If earlier people traveled by car and used maps to navigate, this is no longer necessary. Convenient car navigators have been invented that allow you to perfectly navigate any terrain. Today it is convenient, practical and allows you to save a lot of your personal time.
If you need a free navigator for your tablet or smartphone, then this article will help you choose it. It is dedicated to the description of navigator applications for Android. You will be able to find out which ones are the best and why. You will also choose a convenient navigator without the Internet for Android.
Navigator "Yandex"
This is a full-fledged GPS-navigator for Android. It allows you to quickly and accurately build a route to desired address, tracks, any sights (museum, monument), another city. It should be noted that the Yandex navigator takes into account street closures and even traffic jams. This allows you to always be sure that the shortest and most convenient way will be offered.
This navigator contains maps of the main highways of the planet, however, routing is available only on the territory Russian Federation and Ukraine. Detailed maps of the settlements of the countries indicated above are drawn in detail, therefore, the application will be convenient for the population.
Does the navigator work without the Internet? "Yandex" may work in You will need to download desired card in the memory of a smartphone or tablet. But searching for various objects (shops, monuments, schools, restaurants, hotels) and building a route on Android requires transferring network data. This means that you will only be able to see the electronic map. Therefore, without the Internet, like an Android device, it will work to a limited extent.
Application advantages
- Voice prompts (male or female to choose from).
- Navigator control with voice commands.
- Ability to add traffic events.
- Online indicator of traffic congestion.
- Search of the necessary roads and objects is possible.
- MTS subscribers are provided with free unlimited traffic.
"Navitel"
Navigation system in a compact application. Now Navitel is considered one of the best apps for Android. Many will ask why? Because this navigator works without an Internet connection.
When setting up, you need to download maps from the Internet to your computer, and then download them to your tablet or smartphone. The application works with the help of a GPS-satellite, quickly builds a route and searches for the necessary objects.
Additional services (require internet connection):
- free map updates;
- various services ("Traffic", "Friends", "Weather").
It must be remembered that the application is free only for the first 30 days, then you need to purchase a license. "Navitel" works fine in most countries of the CIS and the European Union. The application also has the function of optimal route selection and can connect to traffic police video cameras.
OsmAnd
OsmAnd is a navigator without internet for Android. If you need navigation in offline mode, then this application will be convenient for you. It is necessary to download maps and it will be possible to plot a route without much difficulty. Voice prompts help you navigate the area. It is possible to go back along the track.
Some moments in management. The destination on the screen is indicated by a red flag. Orientation follows the red arrow, which indicates right direction. The ability to create and edit various objects is available (your data is transmitted to the application servers). This means that you can independently mark on the map the place where the monument or some restaurant or cafe is located.
An excellent navigator without the Internet for Android. But remember that the free version of the app only allows you to download ten maps.
Copilot
Another good navigator without the Internet for Android. It provides excellent detailed maps of the whole world and they are updated monthly. It is interesting that this navigator, when building a route, offers three of its options - the main one and two alternative ones. There is a convenient walking mode (for pedestrians) - absolutely all small buildings and any shops are indicated on the map. There is a feature that allows you to publish to in social networks(“Twitter”, “Facebook”) information about your route and location. One of the distinguishing features is that you can make calls from your smartphone without leaving the navigator.
The application is completely free. But there is a full version of it (it is paid), which additionally provides voice prompts and gives access to maps in 3D mode.
Deciding on the choice of the best navigator for an Android tablet or smartphone is not an easy task. There are many factors to consider, as well as whether the program itself is suitable for the selected tablet model. There are incredibly many questions on this subject, for example, which navigator is better, what functions should be in it, and much more. In this article, we will describe in detail the criteria for choosing the right assistant for a tablet, as well as the features of installing and configuring it.
The main functionality of the navigator
Most the best navigator must be excellent in all respects. In fact, it will be a device on which your security depends. It's easy to get lost on unknown roads, and an inconvenient navigator that can't show you the right way to your destination won't be so good. What exactly should a good navigation app have?
- Convenient operating system. Look at different variants tablets and read reviews about the OS. Screenshots will also help you determine whether it will be convenient to use this particular operating system.
- Constant firmware update. Get the application, the updates to which are released regularly. It will also help you in future trips and travels. In addition, this significantly improves the stability of the navigator, and this is perhaps even more important than the updated maps. The latest version often contains additions with maps in Russian.
