[potential_tuner]

Over the past almost 7-8 years that I have been using an app-based navigation solution for finding out the destination, Google Maps has been the go-to solution, primarily because I used to have an Android phone till 2022. Post that, even for reliability purposes on my iPhone, Google Maps takes precedence.

In my limited experience, Apple Maps might need more detailing and route additions in Indian territory, and I feel it works better on more planned / mapped neighbourhoods of bigger cities, like some New Delhi areas / some parts in South Delhi, South Mumbai major landmarks, and within Chandigarh (top 40 sectors). Google Maps has better rural presence, I believe.

The few times Google Maps bugs me out on iPhone is when it is unable to lock the GPS position and / or the compass direction and keeps rotating at times. This never happened in Android, though.

[dileepcm]

Google Maps has earned its place as the most detailed, accurate, and user-friendly navigation app for much of the world. With the vast amount of data that google holds and its ability to process that into meaningful information, Google Maps has become the go-to navigation tool for most users.
However, there are still scenarios where other options like Here Maps or Waze are more effective [at least for me].

My Experience (Primarily in Europe):

Google Maps
For everyday commutes or shorter trips, Google Maps is my primary navigation app. It offers reliable navigation, a simple interface, and generally accurate traffic data including road closures etc. One downside has been the delayed addition of a speed limit and speedometer function on iOS, which recently got added —and even now, it feels a bit unstable. Having said, it’s the ideal choice for routine navigation needs and is my primary app.

Waze
Waze (or HereWeGo) is my go-to for longer journeys where speed limit information is more critical than traffic updates. Although Waze benefits from Google’s data and tech, it has a unique, retro feel and character that sets it apart. It’s also reliable and stable, and speed limits and a speedometer have been built-in for years.

Here Maps (HereWeGo)
There are times when Google Maps’ route optimization can be a little too aggressive, leading through overly complicated or back-road routes. In those instances, Here Maps is my preference for straightforward navigation without unnecessary detours. It’s also an great for offline navigation.
While Google Maps offers limited offline functionality, Here Maps allows for extensive offline downloads. I had the entire country of Morocco downloaded on a spare phone during my trip last year and it it worked really well.

I have tried several others including Apple's one - none of them survived as my go to apps besides the three above for various reasons.

[NiInJa]

The best part of Google maps is how they use live data and optimize routes for other users.

This weekend after attending a late night Diwali meetup at my friends, we started off for home. As usual, I started google maps navigation and it started with a different road that was longer taking us through city. My brother knows the roads well so he took the usual motorway route which is much faster, in his car, without switching on the navigation.

We reached home early, as some portion of the motorway had to be closed due to fog and construction work going on at the same time. It was not a planned closure. I am not quite sure if Waze does this.

I feel Apple maps are good for walking in city areas as it locks onto GPS and displays our heading faster compared to Google maps (depending on how good the phone is, my Xiaomi 13T for example, is horrible in this regard).

[baarish84]

I was travelling from Poopara Idukki District (near Munnar) to Punnamala Backwaters in Allepy yesterday 3rd November. I noticed Google Maps was taking me through narrow alleys and single roads. I switched to Apple maps and it showed highway only route with similar ETA. I chose apple maps yesterday. I am not a Kerala native.

But in normal case where I know the area, I still prefer Google maps over Apple maps as traffic data is better in Gmaps.

[ohaak]

Mappls needs significant improvements for stability. It provides a wealth of information that surpasses what Google or Apple Maps offer in India. Others have pointed out the strengths and weakness of each map software. I prefer Apple Maps for long distance travel by car and Google for local addresses once I reach the destination area.

Given the rapid pace of infrastructure development in India, I plan out the route way points ahead of any long distance travel, download offline maps and then let the navigation apps do their job while staying on top of the situation.

[sgmuser]

Originally Posted by NomadSK

3) And the cake is when it took me through a dry river bed and I could see the bridge above but couldn't fly back to it, while on my way to Mumbai.

I laughed out loud as I always face the music from the wifey. I solely depend on the Google Maps in India as many things changed in the last 23+ years and GMaps Never ceases to amaze me at least once out of every 4 times I use it especially on the longer trips that are out of city/towns.

