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Best GPS Nav apps for iPhone

MacPleezy

MacPleezy

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Apr 8, 2011
5
0
en-Y-see
Hey all,

This is my first post and as such I'll try to keep things fairly short and concise..

I want to try and gain a consensus on which iPhone gps nav app people have had the best experience with regardless of initial or recurring cost (ie monthly fee).

The only other pertinent details are that there is no additional hardware necessary and that it is capable to play turn by turn voice prompts via a bluetooth earpiece (or at the very least the same via headphone jack audio)..

Any input is greatly appreciated.
 
MacPleezy said:
Hey all,

This is my first post and as such I'll try to keep things fairly short and concise..

I want to try and gain a consensus on which iPhone gps nav app people have had the best experience with regardless of initial or recurring cost (ie monthly fee).

The only other pertinent details are that there is no additional hardware necessary and that it is capable to play turn by turn voice prompts via a bluetooth earpiece (or at the very least the same via headphone jack audio)..

Any input is greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...

Free:
Waze
Mapquest

Paid, one time:
Navigon (my favorite) ($60?)
TomTom

Paid Subscription:
MotionX GPS Drive ($0.99, $20 per year or $3 per month after 1 month free trial)
AT&T Navigator

All of these apps I've tried are able to play music in the background and either lower the music volume or pause it and then resume while navigating. The audio comes via the headphone jack not bluetooth. Calls use bluetooth.
 
sbddude said:
Free:
Waze
Mapquest

Paid, one time:
Navigon (my favorite) ($60?)
TomTom

Paid Subscription:
MotionX GPS Drive ($0.99, $20 per year or $3 per month after 1 month free trial)
AT&T Navigator

All of these apps I've tried are able to play music in the background and either lower the music volume or pause it and then resume while navigating. The audio comes via the headphone jack not bluetooth. Calls use bluetooth.
Click to expand...

Ok thx for the feedback, I kind of assumed that was the case with the mono bluetooth headsets although I'd assume that if you were using the A2DP bluetooth in stereo it should come through that channel if the app is well coded.

I found navigon as well and had a question that I couldnt find a great answer to that maybe you'd know. When using the app does it rely on your data connection and gps or exclusively gps?
 
MacPleezy said:
Ok thx for the feedback, I kind of assumed that was the case with the mono bluetooth headsets although I'd assume that if you were using the A2DP bluetooth in stereo it should come through that channel if the app is well coded.

I found navigon as well and had a question that I couldnt find a great answer to that maybe you'd know. When using the app does it rely on your data connection and gps or exclusively gps?
Click to expand...

Navigon and tomtom do not need data. MotionX and Waze do.
 
I use CoPilot, and it does a pretty nice job. I researched several of the pay apps a few months ago, and chose CoPilot because it seemed like a compromise between features and price. It's got most of the features of the high-end apps (tom tom, navigon), but it's much cheaper ($20, I think. I got it on sale for $10.00).

I have no experience with any other GPS app, so I can't give a good comparison. I'd say the drawbacks are the un-slick presentation and the interface, which is not always intuitive. I haven't had any trouble using it, but the menus aren't as straightforward as they could be. Overall it's a solid nav app that's more attractive because of the price.
 
I've done quite a bit of research, and looked at several on coworkers/friends' iPhone. The quick summary is that none of the navigation apps deserves 5-star rating.

As far as routing is concerned, both Garmin and Tom Tom are at the top of the game (5 stars), followed by NAVIGON and CoPilot (4 stars). For most folks, all four should be more than adequate, but both Garmin and Tom Tom provide more timely updates. A big point against Garmin is lack of in-storage map data.

User interface is subjective, but I would rank Garmin at the top, certainly easiest to learn and use. That said, the UI is not very Apple like, more of a direct port of its hardware products. I would say Tom Tom has the most Apple-like user interface, although map is the ugliest of the four. NAVIGON is the next, which is reasonably attractive and not super complicated. But many of the features are not intuitive nor obvious, many requiring clicking through options and customizations to access. Although more than functional, CoPilot sports the least Apple-like UI.

Price. Most of these products are frequently discounted. I picked up NAVIGON USA when it was 50% off ($25 for the app + $15 for lifetime traffic). I also like that NAVIGON offers lifetime traffic, whereas Tom Tom and CoPilot just 1-year ($19.99 and $9.99 respectively). And NAVIGON is the only iPhone/iPad universal app of the bunch.
 
How about Central America

We're going to Costa Rica in May and I'd appreciate any insight on which, if any, of the iPhone GPS apps handle that in addition to the USA. I'm aware of the iGO app but would rather spend the money on one that does the USA.
Thanks.
 
