For those who often travel by car, navigators are not only a necessity, but also a salvation in difficult situations on the road. No one wants to get lost by taking the wrong turn, especially if you have lost Internet access.
However, there is a solution to this problem - navigators that work without the Internet. Such applications store maps directly in the phone's memory, allowing the driver to calmly build routes, even in offline mode.
Yandex Navigator
Yandex Navigator takes first place in this review for a reason. There are several reasons for this. It allows you to download maps for free for offline use. The application can build optimal routes taking into account the traffic situation. For this, information about traffic jams, accidents and other events on the road is used.
To avoid being distracted from driving, you can give voice commands. Just say "Hey, Alice" and tell the navigator what to do, for example, "Plot a route to the nearest gas station."
Among other things, Yandex Navigator can build routes for trucks taking into account their dimensions, weight, load capacity and other parameters.
Available for Android And iPhone.
Maps.me
Maps.me is one of the most popular navigation apps, with over 50 million downloads. You can select a specific region or country to download and use offline.
When you first launch Maps.me, you will immediately be prompted to download a map of the current region. A small thing, but a very important one, because in other applications you can simply forget to do this, and end up without navigation at the most inopportune moment.
Maps.me also offers a traffic jam feature that allows users to avoid traffic jams. It uses real-time traffic information to find the best route.
In offline mode the following are available: full-featured search, voice instructions in Russian, and alternative route planning.
Available for Android And iPhone.
Google Maps
Google Maps needs no introduction. In addition to regular maps, the application has the functionality of a car navigator, including voice prompts and route optimization. The application can show street panoramas, which helps to better navigate in unfamiliar places.
To use offline, you must first download the part of the map you need. If you do not do this in advance, you will have to connect to the Internet to plot a route. It is possible to download a large number of maps and store them on an SD card.
Google Maps, just like Yandex Navigator, can show traffic jams in real time, allowing you to avoid congestion and optimize your route.
Available for Android And iPhone.
Navmii GPS World
Navmii offers a variety of useful features for drivers. The app has both satellite and topographic maps. Navmii can be used to search for a destination by address, postcode or 3-word addresses that the service generates. what3words.
In addition to voice guidance, the app offers vibration that warns of the direction of travel and other events on the road. If the driver exceeds the speed limit, a notification will also be sent.
In addition, Navmii supports routes with waypoints and offers various routing options such as driving speed and road types.
Available for Android And iPhone.
OsmAnd
OsmAnd is a free navigator that uses OpenStreetMap (OSM) data, a community-updated map. It supports online and offline maps.
The app has a wide range of features such as voice navigation, route customization, automatic switching between day and night modes and speed camera warnings.
Users can specify the type of road and add stops. OsmAnd also provides information about places, weather, and the ability to search by place categories (such as hotels or gas stations).
Available for Android And iPhone.
Sygic
Sygic is a very popular navigator, especially outside of Russia. It has been downloaded by over 50 million users. Like other apps on this list, Sygic lets you download maps for offline use (except for commercial TomTom maps).
Can warn about speed cameras and other obstacles on the way. Data about them is taken from the database, plus the user community actively reports new cameras. If a traffic jam forms on the way, the application will try to find an alternative route.
The paid version has a voice assistant function that provides detailed route instructions. There is also an add-on that projects navigation onto the car's windshield.
Sygic can be synced with your car's system if it supports Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Sygic also shows additional information about fuel economy and trip costs.