- Do not buy a navigator for Android without internet. It is ideal to take one in which it is possible to establish a 3G connection. Remember that it is better to buy a high-quality, but more expensive gadget than a cheaper one, but with consequences.
- High screen resolution, viewing angles. An important factor that will help you to be focused on the road, but at the same time understand where the navigator is pointing. It is also desirable to purchase such a device, the screen of which will be equipped with an anti-reflective coating.
- Good stuffing. A tablet with gps is the main requirement for the direct operation of navigation, it must also have a powerful processor, a decent margin random access memory and built-in memory will perfectly pull any software. All of these factors are very important for any good navigator, because without them comfortable work will be impossible.
Additional features of the navigator
Of course, a powerful filling, a good screen and similar factors are important, but there are still those without which the navigation control will not be so user-friendly.
- For example, one of the important factors will be access to 3G and, accordingly, SIM-cards. If you have already decided to get yourself a tablet that will be used for navigation, then the ideal option for you would be to purchase one that can always access the Internet for updates.
- GPS chip. A device of this type must contain a chip, and not receive location data via the Internet. The GPS connection to the location will work many times more accurately and faster, which is exactly what you need for a tablet computer with a navigation function.
- High frequency of the processor. As in separate navigators, and tablets prepared for them, special meaning plays the frequency of the processor. In fact, it is responsible for the frequency of data updates. If the processor on your device is weak, then the response of the navigation system in relation to the road will be very weak. A good device should be equipped with at least 2 cores with a frequency of 1.5 Ghz.
However, for tablets there are a lot of different navigation programs. Which ones are the best?
Popular Navigation Software
We will provide you with a list of the most popular and best navigators for Android, so that you yourself can choose exactly the option that will be best for you. To simplify the task, the advantages and disadvantages of each of the applications will be given below.
iGO
Indeed, it is one of the most the best programs Navigators for Android. It provides the most accurate data for drivers and travelers. Everything is great, everything is convenient. Many gadgets use this application as proprietary software precisely due to its functionality. Of course, there are also disadvantages, but they are extremely few.
The high price almost always becomes an obstacle to buyers who want to save on such a purchase. It is possible to determine the optimal route between several points. In addition, the manufacturers did their best and brought out a three-dimensional image of many roads, buildings, as well as major landmarks. Special Service TMC, which is especially loved by many drivers, reports possible traffic jams on the highways and even small roads, calculating a more convenient route.
Pros:
- the highest quality of the navigation system;
- compatibility with a large number of devices;
- convenient Windows CE;
- the possibility of 3D viewing of roads and streets;
- TMC service support;
- simple interface.
Minuses:
- high price;
- irregular update system.
Not bad, but far from the best navigation system. It has both advantages and a lot of disadvantages. Well, firstly, it is installed in most navigators that are sold in our country. Navitel stores a huge number of maps of both Russia and other cities, which is a very convenient option.
However, in order to purchase other cards, they literally need to be bought in addition for a special subscription, the cost of which is shown to its customers exclusively in dollars. On the one hand, developers want to make money on their application, but too brazenly. If we evaluate system requirements device, it is important to say right away that it supports various operating systems, ranging from the old Android 1.6 to the latest, recently released version 6 of the Android 5.1 operating system. But the screen has its own snags. There are not so many supported screen resolutions, and those that are supported do not show such a high-quality picture, especially in the detailed view mode.
It is extremely inconvenient and causes a lot of negative reviews about Navitel. In terms of functionality, there are practically no questions - all the main functions work with a bang, without any restrictions in cost or something like that. If the user buys, then he buys a high-quality, reliable navigator. Simple and intuitive interface fits perfectly with most screens, very convenient. He also has no complaints.
The most pleasant and original thing is that very a large number of buildings in 3D-view mode are qualitatively drawn. Intuitively, it becomes clear which building is located at a given point. In general, a good navigation system, however, too greedy developers.
Pros:
- support for a large number of operating systems;
- high-quality detailed maps;
- simple interface;
- all the most basic functions are supported.
Minuses:
- the cost of the cards;
- a large number of unsupported screen resolutions.
