A person who wants to use the navigation functions of his phone often does not know which navigator is best to install on Android. Abundance different programs makes this task very difficult, and to do right choice very hard. To find something suitable, you should read reviews and reviews of popular applications.
Earlier Google Maps for mobile OS could not be called too developed: some functions were very slow due to poor optimization. However, now the situation is completely different and the application has improved significantly. The program can be installed using the play market; most devices have it by default. The ability to download your maps to plot short routes and navigate without an Internet connection appeared quite recently. Because of this, not everything is so smooth with them yet, when compared with the implementation of a similar function in similar applications.
Another inconvenience is that the user cannot quickly download maps for large regions of Russia or other CIS countries. Without a network connection, a motorist is unlikely to be able to navigate normally. However, Google Maps has a huge advantage: it works not only in Europe, but throughout the world.
The number of different POIs (points of interest) is not particularly encouraging. To obtain complete information about hotels or shops, you will have to use other applications. In addition, there is no data on accidents and you cannot add it yourself. This could save many drivers time when planning their route.
Of course, the application has many positive aspects, among which it is worth noting the quality voice search, which works great in conjunction with Okay Google. It allows you to enter any requests through a special line with a microphone icon.
Although this navigator cannot be called the best choice with complete confidence, we must not forget that it is absolutely free and can work without a network connection. There is another plus - it is integration with the service of the same name. The user does not need to bother with the installation additional cards and their subsequent activation. In addition, this application is already present in many Android phones.
Yandex Navigator
Yandex.Navigator is a convenient satellite program, which works for free via the Internet. It does not require a lot of resources from a tablet or other device and is easy to manage. In addition, it does not need a lot of space and can lay out routes taking into account various unpleasant situations on the roads and road closures.
The developers paid special attention to the interface. It is very well structured and simple at the same time. When the car starts moving along a given route, the navigator displays the most important information on the screen. This is data about the time and distance to the desired point. If during your trip you need to stop at a service station, car wash, or any other service, then you can add an additional item in the application. In this case, the route will be automatically rebuilt taking into account all your wishes.
It is possible to enable or disable the layer with detailed display of traffic jams. To do this, you just need to press one button with a yellow traffic light on it.
Among the exclusive features is the night mode of the navigator. While it is running, the map will be displayed entirely in dark colors. This allows you not to attract unnecessary attention from the driver when driving and does not have such a detrimental effect on vision. The program contains a fairly large list of various POI objects. Here you can find not only the usual restaurants, cinemas and shops. It is possible to enable the display of layers with post offices, communications and other necessary places.
Another useful feature is voice control from the device. As in Google Navigator for Android, you can search for the desired objects by simply requesting addresses on the map. The program works without the Internet, but this requires installing maps for large cities in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. You can simply view them, but to plot complex routes or search for any objects, an Internet connection is required.
Navitel for Android
Navitel Navigator is a program developed by leading manufacturers in the field of digital navigation. Unfortunately, it is not free. You will have to spend a small amount of money to purchase cards or find them on some file hosting services. Among the functions available in the sidebar, it is worth noting the ability to display the map in 3D mode. In some situations this setting will be very useful.
Most of the different chips are available in the top row. Here you can choose a night or day skin, voice control, which is necessary for plotting routes by specifying commands to the application, and also switch between satellites. This is necessary so that even in unsuitable weather conditions the POI map is always available to the user.
Managing the map in this car navigator is very convenient. Among useful functions it is worth noting:
- rotation of the map according to movement;
- the ability to switch already installed profiles for any type of transport.
When traveling, you can quickly find out all the important information about the speed of the object, the approximate amount of time to your destination and the distance to the nearest turn. High-quality design and thoughtful functionality make Navitel for Android one of the most popular applications in this segment.
Informative Waze
Although Waze does not take first place in the ratings, it is still a worthy, and most importantly, free navigator with open source. The social features added to the application make it stand out compared to its analogues. They allow users to leave messages about repairs, accidents, traffic jams and other troubles on the roads. The navigator collects information from several sources at once, including its own database on the server. This is a huge advantage of the program, thanks to which the route map here is very informative.
Waze will automatically rebuild the user's route if the device crashes, there is some kind of glitch in the application, or any other trouble that interrupts navigation. For example, Google Maps does not do this. Although many people, trying to figure out which is the best navigator for Android, choose this one. If necessary, Waze will make it easier to view a route or map and return to a car-centric view.
