Apple Maps vs. Google Maps: Which Is Better?

[kevinws]

For around town use I use Apple Maps. Road trips I use Waze which I install uninstall as needed.

 

[ignatius345]

"For everything else" excluded a lot of pretty useful stuff you mentioned up front there! 😀

In short: if you already know where you're going, Apple Maps is a better way to navigate. If you don't know where you're going, using Apple Maps to find out (restaurants, etc) might be a crapshoot.

 

[irq987]

Apple Maps has been reliably getting me from point A to B for both short and long trips for many years now. I am sure Google Maps is still installed on some back page somewhere on my phone, but I can’t remember the last time I launched it.

 

[NW_Islander]

I was Waze (technically google) all the way for years, but in the last year or so, I noticed that it was directing me in to horrific construction traffic even when the construction had been there for days. What I like about Apple Maps that I'm not getting in google (and Waze) maps, is the 3D zoom-in when approaching your designated exit. In cities where there's 2-3 off-ramps combined in to one, it's a welcomed view. Entirely possible that Google has this and I haven't noticed or had the feature turned off by mistake, but Apple Maps has made great strides.

BUT, I still revert back to Waze when I think traffic will be crazy. Both Google and Apple Maps need to better incorporate the crowd sourced information sharing. Waze crowd sharing will tell me when there's objects in the road or a car on the shoulder. I instantly keep my eyes peeled in case I need to move out of the way.

EDIT: Driving internationally, Google Maps 100% . . . Also better for finding restaurants.

 

[A418t81]

I was one of the users that jumped fully on the Apple Maps in 2012. It was so bad that I quickly moved back to google maps. To be perfectly honest I have had a hard time trusting AM ever since even though it has been more than a decade. I know it’s a silly psychological thing but each time I decide to give it a try I always cross reference with GM too which negates the point of using it.

 

[jayducharme]

I've been relying on Apple Maps since it first came out. The first couple of years were pretty rough, but it's massively improved since then. My wife and I drive a couple thousand miles a year and in all that time Maps has steered us wrong just once. I'm very happy with it.

 

[GSWForever8]

I always use Apple Maps, and it always works. The interface is much simpler compared to google maps.

 

[Apple Mac Daz]

For around town use I use Apple Maps. Road trips I use Waze which I install uninstall as needed.

Why do you keep uninstalling Waze out of interest

 

[Jett0516]

I like how google maps put a white arrow for every turn while Apple put a street name label for turns.

 

[jz0309]

On my phone I use Apple Maps, on my Mac I use Google maps

 

[slomtbr]

Secondary & tertiary roads are nearly invisible in Apple Maps in CarPlay.

 

[Tirial]

It depends a bit on where I am. I rarely use maps in North America, as I'm always visiting someone and never have a car. My default is apple maps, but I can't swear to its current accuracy in Canada or the US.

Here in Europe, I've found google maps WAY less reliable for finding addresses. In the UK, if I want to go to a postcode, it's only 50/50 that google getting me to the right place, where as I haven't had issues with a postcode in apple maps in years. That said, in Spain, if it's a weird address, or an address with more than one possible spelling, sometimes Apple will just give up, or will try to direct me to Madrid (I'm in Salamanca).

It's been 3 years, but when I lived in Paris during lockdown, Google again had weird issues sending to places that could be blocks away, because they had the numbering wrong. I didn't have that issue with apple maps, but apple maps didn't have cycling directions at the time, and their pedestrian directions could be straight up dangerous on a bike if I wasn't paying attention.

So I use both, and have issues with both, but my default preference today, in 2024, is Apple as it is more consistently reliable.

As for restaurant reviews, I use neither. I have never had a bad experience with a restaurant booked on The Fork / La Fourchette.

 

[Biro]

I use Apple Maps almost exclusively. I have Google Maps installed only in case a backup is needed - which is almost never. I never use Waze. In fact, I avoid using anything from Google if possible.

 

[ELman]

Why does Apple Maps have trouble determining left from right? More than once it has told me the the incorrect way to turn even though the map is clearly showing the correct direction. It's true, never believe everything you hear.

 

[brofkand]

Is Google Maps better for privacy?

That argument became meaningless the day Apple got into the ad business, as if it had any meaning to begin with.

 

[gatorvet96]

I prefer Apple Maps for my daily driver but as others have said POI data is often not accurate. Also I hate having to open the Yelp app to see pictures and reviews

 

[robertosh]

I’m Apple Maps user only since couple time, but it does not work very well in Europe and i need to visually check proposed routes to not have any surprises.
Recently started using Organic Maps
It does not offer many features (but improves with each update) but offers offline maps which is very nice and no data is collected.

 

[ddsforlife]

Apple Maps, all day long. 😊 For me, way more accurate with arriving times too. I'll have Apple Maps on and my wife will have Google Maps on and Apple Maps always is more accurate with arriving time as well as accurate roads and addresses. I'm in SoCal. I'm sure it varies, depending on where you are in the country and the world. So, I'd surmise it's difficult to say one is supremely better than the other for all areas.

 

[johntherazz]

The seamless integration with my calendar appointments and address book means I only use Apple Maps, but I despise the way that if I’m looking at Apple Maps on my phone it hides most of the street names from me, so it’s a total PITA to try and work out where I am if I’m walking anywhere

 

[unregbaron]

Google Maps is much more reliable in London, UK.

 

[coasterider]

I would use Apple Maps more, but since I do not have a car, even when walking or biking is set as my default, it gives me car directions if Maps considers the destination "too far".

 

[VisceralRealist]

Apple Maps has greatly improved from how it used to be, but it still doesn't show as much detail as Google Maps.

Just comparing some hiking trails in a regional park I'm familiar with, all the trails are shown on Google Maps and the ones with names are correctly named. On Apple, some trail names appear, but the trails aren't actually shown, and thus the map is of no use navigating the park.

I also appreciate Google Maps showing traffic signal locations, which Apple doesn't do.

 

[TheMacPotato]

For me, living in London in the UK, the cycling directions alone are enough to make Apple maps my go to. Google Cycling directions (at least in my city) are appaling and often downright dangerous.

 

[doolar]

Apple Maps user since probably five years or more. I know that Google Maps sometimes is better, but I don't care. If I can avoid Google I do.

 

[henryhbk]

I use a combination of both, but I prefer the directions (verbal) given by Apple Maps. Maps often gives me some strange routes so I have to be careful about which one I pick. Also, often I select a particular route of the three given and then it starts to guide me along one of the routes I DIDN’T pick. In downtown Orlando there are express lanes along I-4 that are separated from the regular lanes. They have limited and separate on/off ramps. Google maps recognizes these and will route you onto them when possible. Maps completely ignores them. I’ve written Apple about it and heard nothing

Agree. It’s not just strange routes, like you search for “elm street” and elm street 2000mi away pops up or the home sport 1500mi away is probably not where I want to go…