Cheap and more developing system navigation Yandex.Navigator entered the world market relatively recently, namely four years ago, in 2012. Of course, a lot can be achieved in 4 years, however, this is not about the Russian Yandex system. Big choice various functions, which are more suitable as an addition to it, and not as the main functions - this is what is included in the peculiar "stuffing" of this system.
Simple, intuitive interface, without any features. 3D mode is not really 3D. Some objects simply rise in comparison with the rest and it becomes clear where the road is and where the tall building is. However, given that we do not have many skyscraper buildings, this feature is not so useful. Satellite mode is also not very high quality. The picture is so-so, outdated. But there is a useful feature that shows where traffic jams are and how to avoid them. Incredible useful thing. But that's probably all.
Pros:
- simple interface;
- clear maps
- TMC interface (shows traffic jams);
- there is hope that it will continue to develop.
Minuses:
- low-quality modes of the 3D satellite map;
- missing many important functions.
Waze
In general, it's hard to say that this is a full-fledged navigation system. This is more like another additional and very useful feature for the navigator. What does it include? Information about very many different institutions, buildings. In fact, Waze takes all the information from Wikipedia, which means that the information is quite reliable.
If you are traveling through unfamiliar areas and want to know where to stay, eat or just spend an hour or two, then Waze's navigator will perfectly help you. The maps are poorly developed, to put it mildly, there is no 3D mode, and many important functions are also missing. The best option would be to install such an application as an additional application to the existing ones.
Pros:
- special design;
- the ability to find any small eatery on the map;
- universal search.
Minuses:
- incredibly few navigation system features;
- too childish interface;
- lack of a huge number of functions.
Useful, interesting and, surprisingly, easy navigator program. osmAnd itself provides its users with a huge number of navigation options, including basic ones that relate to updated maps and satellite views, as well as a very interesting, but at the same time understandable interface. Simple but tasteful. However, it is better to purchase the version of osmAnd, and not look for hacked ones. Its cost is not so great - 199 rubles, and the benefits are incredibly many. With its help, it will be possible not only to find the desired place on the map, but also to learn a lot about it interesting facts and reviews. The ability to work without the Internet is also a good feature. We recommend installing the OsmAnd app.
Pros:
- powerful, but at the same time lightweight;
- low cost;
- quality information;
- regularly updated maps;
- Ability to work offline.
Minuses:
- no 3D maps;
- irregular updates of the application itself.
Conclusion
From the proposed options, you can easily decide which navigator is best for an Android device and what main functions it should stand out. Of course, there can be a lot of suitable options as navigation systems. We recommend that you buy a high-performance tablet and install additional software on it. Highly recommended to install OsmAnd, which is full of various features,if you want to enjoy all the features, but at a high price, the best option is iGO, which supports many gadget models.
Previously, we considered free. Today we will select a navigator, focusing on offline work - to work with maps without the Internet by activating the gps connection on your phone. Let's focus on the offline features of navigators and maps that come bundled with android apps.
Offline navigators - participants of the review:
Advantages of offline maps
By default, all mobile navigators are online and may become unstable without a direct Internet connection. In the absence of the Network, navigators do not display maps and do not build routes. All this can become a serious problem.
The problem can be easily fixed by downloading offline maps to your gadget. They will work offline: in Russia, neighboring countries and Europe. Offline maps are indispensable for navigation if you have expensive mobile data or you open the map in a place where there is no Internet access.
Waze is a free GPS navigator that works without internet
Waze is a navigation application developed by a community of enthusiasts. Displays traffic on the roads in real time, notifies about accidents and notifies about cameras. Available in Russian and adapted to road conditions in most countries of the world.
Waze is a free navigator with offline features for Android
The Waze Android app doesn't have the obvious offline save feature of, say, Google Maps. The navigator from time to time requires an Internet connection for full operation. However, there are some workarounds for downloading offline offline maps.
How to save maps offline using the Waze app
In order to download an offline Waze map, you need to:
- Pre-connect to the network;
- Open the Waze app on your phone;
- Enter the address you want to save for offline work;
- After finding the specified location, Waze will store the data in the cache.
You can use the offline map when traveling in Europe or Russia. Please note that in offline mode, you will not be able to update the data until you connect mobile device to the internet. Traffic information will also not be available offline.