However, the program has its disadvantages that cannot be ignored. Among them is the lack of regular and timely functionality updates. Also latest versions Waze may not work well. But despite this, the application is an excellent navigator that itself studies the user’s favorite routes.
OsmAnd - offline navigation
OsmAnd can be called one of the best navigators for those who do not have a permanent connection to the network. To use the program you only need to download everything once necessary cards to your device. The application uses raster and vector maps called Open Street Maps. They are compiled by the users themselves absolutely free of charge.
Once the driver has filtered the objects he needs, such as museums, restaurants and shops, he must select the profile of the vehicle he will use for transportation. A detailed route will then appear on the map. It can be optimized taking into account various obstacles or toll roads.
The smartphone owner has the opportunity to create objects himself, as well as edit and change them. And thanks to plugin support, the number useful settings programs can be significantly expanded. The following functions will be available to the user:
- enabling a live monitoring system that can track other devices using the same navigation service;
- adding to various groups;
- calculation of the most optimal and shortest distances between two points using GPX;
- overlaying contour lines and relief layers, which can be very useful during a hiking trip.
The app has everything standard features, as in any other GPS navigator: voice control, map reorientation and profile switching. Since the project is already quite popular, it has been qualitatively translated into Russian.
Other programs
Navigator | Peculiarities |
| MapFactor |
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| SYGIC |
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If the user does not know which navigator is best for Android, it is worth studying the functionality and reviews of popular applications. It is important to take into account absolutely all the subtleties. For example, location - some navigators do not work well in certain places or entire regions. Another thing to consider is your internet connection. Not all drivers have permanent access to the network on your phone.
A GPS navigator turns out to be useful not only when traveling to unfamiliar cities and neighboring countries, but also for daily use. Voice prompts, warnings about approaching objects, choosing the optimal path and saving travel time are its main tasks. Separate devices are intended for navigation, but it is much more convenient to download a special application to your phone or tablet. You can choose the best of them only through direct comparison, highlighting the strong and weak sides everyone. Our review presents the five best navigators for Android with maps without the Internet, which you can download for free from our website.
Application screenshots
What is the application about?
A multifunctional navigator created in Slovenia, which will delight you with stable operation and intuitive controls. The program interface has been translated into more than 30 languages, including Russian.
Sygic GPS Navigation is a high-quality navigation app for Android with detailed 3D maps, voice guidance and many advanced features. A special feature of the navigator is that it works in offline mode; you just need to download the map in advance the desired city and follow its updates. In addition, the application boasts a pleasant interface, navigation for pedestrians and the Glympse service, thanks to which you can share your route with friends.
Advantages and disadvantages
Sygic GPS Navigation will become an indispensable assistant for taxi drivers, travelers and simple trips around the city. Its main advantages include:
- Detailed maps of all continents.
- Work without an Internet connection.
- Free map updates several times a year.
- Step-by-step navigation with the ability to choose the optimal route.
- Warnings for speed cameras, sharp turns and railroad crossings.
The disadvantages include the following:
- There is no routing for trains. What would be useful when traveling by this type of transport: which station to get off at, how to accurately navigate the place of arrival, etc.
- Severe battery discharge.
- Sometimes problems arise in the algorithms for constructing routes on complex sections of road junctions.
Based on all its characteristics, Sygic is a good free navigator that will optimal choice In most cases.
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Navfree Free GPS
Application screenshots
What is the application about?
Travel around the world with Navfree Free GPS. This is a completely free navigator without the Internet with voice prompts and without any hidden fees.
For navigation, the program uses map data received by millions of users around the world. This way, you yourself work on the quality of the maps by making changes to the existing service. Feedback with users and open access to editing downloadable content, these are not the only features of this Android application. The navigation system works great both with and without the Internet. And the user-friendly interface makes working with the program as comfortable as possible.
Advantages and disadvantages
The strengths of the navigator include the following points:
- Free maps updated daily.
- Ability to make edits using built-in tools.
- Full voice navigation.
- Almost instant creation of routes without an Internet connection.
The disadvantages of the program are the flawed maps, which is due to the fact that they are compiled by the users themselves. Also, you cannot find an address here by simply clicking on the selected area of the map. Otherwise, this free navigator, which can be downloaded in Russian, copes well with its responsibilities.
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MapsWithMe Pro
Application screenshots
What is the application about?