Many many times, had to put my palm on the face and never look at her and end up just buying whatever she wants right after these kind of mess.

Recently, it learnt something from my style of preferences or simply I enabled (accidentally or could be AI) the option to not to choose the tolled highways, it takes me through villages and scenic routes that are away from highways. Even though I like these adventures, not everyone I drive with likes them!

[Joe367]

I saw this article today on how Google managed to resolve issues while navigating in india. https://elizlaraki.substack.com/p/go...ndia-conundrum

Part of success of Google maps in India is the 'Local Guides' program where users fact check and update information on different places and routes.

[ruzbehxyz]

Whatever Google is giving us in the form of maps, is something more than good because it’s FREE. In a country like India aiming for 5 trillion, we still do not have maps better than Google maps.

There are some who blindly follow Gmaps and end up in a water body or a busy market place or on a dirt road. Well these are some limitations but as a user you are also responsible and ought to study your route before travelling like using the facility of Satellite mode. In this mode you get a fair idea as to where you are headed and if it’s a market place you can make that out.
When there were no bypasses to big cities, Gmaps would take you through the city / market place as it is giving you the shortest route by default. So you can study the route and chalk out a circular route from the outskirts of the city by adding waypoints etc. In this was you may end you driving a few extra kilometres, but you don’t end up in that crowded city or market place. Even today, Gmaps shows you routes through a city center instead of the bypass, as that’s the shortest route. However it’s upto the user to use his brains and select the bypass to have a smoother ride, no matter the extra distance covered.

Even after spending 1.5 lakhs for an IPhone, the Apple Maps provided as default are not as accurate as Google.

We also need to understand that Google relies on feedback provided by some dumb guys, which is totally wrong. For example, showing an ATM in the middle of a Wildlife sanctuary. We all know that this does not exist and will not rely on it. Similarly we must use our own brains before blindly relying on all data provided on Google.

All in all, we must appreciate what we are getting for free. The moment Gmaps will charge a good amount, almost 50% users will back out and still abuse it to the core.

[NomadSK]

Sad reality for depending 100% on G-maps in India, specially at night.

The car, being navigated using GPS, climbed onto a damaged bridge and plunged into the river flowing 50 feet below in Faridpur when it was travelling from Bareilly to Dataganj in the Badaun district this morning.

"Earlier this year, floods had caused the front portion of the bridge to collapse into the river, but this change had not been updated in the GPS. As a result, the driver was misled and did not realize the bridge was unsafe,"

Wasn’t authorities supposed to barricade the road or close it, till it is opened back to traffic. Is it more important to update the GPS or the administration to have proper barricades ?

LINK

[ashis89]

Had a bad experience recently with Google Maps while on a road trip in a foreign country. The navigation was running on my brother's iPhone as he wanted to juice up his phone battery while we reached the destination.

Plan was simple - enroute to the airport, we looked for a restaurant to grab some lunch before we dropped the car and boarded the flight. A restaurant with pretty good reviews was a 2 km detour from the highway to the airport. We locked in on it and started driving. Blindly following the maps while we were chitchatting around, we exited the highway and went into what felt like a suburb. Then into a small residential area and beyond.

For the first time in those 8 days on the road, I saw broken roads and I raised my concern. A little beyond, the tar was completely gone and we had a dirt track. I was skeptical but I did see some fresh tyre marks on the dirt track. Thought this must be an offbeat place. Then we climbed a steepish small hill with rocks jutting out and loose gravel. But we saw we were parallel to the highway beside and hence, this might be a road. Restaurant was 5kms away and the road kept getting narrower and trickier but the view was good. Saw some jaywalkers and kids on the way. And in the distance, we could see another town with a lot of activity. We thought we were heading in the right direction.

Just before 500 mts to the location, the road was closed and there was a diversion with slush. Still soldered on. Last 300 mts and that road was closed too. Understood our folly and turned back, retracing all those paths again.

So what went wrong? Asked my brother to check the map settings and the Avoid Tolls was selected. He was sure that was not checked earlier but maybe some recent updates did it?

Saving grace was that we had ample time on our hand, we had a 4wd vehicle and it was a bright sunny afternoon which had given us some (false) confidence to believe Google Maps when things didn't feel right initially.