How to upload traffic information to Waze navigator
- Make sure your mobile device is connected to the Internet;
- Open Waze GPS Navigator and enter the location you want to go to;
- Waze will calculate routes to your destination and display them in the app when navigating;
- Click on the Waze icon to open the menu, find the "Settings" icon in the new pop-up window;
- To save your current traffic information, go to Waze > Advanced settings > Data transfer > Download traffic information > Enable.
In addition to traffic information, Waze will display how much data has already been downloaded and cached by the app.
Google Navigator: enable offline maps on Android
Saving offline maps
- Connect to a WiFi network, open the Google Maps app on your mobile device.
- Make sure you are logged into your account Google in Google Maps.
- Search the GPS navigator for the city or place you want to save as an offline map.
- Click on the bottom bar google apps Maps - the name of the location will be displayed here.
- In the upper right corner of Google Navigator, a menu will be available with the option to save an offline map.
Some features of offline Google Maps:
- You can pan and zoom the map before saving it. Most big size offline map - about 30 square miles.
- You can save an offline map with any name. It is convenient to give a clear name so that you can delete the file or check if the desired city is in the list of saved maps.
- For each map, its expiration date is indicated: it is advisable to check the relevance and update the files as needed.
- Once the map is deleted, you won't be able to use it offline until you download/update again.
View saved offline maps in Google Navigator
- Open Google Maps on Android with a previously used account;
- Go to the main menu of the application through the sidebar by clicking on the button with horizontal stripes;
- Go to the "Offline Maps" section;
- Actions are available for each offline map: Download, View, Rename, Delete.
Yandex Navigator in offline mode (without internet connection)
Free vector maps can be downloaded through the main application settings. This option is available to owners of both Android and iOS versions of the navigator from Yandex. True, the list of offline maps is limited to the CIS countries and a number of adjacent territories. For most of Europe, alas, offline maps are not available.
Navitel is a popular navigator with offline function
Android Offline Maps transforms your phone into a complete GPS device. At the same time, you do not need to spend money on mobile traffic, which is most often very expensive.
Not all users want to spend time downloading individual locations (as described above). You can download a set of detailed maps for a specific country or region once. One of these solutions is . It is available for smartphones and android tablets, iOS devices, autonavigators.
In the "Buy" section on the developer's website, special packages of offline maps are posted. And not only for Russia, but also for neighboring countries, Europe, the USA, Latin America.
In terms of the quality of map detail, this is perhaps the best offline navigator for mobile devices.
Sygic is an offline navigator for Europe and the USA
Sygic is a GPS navigation app. Supports free 3D offline maps for Android, you can travel anywhere with them (at least it is > 200 countries). Offline maps display Points of Interest - gas stations, cafes, shops, attractions. All that is required to use the maps is to first download them to your mobile device.
Realtime functions work only in online mode. In particular, Sygic offers maximum exact information about traffic based on data from 500 million users worldwide. Information is also provided by global automakers, operators mobile communications, mapping and traffic information providers.
During the first 7 days, you can test all the features of the navigator (including those available with a Lifetime Premium subscription). After 7 days, Sygic leaves only basic features, but this is quite enough for full-fledged work.
Maps.me - GPS navigator for phone with OSM maps
Maps.me is a great free navigator for users looking for offline work and data savings.
Maps.me supports offline OpenStreetMap maps, which are well detailed. Regular users participate in the development of maps. Some maps are qualitatively better than Google Maps. It comes to the point that a shop or path can be marked on the Maps.me map, which are not in other navigators.
Working offline is convenient: in fact, you can get directions without an internet connection on your phone. For offline work, you must first download the map to your device through the menu of the Maps.me navigator.
Maps.me: detailed offline maps for Android
The second option is to go to the desired location and zoom in on it. The map fragment of interest will be loaded into the phone's cache. Offline maps take up only a few tens of megabytes.free
What is the best offline navigator?
Let's summarize.
If openness and free maps are important, all offline navigators are good except for Navitela. If you are willing to pay around $30 for quality, Navitel Navigator will great solution and, without a doubt, will pay back the invested money. This gps program holds its own and is popular.
Navigation Google Maps works without an internet connection, but still for Android and iOS versions there is a limitation: you can save only certain sections of the map (one or several cities) for offline use, while motorists, most often, need more detailed sections of maps.