If you want to have the best offline maps and navigation on your smartphone, then feel free to download the MapsWithMe Pro program. This application has a record high level detailed maps and works on all continents of the world.
- MapsWithMe Pro provides users with detailed offline maps of all countries in the world that can be used offline.
- The application's information base contains more than a million points of interest (POI): restaurants, gas stations and other organizations. In order not to search again each time, you can save them in the list of bookmarks.
- You can also load created bookmarks from other maps.
- In addition, the application can also be used as a navigator.
Advantages and disadvantages
Without exaggeration, MapsWithMe Pro can be called one of the best offline navigators of 2016. It has a lot of advantages, the main ones are:
- Current and highly detailed maps of all countries of the world.
- An innovative way to compress cards, as a result of which they occupy a small amount of space in the device’s memory.
- Opportunity quick search points of interest (POI).
The application has no significant drawbacks. Minor disadvantages include the inability to get directions by public transport.
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Maverick Pro GPS
Application screenshots
What is the application about?
An easy-to-use service for tourism, navigation in and outside the city, working on almost all mobile devices running Android OS.
The program is designed to work with maps in offline mode, which can first be downloaded to Android for free. Geotracking is supported, with the ability to record a track in one click. They can later be viewed in Google Earth and other applications, as well as send via e-mail. You can download the navigator and use the navigation for free, however full capabilities programs are available only in the Pro version.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantages of Maverick Pro GPS are:
- Ability to convert maps from other formats.
- Geotracking.
- On-board computer that shows speed, altitude and much other information.
The disadvantages include:
What is the application about?
Last on our list free program for offline navigation with some unique features.
The downloaded OsmAnd navigator on your device provides not only automobile, but also pedestrian and bicycle navigation around your city.
- Detailed terrain maps showing streets, alleys and intersections are available for almost every country in the world.
- Use night mode, which is ideal for viewing information in the dark.
- OsmAnd will allow you to freely navigate in unfamiliar areas, allowing you to save the path you have taken to the memory of your smartphone.
Advantages and disadvantages
The main advantages of OsmAnd are:
- High-quality, auto, bicycle and pedestrian navigation.
- View public transport stops and routes.
- Flexible interface settings.
Minor disadvantages include the inability to find the specified address on the map by tapping on it in contacts. There are also sometimes problems with the voice prompts working.
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The five offline navigation apps reviewed do an excellent job of offering users unique features. It is not possible to unambiguously determine which navigator of 2016 is the best; personal preferences come into play. We can only note that the most detailed maps are provided by the MapsWithMe Pro program.
Here is the final part of the “series” about popular car navigation applications for Android. In it, we tried to summarize all the information from five previously published reviews of individual applications and give a final assessment. In order not to burden the reader, we will try to do this in the most concise and clear form using tables, providing them with relatively small comments.
Why did you choose these particular applications? The main criteria were popularity and the presence of a large number positive feedback, as well as ease of use. The updated Shturmann did not fit into the first two criteria a little. The “Seven Roads” application did not pass all three criteria. Google Maps as a navigator is still in beta testing. Megafon navigation is essentially the same as Progorod, but only in an online version. The iGO app has not yet officially appeared in the Android version. Therefore, there are only five participants.
Prices and popularity
Putting ourselves in the buyer’s shoes, let’s start by looking at price tags and studying information about how popular a particular product has gained among users.
| Navitel | Progorod | Sygic | CityGuide | Yandex | |
| number of downloads per Google Play, million | 5-10 | 0,1-0,5 | 10-50 | 1-5 | 5-10 |
| rating on Google Play | 4,1 | 4,2 | 4,2 | 4,1 | 4,2 |
| price of Russian cards | 1350 rub. | 1290 (950*) rub. | €40 | 1800 rub. | for free |
| minimum price | $1** | - | €20 | 990 rub. | for free |
| update fee, rub | for free | for free | for free | for free | for free |
| traffic jam service fee, rub | for free | for free | does not work in Russia*** | for free | for free |
| allowed number of reinstallations | 1 | 3 | n.d. | 3 | not limited |
| free third party maps | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| test period, days | 30 | 30 | 7 | 15 | - |
* if you purchase a key on the developer’s website. The price is for the application itself with unlimited access to maps.
** rental of foreign cards.
*** for Europe the service is paid - from 12 euros per year.
So, the most expensive product is Sygic. It is aimed at European consumers, so the price tag is quite appropriate. In addition, you will have to pay separately for traffic jams and advanced information about cameras, but this all applies only to Europe. In Russia network services does not work.
