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Top 7 Best Navigation Apps of 2021

An overview of the best navigation apps of 2021, including Google Maps, Waze, MapQuest, Apple Maps, CoPilot GPS, Maps.Me, and Here WeGo, detailing their unique features and how they cater to different needs.

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According to a survey, more than 75% of smartphone owners use a navigation app. Google Maps is the best navigation app, with over 65 percent of users preferring it. Then came Waze and other navigational apps. These apps will assist you whether you are visiting a new city or simply want to save time on your daily commute. Whether it’s Google Maps, Waze, or Apple Maps, each of these navigation apps has its own set of features that set it apart from the competition.

With so many GPS navigation apps available on the internet, it can be difficult to choose the most appropriate one for you. We’ve done the legwork for you and compiled a list of the best navigation apps of 2021 to help you weigh the pros and cons of each app and pick the best navigation app out of the bunch.

Table of Contents

  • What is a Navigation app?
  • 2021’s 7 Best Navigation Apps
  • More Than Just Navigation
  • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
  • The Best Navigation Apps Will Help You Improve Your Trips

What is a Navigation app?

A navigation app is a mobile phone or other portable electronic device application that uses GPS technology to provide real-time turn-by-turn directions, as well as an estimated arrival time and other useful information.

Turn-by-turn voice-guided navigation, traffic updates, estimated arrival time, bicycle routes, and offline maps are all features of a good navigation app. These apps must also work on the most widely used platforms, such as the Web, iOS, and Android.

We’ve rounded up the best navigation apps in the next section, whether you need assistance planning a road trip, your daily commute, or a walk to the nearest park or restaurant.

2021’s 7 Best Navigation Apps

We’ve compiled a list of some of the best navigation apps for 2021, in no particular order.

Google Maps

With its data-driven simplicity, Google Maps provides you with real-time traffic information and ETAs. The vast library of events, activities, bars, local restaurants, and must-try places curated by experts and Google Maps itself appeals to travelers. This is the one of the best navigation apps especially useful for road trippers.

Google Maps also has the following features:

  • On Google Maps, you can save your favorite location for future reference.
  • This list of destinations can also be shared with their friends and family.
  • Street view, satellite images, voice directions or voice navigation, and driving, walking, biking, and public transportation options.
  • Without Wi-Fi or data coverage, use offline maps to search and navigate with turn-by-turn directions using your GPS device.

iOS and Android versions are available for download.

Waze

Waze was purchased by Google in 2013 and developed further as a community-based GPS navigation app. One of the app’s most appealing features is its real-time crowd-sourced social networking capabilities. Waze provides you with the following features:

  • Hazards, accidents, police activity, speed traps, and road closures may necessitate the user changing his or her route.
  • From within the app, you can listen to music from platforms like Spotify.
  • A more fun interface with a strong preference for driving mode, which focuses on avoiding speed traps and real-time traffic.
  • The GPS app is compatible with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Available for all GPS-enabled smartphones and mobile devices (Android and iOS). This is the best navigation app for drives where you want to be informed of road conditions (and police speed traps) along the way.

MapQuest

Mapquest is a long-running GPS app that is available in both desktop and mobile formats. Despite the presence of alternatives such as Google Maps and Waze, MapQuest remains a useful app because it provides real-time traffic updates and access to live traffic cams. Mapquest can use this feature to keep you up to date on what’s going on during your commute.

You can choose to find alternate routes using MapQuest’s real-time traffic alerts. Custom icons can be used to mark your favorite locations. MapQuest also includes a speed limit display as well as on-demand roadside assistance.

Apps are available for iOS, Android, and Windows Phone.

Apple Maps

Apple believes Apple Maps is the best navigation app, so they’ve preinstalled it on all Apple devices. Apple Maps has been working to fix its initial bugs since its launch, despite the negative feedback it received. You can use Siri for voice command inputs and advice in Apple’s map app.

The following are some of the features of Apple Maps:

  • Voice-guided directions with turn-by-turn directions, interactive 3D maps, and proactive lane suggestions.
  • It keeps track of the parking spot where you parked your car.
  • On the map, you can choose between public transportation, car services, and walking options.

Apple Maps is only available for iOS.

CoPilot GPS

CoPilot GPS is a navigation app for cars, RVs, and larger trucks that focuses on route planning. It provides customizable routes for all vehicle types, taking into account factors such as road width and clearance.