Waze is a promising navigator with a large community. But keep in mind: not all traffic information will be available offline, and maps are not always perfect in their detail.
Sygic: GPS Navigation displays 3D offline maps for 200+ countries. The application will be convenient when moving around Europe and the USA without the Internet.
Advice. Install not one, but two navigators on your phone. Download offline maps and test each option. Leave the app you like more.
Navigators on Android allow you to get accurate location information and get directions taking into account all sorts of obstacles. Such software is most in demand when traveling through unfamiliar areas, where it is quite difficult to navigate without prompts. Although it may come in handy for someone for short walks or bike rides. If you have a car and an Android smartphone, then with a 90% chance you also have a navigation application. This article will help you choose a worthy alternative to the navigator you are already using, or choose the best navigator for you that suits all your needs.
android smartphone with installed navigator- better than separate GPS navigator
The GPS navigator can be purchased as separate device, but this solution has a number of significant drawbacks. Why buy another device when the same functionality is available through the application from Google Play? Moreover, smartphones and tablets are much more productive than GPS navigators, which affects the speed of work. Most often, they differ significantly in terms of the amount of RAM, processor power, etc. It is also worth noting the situation with updates - on GPS navigators, this may require periodic firmware changes, which is not very convenient. On a smartphone, just download new version apps from Google Play or our .
When choosing a navigator for Android, you should be guided by the country in which you plan to use it most often and for what purposes. Some applications are better adapted for use in Russia, but at the same time there are programs aimed at the Western user. They are also available on the territory of the Russian Federation, but contain not so detailed information about it.
For a comparative review, 10 navigation programs from Google Play were selected, which will be considered in descending order of their popularity. When scoring, not only convenience and feature set were taken into account, but also a number of secondary parameters that are typical for applications of this type. The presence of a 3D mode, traffic data, offline access and a number of other characteristics was taken into account. A comparison table with editorial ratings is located at the end of this article.
The application from Google is confidently leading in its segment, significantly outperforming its competitors in terms of the number of installations. This is due not only to the fact that the developer integrates own services in Android, but also significant changes that have taken place over the past few years. During this time, the number of supported countries has increased and the functionality has expanded significantly. But first things first.
There are no questions about the appearance of the application, everything is in perfect order here. Most of the screen is occupied by a map, at the top there is a search bar where it is available and voice input. You can find not only a place by address, but also a store or restaurant, knowing only its name. The main menu opens with a swipe from the left edge and contains almost everything you need - a list of saved places, timeline, traffic data, etc. At the first start, you will need to connect using a Google account, in the future all statistics will be stored on it. Reviews of visited establishments can be left directly from the application.
The functionality of Google Maps is really exhaustive - the user can not only plot routes, but also plan visits to certain establishments. Each of them has a rating with customer reviews, whether it's a cinema, a pharmacy or a clinic. Some have more detailed information- working hours, workload, etc. The journey will take less time if you choose the optimal route, taking into account traffic jams and public transport schedules.
V mobile version Google Maps offers the well-known Street View, designed to view locations in 3D. Not so long ago, an offline mode appeared, which allows you to receive data without access to the Internet. To use the map without connecting to the network, you need to open the Offline Maps item in the main menu and select the required area there. Depending on its size, the size of the downloaded package will be determined. For example, for Moscow it is about 160 mb. Million-plus cities "weigh" about 30-50 mb. At the same time, it is worth remembering that it is still desirable to constantly have access to the Internet. You can lay routes without it, but you won’t be able to view data about establishments.
Google Maps can be considered an absolutely deserved leader among Android navigators. At the time of writing the review, the application contained maps of 220 countries, 15,000 cities with driving directions and detailed descriptions more than 100,000 establishments. Most of the functions are available on the territory of the Russian Federation, the maps are quite accurate, and there are more than enough reviews of different places from Russian users. Google maps can become indispensable assistant both for navigation in the home region and for trips abroad. Unlike most competitors, the application is completely free, you only have to pay for Internet traffic. The final score is 4.9 points out of 5.
Waze can be considered one of the main competitors of Google Maps. In some respects, this application is significantly ahead of the eminent competitor - social interaction is better organized here and more data is presented on the situation on the roads, police posts, accidents, etc. Map detail depends on the region - the larger locality, the more information about it.