The prices of Navitel and Progorod seem to be the most adequate. However, Navitel has a very strict policy regarding reinstallation. Transferring the application to another smartphone will most likely not work at all.
Against the backdrop of all these restrictions, Yandex looks like a king. However, the application has a number of significant limitations, thereby leaving good chances for others.
Feature Set Comparison
The developers of most of the presented applications are trying to attract users with various additional functions, for example, weather, photos on a map, articles from encyclopedias, tagging in social networks, displaying the location of friends and even augmented reality.
We have summarized the entire core set of functions of all five applications in one table:
| Navitel | Progorod | Sygic | CityGuide | Yandex | |
| Interface | |||||
| Manual map zoom during navigation | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Battery/satellite/GSM indicators | Yes Yes Yes | yes / yes / no | in the menu / in the menu / not | Yes Yes Yes | OS status bar |
| Changing the map orientation | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Manual map rotation | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Mileage information | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Satellite View Screen | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| 3D mode | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Map tilt | only in 3D | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Panel quick access | DPOI only | Yes | Yes | Yes | DPOI only |
| "Trip computer" | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Night mode | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Augmented Reality | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Search | |||||
| Universal | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Address | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| By coordinates | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| POI around / at the point / at the finish | Yes Yes Yes | Yes Yes Yes | Yes Yes Yes | Yes Yes Yes | Yes Yes Yes |
| Voice input | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Working with routes | |||||
| Save/Load | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Simulation of driving along the route | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Full display | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Working with tracks | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Operating modes: passenger car / truck / pedestrian | Yes Yes Yes | yes / no / no | yes / no / yes | yes / no / yes | yes / no / no |
| Cards | |||||
| Map update | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Provider | n.d. | own | Navteq | many, different | Navteq, Scanex, etc. |
| Installation of third-party and free cards | Yes | yes, based on OSM | No | yes, based on OSM | No |
| Online services | |||||
| Traffic display | Yes | Yes | No * | Yes | Yes |
| Dynamic POIs | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Friends on the map | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Thematic news feeds | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Photo on the map | No | No | yes (Panoramio) | No | No |
| Weather | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Ban on Internet access | Yes | by disabling the traffic jam service | No | Yes | No |
* only for European countries for a fee
This table is intended for self-study. Here everyone must answer the question for themselves whether this or that program has a minimum sufficient set of functions. For example, some people definitely need to work with tracks, while others need to install free OSM maps. Some applications also have extraordinary abilities. For example, displaying on a map photos of places taken by Panoramio users (from Sygic), or an augmented reality mode (Progorod), as well as speech recognition and voice commands(Yandex.Navigator).
The applications also have major flaws. Thus, Sygic does not have a function for displaying traffic (traffic jams), and Yandex.Navigator will not work fully in the absence of an Internet connection.
Interface
Since each of us has our own ideas about beauty, we will not talk much about which program’s interface is more beautiful. Our eyes found the “picture” of Navitel Navigator, Progorod and Yandex more pleasant. But this does not mean that the other two programs have any problems with “ appearance" They're all good. These just stand out a little from the general background.
But if you step back from looking at the “pictures,” then completely different properties of interfaces come to the fore - practicality and information content. The first of them is when you always feel at ease. All you need is a quick glance at the screen to get the most necessary information. A not very good example of practicality is the interface of the same Navitel - a jumble of thin lines and small parts makes it difficult to read information while driving. Practicality also includes ease of operation with menus and search.
By information content we mean displaying various related information on the screen, such as the speed limit in a given area, information about cameras, etc. The presence of all kinds of tips and additional information in the POI database.
So, below we will provide screenshots of the interfaces of all programs with a short list of the main advantages and disadvantages. This time we will use a smartphone with a small screen resolution of 480x800, which is regulated by almost all software developers in today's test.
Let's start with the vertical map display option, which is the most natural for smartphones and more practical for navigation. Next to the usual map view we will place a 3D version.