I've had a few of the freebie apps (which pull in loads of data).

I've also paid for CoPilot & TomTom Europe.

TomTom is bar far the BEST app - especially when combined wich the Traffic subscription. Yes its more expensive - but you definately get your moneys worth!

Thats my opinion anyways!
 
I loved Navigon right up to the point where they changed the voices .... at least the UK English voice sounds terrible, like a game-show announcer and it made me stop using the app..

I ended up buying TomTom on a special offer and i like it overall .... has more active live-traffic (TomTomHD is better imho) and the overall interface is MUCH easier to use enroute ... i found the Navigon app a little difficult to adjust since its all small text menus.

One downside of TomTom is that if it loses cell signal while doing a route you can get the 'Could not activate cellular data network' pop ups ... its if you happen to have a bad signal at the moment (every 3 mins) TomTom updates.

Also i find the 'Faster route found' diaglog which has a small X and tick hard to touch when driving....

On balance though i would pick tomtom of the 2
 
I did a lot of research and found tom tom and navigon the best rated, both are rather hefty, in the sense you need download the maps and store them on the phone.

The advantage of this, is that you don't need a data connection to use the GPS, so if you're in some rural neck of the woods with no bars, you still can use the GPS.

For the features, price and reviews I chose navigon and haven't regretted the decision one bit.
 
Only issue I have with Navigon is the refreshing rate. As the vehicle is traveling after every few 100 feet, the entire map seems to "step" forward and its not a smooth transition at all. The TomTom refreshes flawlessly without being noticed.
 
fjd726 said:
Only issue I have with Navigon is the refreshing rate. As the vehicle is traveling after every few 100 feet, the entire map seems to "step" forward and its not a smooth transition at all. The TomTom refreshes flawlessly without being noticed.
Click to expand...

Weird, I don't have that issue.

To the OP: I use Navigon and like it.
 
JonMPLS said:
I tried a couple, but like Navigon.
Click to expand...

+1
just to chime in here, i shopped around and also decided on Navigon. I had a stand-alone TomTom unit for about a week, and thought it was completely awful. I realized I was eligable for an upgrade from AT&T, so i returned my TomTom, used that cash to buy my i4 with navigon along with all the extra IAP, and i,ve never looked back. :cool:

long-story-short: go with Navigon
 
I use waze in chicago. It's ok, although I do notice a lot of errors. I am not a fan of having 1.5gig maps on my phone, as I am always in 3G area. Thinking of trying Garmin though. Haven't heard a lot said about that app though.
 
I'm leaning towards getting Navigon, but do you know if it allows a Fixed-North orientation? ie the map stays put and the car spins rather than the map spinning and the car always up. If not, does tomtom/garmin/magellin have this? Anyone know? I guess I'm old school and like my north to be north.
 
nutmac said:
I've done quite a bit of research, and looked at several on coworkers/friends' iPhone. The quick summary is that none of the navigation apps deserves 5-star rating.

As far as routing is concerned, both Garmin and Tom Tom are at the top of the game (5 stars), followed by NAVIGON and CoPilot (4 stars). For most folks, all four should be more than adequate, but both Garmin and Tom Tom provide more timely updates. A big point against Garmin is lack of in-storage map data.

User interface is subjective, but I would rank Garmin at the top, certainly easiest to learn and use. That said, the UI is not very Apple like, more of a direct port of its hardware products. I would say Tom Tom has the most Apple-like user interface, although map is the ugliest of the four. NAVIGON is the next, which is reasonably attractive and not super complicated. But many of the features are not intuitive nor obvious, many requiring clicking through options and customizations to access. Although more than functional, CoPilot sports the least Apple-like UI.

Price. Most of these products are frequently discounted. I picked up NAVIGON USA when it was 50% off ($25 for the app + $15 for lifetime traffic). I also like that NAVIGON offers lifetime traffic, whereas Tom Tom and CoPilot just 1-year ($19.99 and $9.99 respectively). And NAVIGON is the only iPhone/iPad universal app of the bunch.
Click to expand...

How much data does the Garmin pull?

I'm looking for the best app that I can preload maps, I am very frugal with my data as except for GPS navigation I am always on wifi so I only have the 200MB plan.
 
Don't buy any of the g-map apps, they started them over at version 1.0. I've had U.S. West and can't update, version 2.1 U.S. West is on my phone.
 
Last edited:
I bought and like the tom tom app.

I have a stand alone tom tom and never had an issue besides not picking up the gps signal right away in some places but that is normal depending on the situation (cloudy, thick trees etc.)
 
I also have the Tom Tom app, it works quite well. I bought g-map when it first came out. I was going to test the new version, but not going to buy it again.
 
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