The Waze interface is quite user-friendly, and appearance for an amateur - visually it is made in the style of 2010. At launch, you should register, although this is not necessary, it is still worth creating an account - more functions are available to authorized users. On the main screen there is a map and a search bar, and you can call up the main menu with a swipe from the left edge - here the user has access to account information, settings, travel plans, and more.
The functionality of the navigator in Waze does not stand out much from competitors - you can choose the current route, taking into account the situation on the roads, find the cheapest gas station along the way, etc. There are also voice prompts\search and a 3D overview. The detailing of the maps is quite good and the application is quite suitable for use on the territory of the CIS countries.
Waze can be considered a very worthy alternative to Google Maps. It is unlikely that the developers of this application are able to catch up with the main competitor in terms of the number of supported countries, but in terms of social interaction, everything is done perfectly. Waze supports dozens different languages, including Russian, in which not only voice input is available, but also tips. There is also an offline mode and no paid content, but there are ads. Total Waze gets 4.8 points.
Sygic is one of the most advanced navigation apps for Android. It has a wide range of maps from various vendors, including offline 3D maps from TomTom that are relevant for more than 120 countries.
Visually, Sygic looks very dignified, and there are no questions about ease of management either. For some users, the fonts in the application may seem too large, they cannot be changed in the settings. In general, the Sygic interface is quite consistent with a regular navigator - most of the screen is occupied by a map, it also has a search bar and a quick menu.
One of the key benefits of Sygic is the high quality maps that can be stored on the device. Besides the aforementioned TomTom, other providers are available. Free map updates occur several times a year. The application supports voice commands with the pronunciation of street names and receives information about changes on the road in real time. This allows you to avoid traffic jams and use the most optimal routes.
Sygic is a very high quality navigation app with lots of maps and a wide range of features. Unfortunately, not everything is available in free version. The trial period is 7 days, after which you can limit yourself to free functionality or upgrade to Premium. The subscription price depends on the region and ranges from 50 to 100 euros, however, at the time of writing the review, there were discounts and you could get an unlimited Premium for only 16-20 euros. In the presence of very worthy free navigators, most users will not pay for a subscription. Moreover, the free version is not particularly limited in map detail. The final score for Sygic is 4.6 out of 5.
MapFactor is a navigator that uses Open Street Map data. Maps can be installed on a memory card or the device's internal storage so as not to connect to the network during the trip.
At the first start, you need to select the map source and country. For Russia, there is a division by region, which allows you to save space in the device's memory and get access to the application faster. Maps are relatively compact, for example, the Moscow region weighs only 0.3 GB. If desired, you can use data from TomTom instead of Open Street Maps. Externally, MapFactor looks somewhat outdated - the interface is more like applications for Android 2.2.
Open Street Map is a collaborative project for creating maps. Any user can contribute to its development. The presence of a large international community positively affects the quality of content and the frequency of updates.
MapFactor supports voice navigation, route planning and alerts about upcoming maneuvers. In the event of approaching the speed recorders, the user will hear an audible warning. Implemented not only switching between 2D and 3D modes, but also the choice of color scheme - day or night.
MapFactor is one of the best free navigators for Android. It supports many languages and contains detailed information for dozens of countries. The disadvantages of the application include a somewhat outdated interface and the need to preload maps. The final score of MapFactor is 4.4 points out of 5 possible.
MAPS.ME is free and completely offline maps. The Android app supports turn-by-turn navigation and is used by over 60 million users worldwide.
Externally, MAPS.ME is not much different from other navigators. Most of the main screen is occupied by the map, and closer to the edges of the display there are control elements - zoom, toolbar, etc. In general, the control is quite convenient.
The main advantages of MAPS.ME are autonomy and the absence of paid content. Maps are downloaded directly from the application, just select the country and city. The information on them is quite detailed - the user can easily find his way to any establishments. The maps are updated daily by the multi-million community of Open Street Map, which is a decent open-source alternative to Google Maps.
MAPS.ME is one of the best mobile navigators based on Open Street Map. The Android application has a nice interface and a large set of tools, and there is no charge for using it. The final mark of MAPS.ME is 4.6 points out of 5.
2GIS is one of the most popular navigators in Russia. This app has been in high demand for a long time, ever since mobile internet was expensive and slow and maps were mostly used offline.
