How to use GPS/Maps without an Internet connection?

Question

I need a way (possibly a third-party application) that allows me to use maps and GPS without an Internet connection.

I don't use it by car, just for walking in cities. It would be nice if I could just copy all data relative to a particular city before going there for tourism.

The Google Maps app does not store maps reliably, so it is risky to rely on it without an Internet connection.

Answer 1

ⓘ Many of these applications use map data from a really cool free map project called OSM (OpenStreetMap), which anyone can contribute to. Most of the OSM-based apps won't have traffic information.

Free:

• Google Maps
  • Google Maps does have some offline functionality (including offline navigation as of version 9.17), but the size of the area you can download is limited (you can't download an entire US state, for instance) and some countries or areas aren't available for download. See here for instructions: Download a map and use it offline
• HERE Maps
  • Unless you specifically want an OSM-based app, this is probably the best free option out there. Has offline maps, turn-by-turn navigation, full street addresses, points of interest, alternate routes, traffic, public transport, and speed limits.
• Organic Maps
  • Open-source fork of Maps.me, uses data from OSM. More user-friendly than OsmAnd. Features offline maps, cycling routes, hiking trails, elevation maps, turn-by-turn navigation, dark mode, and more. No traffic information.
• OsmAnd
  • Open-source, uses data from OSM. Much more advanced than Organic Maps but potentially more complicated to use. No traffic information.
• MapFactor
  • OSM-based offline navigation. Fairly basic but promising. TomTom maps and traffic available as in-app purchases.
• Many others based on OSM here: Android - OpenStreetMap Wiki

Paid:

• CoPilot GPS
  • CoPilot Live is a very nice, full-featured app, which will let you download maps ahead of time and use GPS offline. I ended up using it because the US version was so cheap compared to the other paid navigation apps, but I've been very pleased with the quality, features, customer support, and free app and map upgrades. It has all the features I could want in a GPS app, the only downsides being you have to have a paid subscription for traffic data (the paid app includes a free one-year subscription), and you will have to buy new maps if you travel outside your purchased area.
• Other paid apps that I haven't used:
  • Scout (formerly Skobbler): USA, elsewhere
  • Sygic
  • TomTom

There are detailed reviews of many Android GPS apps here: Android Sat Nav Apps

Answer 2

Google Maps 5.0 now supports offline mode!

Answer 3

I haven't had a chance to try it myself yet, but I've heard good things about Maverick:

Maverick for Google Android - Code Sector

There is both a limited free and pay version.

Answer 4

I am now using OsmAnd.

It stores OpenStreetMap maps on the phone's storage.

OsmAnd uses a vectorial format, which means it can store a lot of information without taking too much space, and is visible in all zoom factors.

You can download the maps you want, for instance Italy, Bolivia, or any other country/region.

Free, open source.

Answer 5

I regularly use Locus. It doesn't have much in the way of navigation support (although I think this is in the works), but for off-road and off-line use it's fantastic.

It allows downloading of maps for off-line use, supports SQLite and GEMF maps, which allow large map (2GB limit for SQLite, no realistic limit for GEMF) tile sets on your SD card without wasting masses of space. It also supports vector maps as well as bitmap ones (more coverage, less disk space). It has a very good interface and is well supported.

There's a free version with ads which doesn't support in-app map downloading (I think), although you can use your PC to download the maps. The paid version is not expensive.

That all sounds excessively glowing, so I should emphasise that I'm not the developer and have no affiliation; just a very happy user!

Answer 6

For England and much of Europe, ViewRanger is great. Supports Ordnance Survey and other official-type maps; also some open street map projects. But it is absolutely what I would use -- and do -- if I am hiking with a phone. For Android - ViewRanger

Answer 7

Have you tried BackCountry Navigator?

BackCountry Navigator

It has topo maps, open street maps, and aerial photography.

It has a 16 day demo and a paid license.

Answer 8

If you are looking for North American maps (and European maps as well I'm told), than I can recommend CoPilot Live. It's not free though.

Answer 9

Mapy.cz is the easiest to use app and now it has all the content of the whole world for download to offline in vectors (which means smaller files).

It is both for cities and tourism. For navigation it currently needs a network, but they claim they'll make it offline as well.

It is free. The world is covered by a great render of OpenStreetMap. The Czech Republic has its own (great) cartographic data.

Answer 10

Maps (-) allows to store maps for offline use from OpenStreetMap, from OpenCycleMap and from Google Maps.

Answer 11

You might want to use Sygic if you are in India. It comes with free maps.