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Add to SafariWhen comparing Google Maps vs Mapfactor Navigator, the Slant community recommends Mapfactor Navigator for most people. In the question“What are the best offline GPS navigation apps for Android?” Mapfactor Navigator is ranked 5th while Google Maps is ranked 10th. The most important reason people chose Mapfactor Navigator is:
MapFactor also provides regular map updates.
Specs
Question Ranking
Pros
Pro Offline functionality
You can download offline data per city or parts of cities if you live in an especially large city, but not for states or countries. Points of Interests are generally more relevant & current than the typical stand alone GPS unit.
Pro Best execution of save location feature
Recent updates have made it so you can label a place instead of being stuck with some address or GPS coordinate and forgetting what it represents. Saved places show as stars and are all on one layer as long as you're logged in. There is also the ability to create maps (parallel to groups) for things you might not want to see or have show up all the time whenever you're using google maps from day to day.
This feature is highly helpful for planning, even if you're a person who likes to wing it.
Pro Find your parked car
You save the location of your car and easily find it again
Pro Accurate mapping
Pro Updated constantly
Nearby my house, there is major road construction in progress. Apple maps didn’t show this at all, but google maps did. There was also a new, small road that was finished around 3 days ago. Google maps shows this road. Apple maps still hasn’t shown the major construction.
Pro Most ubiquitous third party app integration
Asides from the stock Apple Maps app, Google Maps is the most commonly supported 3rd party map. 3rd party apps often have links for directions, Google Maps is usually an option whereas other 3rd party GPS apps are not.
Pro Navigation background change based on ambient light
This is great for night driving or even when going through tunnels as the map will be more visible for low light situations.
Pro Secondary routing
Google Maps can now search for and add a route for a second location on the way to the primary location that you are going to and have already routed. Note that it cannot do a third or true multi routing like the desktop webapp can.
Pro Free with OSM maps
MapFactor also provides regular map updates.
Pro Free monthly updates
Every month there are free map updates.
Pro Very in-depth adjustments in settings
You can define vehicle type, which roads you prefer to use (highway, secondary roads, local road) all with a percentage slider.
Pro Up to 3 suggested routes
This is a premium upgrade but worth the small cost. Without it Navigator always has a preference for main roads.
Pro Highly customisable
Pro Helpful lane guidance
Pro Speed and camera warning
Navigator warns you if you approach a speed camera or exceed the speed limit.
Pro Traffic information
The new 3.0 version includes also the online traffic information. It is also a premium feature but worth it.
Cons
Con No plan-ahead for commuters
Cannot plan trip ahead based on commuter lane.
Con Not very precise traffic information
Depending on a country information might not be very accurate for traffic.
Con Sometimes takes too long to load
Con Saved locations needs online connection and has no visible label
Two negatives about this feature is you have to be online to be able to save a place, but it is stored off line once google map gets on the net and syncs. The other negative is there is no visible label for saved places, you have to click on stars to see the label for them.
Con Maps saved offline can easily wipe your bandwidth cap via auto update
Google Maps offline maps update automatically in the background. Not a problem if you're using a sim card in your phone, but if you connect to a pre-paid hotspot that the phone recognizes and connects to as a wifi device you risk burning through your data allotment. The offline maps can be set to update manually, but this is not default behavior.
Con It’s Google
Con Ads on application exit
As of Spring 2017, this app doesn't allow you to exit without being nagged to install other apps. If you select "No thanks", you somehow get directed to a Google search page, which is incredibly frustrating. It's acceptable to have a fairly unobtrusive ad at the bottom of a navigation map, but it's definitely a deterrent if every time you exit the app you have to go through a series of annoying screens or take the risk of making a mistake and installing something you actually don't want.
Con Nag screen to upgrade to Premium TomTom maps
Even if you click 'Don't show this anymore' you still get constantly nagged to upgrade.
Con Not very appealing grayish user interface
Con Sometimes questionable navigating routes
For example, in Slovenia, with loaded OSM data, this navigator routed to off-road trails. OsmAnd+ selected much better roads.