The Android version has a user-friendly interface, although it does not stand out much from its competitors. The main screen consists of familiar elements - maps and control panels. It is not necessary to create an account in the application, but for better integration with social networks, it can still come in handy.
2GIS is convenient primarily because it works without the Internet. After downloading the city map, you can use it in roaming or places where there is no connection to the network. 2GIS not only knows the roads and landscape structure well, but also has information about various establishments that the user may need. Among them are clinics, post offices, cafes, car services and much more. Now you don't even have to look for the front door - the application will do it for you, showing you the way to the very door. In total, there are more than 2.5 million different organizations in the database.
2GIS will be an indispensable assistant for drivers. The application will show the most optimal route and warn you about all dangerous maneuvers. Traffic jams, overlaps, accidents and other obstacles are also taken into account. The details of the maps depend on the location. 2GIS is available in all major Russian cities, some of them have detailed information about shopping malls, that is, you can see directly from the application where the nearest ATM is located, which stores are present in the shopping center, etc.
2GIS has proven itself well for a long time and the Android version is no exception. Here the user will find all the necessary means for navigation, and completely free of charge. There is no charge to use the app, but there are ads. 2GIS gets 4.7 points out of 5.
Yandex.Navigator will help you quickly reach your destination by calculating the best route, taking into account traffic jams. Other road events are also taken into account - accidents, repairs, etc.
The application has a very convenient and stylish interface, although nothing else was expected from Yandex. By default, the main screen shows not only the map and the standard toolbar, but also a traffic congestion indicator on a 10-point scale (for those cities where traffic information is available).
When choosing a route, several options are offered, starting with the fastest. The application will notify the user if part of the route falls on a toll section. During the trip, the remaining time and distance are displayed, as well as notifications about maneuvers, cameras and other obstacles. Yandex.Navigator has data on speed limits, if the user is driving too fast, he will receive a corresponding notification.
Management in Yandex.Navigator is quite convenient, especially since you can completely switch to voice input. This will allow you not to touch the device with your hands at all during the trip. The user will be able to give voice commands and receive all necessary notifications in the same mode.
The history of destinations can be saved so that you do not have to enter an address each time, but simply select a destination from the list in the future. The data is stored in the cloud and is available on all devices. This will require a Yandex account.
Otherwise, the set of functions of this navigator is standard. There is a 3D mode and data on various organizations that you may meet along the way - hospitals, restaurants and much more. The application is provided primarily for the CIS countries, which is reflected in the detail of the maps - for the cities of Russia, Ukraine, etc. there is much more information here. For example, Yandex.Navigator knows everything about Moscow parking lots up to the 3rd Ring Road. The application will immediately show where you can leave the car, and where parking is prohibited.
For users from Russia, Yandex.Navigator will be the best option. It has all the necessary functions, including offline mode, while the program is completely free. The final score is 4.8 points.
Navitel Navigator is an app with detailed maps for more than 60 countries. In fact, this is a full-fledged navigation service with huge amount additional features, But first things first.
Visually, Navitel Navigator looks like an application of 2010, for some reason it even has its own status bar with the current time, battery charge, etc. The fonts and size of some icons immediately show that the developers focused on screens with a low resolution - everything is in FullHD this looks ridiculous.
Functionally, Navitel Navigator can be called one of the most advanced applications in its segment. There are offline maps, data on traffic jams, weather and various road events. There are also warnings about video recording cameras, accidents, etc. Three-dimensional maps display not only the structure of the landscape, but also the height of buildings. Multilevel interchanges are also available in 3D mode.
In terms of map detailing, Navitel Navigator is ahead of most competitors. When laying routes, many factors are taken into account here, including the lanes of roads, and the on-board computer displays data from more than 100 different sensors - time, speed, weather conditions, etc. The advantages of the application can be listed for a very long time - including voice prompts and an unlimited number of points when building a trajectory and much more.
Navitel Navigator would be among the leaders in its segment, if not for a paid subscription. The trial period is only one week, after which the carriage turns into a pumpkin. In our case, a significant number of functions are simply turned off - routing, voice prompts, traffic jams, 3D mode. The premium version costs between $10 and $30 depending on the country. At the same time, maps of most of Europe and America are not here at all. In total, Navitel Navigator receives only 4.3 points out of 5.