Thousands of professional drivers, delivery fleets, and emergency responders use CoPilot around the world. The app is available for free download, and you can purchase additional maps as needed.

Driver-friendly directions with clear driving views, uncluttered maps for offline access, and easy-to-read instructions are available from CoPilot. On a single multi-stop route, drivers can easily add up to 100 stops. The app’s premium version includes audio navigation, 3D maps, and traffic updates.

iOS and Android devices are supported.

Maps.Me

Another free GPS app for travel tips and navigation is Maps.Me. Maps.Me is well-known for providing high-resolution maps from all over the world. It includes turn-by-turn directions, offline map options, and updated maps through OpenStreetMap.

You can bookmark locations, search offline, get traffic data, and get worldwide support with Maps.Me. It has full offline functionality, including a search feature, navigation, and destination or stop searching. Because Maps.Me allows you to do everything offline, it saves battery life on your smartphone or mobile device.

Apps are available for iOS, Android, and Blackberry.

Here WeGo

WeGo is a mapping and navigation app that is a little less well-known than the others on the list. This navigation app was created with city travel in mind. More than 100 countries’ maps are available for download. WeGo can assist you in locating major points of interest such as restaurants, tourist attractions, and ATMs.

In a limited number of cities, Here WeGo provides real-time updates, price information, and public transportation directions. You can also use the app to order a taxi and get a price estimate for your journey. Furthermore, HERE WeGo provides bike line navigations as well as path information with elevation details.

iOS and Android devices are supported.

More Than Just Navigation

While GPS apps will be useful for people who only have one route to plan or who only need navigation and not optimization, the best navigation apps will not suffice for professional delivery drivers and contractors who make multiple deliveries daily. The same is true for companies that deliver goods and services.

In that case, a tool like EasyRoutes local delivery routes planner can assist you in navigating and optimizing your trips to the greatest extent possible. EasyRoutes, a better route planner, employs an advanced optimization algorithm to determine the quickest and most efficient route to all of your stops.

You can plan multiple routes at once with the EasyRoutes routing app. In this area, navigation apps frequently have limited capacity. EasyRoutes Route Planner can be accessed from any web-enabled device with a browser.

If you use a navigation app, you may be able to optimize your route list at the same time using route planning and optimization software like EasyRoutes Route Planner, which allows you to plan your routes first and then navigate while on the road.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is Waze a better navigation app than Google Maps or Apple Maps?

The answer is highly personal. While Google Maps and Apple Maps provide more data-based GPS navigation, Waze provides navigation and directions based on information provided by the Waze community. Waze is a sleek app with a more modern and minimalist design, whereas Google Maps and Apple Maps are considered more traditional in their navigation approach. Try them all to find the best navigation app for you.

Is there a better alternative to Waze?

Google Maps, in comparison to other navigation apps such as Waze, is a well-known app that has been around for a long time. It has managed to develop a robust set of features over time. As a result, we can conclude that Google Maps is a viable alternative to Waze.

Google Maps or Apple Maps: which is better?

The way Google Maps collects data and displays it in the Google Maps app makes it the best navigation app when compared to other mapping apps such as Apple Maps. When compared to Apple Maps, Google Maps is clearly superior because it has many more features and is also easier to use.

The Best Navigation Apps Will Help You Improve Your Trips

We now have navigation apps with accurate location information, street view, and real-time traffic updates to help you navigate and safely arrive at your desired location, thanks to advanced technology. Navigation apps, on the other hand, are no longer limited to navigation. They also have a number of other features that assist you in avoiding traffic, real-time road incidents, and toll payments.

Navigation apps are used to make your journey to your destination easier and more enjoyable. The best navigation apps mentioned above will assist you whether you are looking for a GPS app to suit your new device or one to suit your changing navigation needs. Any questions, comments, or suggestions are always welcome.

About Roundtrip

Roundtrip's mission is to equip every business with the software tools they need to deliver products to their customers in a delightful way. Thousands of Shopify merchants worldwide choose EasyRoutes to power their local deliveries across dozens of product categories, from meal kits and groceries to coffee, cupcakes, kibble, and so much more. Our easy-to-use route planning and delivery optimization app is certified Built for Shopify, a two-time Shopify staff pick, and the top rated local delivery app on the Shopify App Store.

"Route planning used to take 1-2hrs every day, now it's almost completely automated with this app."
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