perfect results.

It might be because I do not live in the US? (I mean, Apple hasn't even cracked predictive typing on the iOS keyboard in most countries outside the US). It might be for other reasons. But as said, there are no issues in Google Maps.

Also, traffic predictions in Google Maps are spot on where I live.
 
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Beyond navigating its nice to look up hotels and other businesses to see what photos/reviews users have uploaded. Apple maps only provides reviews from Booking.com, Yelp, etc which contains alot of unverified information.

Also Apple Maps doesn't have a web version for directions/trip planning. You have to use the Mac desktop app which I forget exist most times.

Google Maps Timeline feature is also a fantastic tool. I use it daily for work and to reflect on previous trips. Absolutely love being able to see everywhere I've been.

The ability to save an area for offline viewing seems to be more reliable on Google as well as navigating public transit, camping/RV areas, etc
 

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Rob in Maine said:
Apple Maps (still) uses reviews provided by Yelp. Yelp reviews are absolutely horrible. Here's why. Yelp outsmarts themselves. They remove many legitimate POSITIVE reviews that companies receive, calling them "suspicious." But they allow all NEGATIVE reviews to go through, assuming they're all legit. The result is inaccurate lower ratings for businesses. Do you ever wonder why the same businesses ALWAYS, or 99% of the time anyway, have LOWER ratings on APPLE MAPS OR YELP vs. Google Maps?! It's because of that reason I've just explained. How do I know this? It's happened to me as a business owner with listings on Yelp/Apple Maps, as well as to other business owners I know. Apple Maps no longer relies on Yelp to register listings, but Apple Maps still uses their reviews, which means they also take the same attitude toward ratings/reviews. Anwyay, I am often looking for reviews AND directions. Apple needs to get rid of Yelp and their entire review system that may still remain within Apple Maps.
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The internet has made a sham out of user reviews and I don’t trust any of them. I try as hard as possible to get word of mouth impressions. And those yelp reviews I do t have the app and would prefer not to see them.
 
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Osxguy said:
Sorry I don’t trust an advertising company that doesn’t follow through on what it wants to do. Also a company that buys up property in downtown San Jose and just leaves it or puts it on hold like most of its other projects. Google is a data mining company first so why would you want to trust it. Also please don’t set your parents up with Google accounts and expect them to understand it. Also Google contacts doesn’t work with Apple. It’s just a horrible company so why use anything of theirs?
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The conversation is about which can get you to your destination more reliably and efficiently. Unfortunately the average user does not care about the hidden practices of free services or entertainment.
 
I believe Apple Maps would be better if more people would use it and use the reporting tool that is included in the app whenever there is an issue. That being said, Apple Maps works fine for me. Google Maps is saturated with so much bloat now I can't stand it any longer.
 
I like Apple maps, and had used it with CarPlay without issue. Since I’ve had a Tesla, I just dont use it as much. It’s interesting to compare both Apple and Google maps satellite imagery. Google Earth Pro really shines with that one If historic imagery is of interest.
 
kagharaht said:
Which one doesn't track you and tells advertisers where you are or where you go?
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100% this. Is Google Maps probably a bit better? Yeah, but it's not worth giving them access to my data. It's the main reason I don't have a single Google app on my phone.
 
Scotticus said:
100% this. Is Google Maps probably a bit better? Yeah, but it's not worth giving them access to my data. It's the main reason I don't have a single Google app on my phone.
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It’s probably better to get lost on a journey and lose time and money than have an app that tracks you and targets ads towards you. Then again I don’t care too much about that as I’m not really sure what data of mine is worth having as I don’t buy based on ads when browsing anyway.
 
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For me,
Waze, with tolls on
Google Maps with tolls off
Apple Maps on foot so my phone isn't out all the time in the city.
 
I've stuck with Apple Maps throughout the years and it is hands-down my preferred for:
- clean and uncluttered UI: this couldn't be more important in an app you are using while driving a moving vehicle!
- deep integration with the OS and Siri
- is not tracking my location and sharing with advertisers
- they ACTUALLY take in issues with incorrect information and address. For instance we have a laneway at the end of our street that Apple and Google reported incorrectly as a continuation of our street. I submitted fix to Apple Maps and it was corrected...the next day. Made similar report to Google and it is still incorrect a couple years on. Unfortunately all the delivery and Uber drivers follow Google Map data and continuously get lost and cancel rides.

What I wish would improve:
- Local business information:
- quite often business hours are not completely up to date
- restaurant reviews only seem to come from Yelp and that may be great in the US, but in other countries that is less than useful.

For both those reasons I flip back to Google Maps (unsigned in fwiw) and check some business info.
 
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