CityGuide is a navigator with detailed maps of the whole world. You can use both data from the CityGuide service and Open Street Maps.
CityGuide looks pretty good (although it lags behind its competitors by 5 years in design) and with control special problems not visible. At the first start, the user himself chooses which cards he needs. The CityGuide system is paid and more detailed. Maps from Open Street Maps are completely free, and they are updated less often and contain less information.
The functionality of CityGuide does not really depend on which system the user chooses - CityGuide or OSM. In both cases, traffic data and offline navigation will be available to him. At the same time, CityGuide has a number of advantages - in addition to the aforementioned frequency of updates, they include warnings about traffic police radars and various dangers on the roads, as well as taking into account the schedule of railway crossings and the opening / closing of bridges.
In general, CityGuide is designed primarily for the CityGuide system, OSM support is more like an add-on here. option. This is far from the only application that works with Open Street Maps. CityGuide also has social interaction tools, where you can send messages to friends and plan trips together. The SOS service is also available, allowing you to call a tow truck or various emergency services.
CityGuide can hardly be considered a worthy alternative to other mobile navigators. This is primarily due to the paid subscription model. After the end of the 15-day trial period, the application stops running altogether. That is, there is not even a limited free version. Buying a license will cost 690 rubles for the home region or 1490 rubles for the whole of Russia. There are other options, they can be found on the official website of the application. CityGuide rating - 4 points exactly.
Maverick is the most modest of the 10 navigators selected for this review. In fact, this is not an independent service, but a shell with support for various offline and online maps.
In terms of design, Maverick got stuck somewhere in 2010-2012, although this common problem for navigation applications. When you first start it immediately becomes clear that the developers focused on screens with low resolution, popular 5 or more years ago. And the Russian language is not supported here.
The main advantage of the application is the ability to choose a data source - Bing, Yandex, Open Street Maps, Multimap and many others. Most maps are automatically cached for offline use.
In Maverick, the user can build routes, mark visited places, and receive information about establishments. Also available are speed, altitude, barometer and more.
The disadvantages of Maverick include not the most convenient interface and the presence of significant limitations in the free version. It does not allow you to download maps and save routes. There is also no integration with Foursquare. True, the Pro version is quite inexpensive - 300 rubles. However, for most users, this program is useless in the presence of more worthy free counterparts. Total Maverick gets only 3.9 points out of 5 possible.
Summary and comparison
Among the navigators selected for review, applications from Google and Yandex, as expected, became leaders, and Waze also performed well. The selection turned out to be quite high-quality and it is difficult to single out obvious outsiders here. These included several applications with an inconvenient paid subscription system that imposes significant restrictions on those users who would not purchase it.
Waze entered the top three in addition to Google Maps and Yandex.Navigator
The app from Google received 4.9 points, the other two - 4.8. It is unlikely that such a ranking will surprise anyone. Google Maps is the reference navigator that developers of other applications are equal to. Most of participants in this review received scores from 4.3 to 4.7. Far behind are only CityGuide and Maverick - the first due to the lack of a free version as such, the second due to limited functionality.
Evaluation of additional features
According to the comparative table No. 2, you can see that all 10 navigators differ little in three out of five indicators. Each of them supports route planning, 3D mode and provides offline access to maps. How well each of these functions is implemented can be judged by the overall assessment.Data on traffic jams is provided by 7 applications out of 10, but according to the presence of paid content, applications are divided in a ratio of 60 to 40. A total of 4 navigators have paid subscription or cards, and they were not included in the top three. Paid navigators are almost in no way superior to free ones, and even inferior in many ways, while developers also want to make money on them. Perhaps there are countries in which Maverick or Sygic surpass the same Yandex.Navigator in detail, but when compiling the final rating, the situation in Russia was taken into account primarily.
Applications from Yandex or Google have been occupying first places in the top of certain segments for a long time and this will not surprise anyone. A similar phenomenon can be observed among dictionaries (Google.Translate and Yandex.Translate), music programs, browsers, etc. Navigators are no exception, here applications from Google and Yandex also captured the top. Waze can be considered a worthy alternative, significantly superior to them in terms of means for social interaction. The rest of the applications in this review cope well with their tasks, but according to the editors, they cannot yet compete with the above three leaders.