Navitel Navigator 8.5
Progorod 2.0
Sygic 13.4
CityGuide 7.8
Yandex.Navigator 1.5
This is the junction of the Warsaw Highway and the Moscow Ring Road. Alas, the picture is static, and its perception while moving, when the scale of the map is constantly changing depending on the speed and upcoming events (turns), is radically different from what you will get simply by contemplating these two sets of screenshots. In addition, in 3D mode a lot depends on the tilt angle, which is adjustable in all programs. The developers have made it so that from one angle the map is beautiful and practical, but from another it is inconvenient to use, because the detail, perspective, etc. change. A similar remark can be made about scale. Therefore, we will give a verbal comment, but first we will post another portion of screenshots taken in navigation mode:
Navitel Navigator 8.5
Progorod 2.0
Sygic 13.4
CityGuide 7.8
Yandex.Navigator 1.5
Navitel Navigator
The picture deserves all the praise, but it is extremely impractical. The accumulation of a mass of small lines and contours makes it difficult to perceive the route line on the screen, which is slightly thicker than the road itself, but with busy traffic jams is in no way different from it in color. Camera icons, signs and other details are barely visible on the screen.
Progorod
The “Picture” is a little similar to Navitel, but there are fewer small details, and the route line is much easier to read than in the previous case. There are two complaints: the status panel takes up a lot of space on the screen and chaos reigns on it, as well as the graphics and all the control buttons are too small.
Sygic
In the screenshots, the interface is unimpressive, but from the point of view of ease of reading information while driving, it deserves the highest rating. There is one significant drawback - house numbers are not displayed in navigation mode. They only appear if you try to scroll the map in one of the directions, which will switch it to viewing mode.
CityGuide
The map interface is quite good in practical terms. It may not be as beautiful, but it is quite comfortable.
Yandex.Navigator
Trying to find fault with the Yandex.Navigator interface did not work out well. He is very practical. The only issue is that users of platforms with screens with a high pixel density per inch complain about small buttons and other elements in the menu. For some reason, these UI elements did not fully comply with Google's developer guidelines, and programmers were working with absolute units of element sizes instead of relative DP and SP.
Well, for those who for some reason prefer the horizontal position of the map, we will post another set of screenshots.
Navitel Navigator 8.5
Progorod 2.0
Sygic 13.4
CityGuide 7.8
Yandex.Navigator 1.5
Cards
Unfortunately, most developers do not provide detailed information about their cards, since they may not look so brilliant compared to competitors.
We tried to collect as much information as possible and summarize it in one table. Pay attention to the line “Map online” - this is your chance to independently evaluate the quality of coverage. True, it also does not entirely accurately reflect the situation. Navitel and Progorod do not have the latest release online, while Yandex’s maps in the app and online are strikingly different in places, which sometimes causes confusion.
| Navitel | Progorod | Sygic | Cityguide | Yandex | |
| Russia: populated areas | 149 047 | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | ≈170 thousand |
| Russia: cities with details | 8762 | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. |
| Road graph, km | 3 809 652 | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. |
| POI objects | 992 163 | n.d. | n.d.* | n.d. | n.d. |
| Card capacity, MB | 1250 | 1131 | 623 | 1900 | 1910** (Moscow only) |
| date of last update | 25.10.2013 | 22.10.2013 | 12.2013 | 22.01.2014 | n.d. |
| Update frequency per year, times | 3-4 | 2 | 1-3 | 2-10*** | n.d. |
| Map online | - | - | |||
| Cards foreign countries, PC. | 52 | 28 (OSM) | ≈130 | 10 | 1**** |
| Information about maps on the developer's website | - | - |
*data from Foursquare is also used as POIs
** the volume of the full map of Moscow is indicated
*** The map of Russia is updated almost every month, but changes in it each time concern a couple of separate areas. If we take, for example, the map of Moscow, it is updated twice a year.
**** Ukraine, Belarus and Türkiye are mentioned. There is no longer a word about Turkey in the company video, and only Ukraine appears on Google Play. However, in the list of maps for download you can find, for example, a map of Almaty.
According to the results of the 2010 census, the number of settlements in Russia was just over 153 thousand and about 20 thousand of them do not have a permanent population. Where did Yandex get 170 thousand from then? Firstly, nesting. A specific settlement always belongs to other territorial units. Secondly, the census does not take into account all types of settlements. Railway stations, winter huts, etc. may fall out of it.
So, our leaders, apparently, are Navitel and Yandex. The volume of cards is an indirect indicator. In Yandex.Navigator it has such unimaginable values because these maps contain a huge number of raster images.
As for the details, this issue is complex and requires a lot of time to study. For our own understanding, we took several settlements and looked at how things stand with this issue.
| Navitel | Progorod | Sygic | Cityguide | Yandex | |
| Olenegorsk, Murmansk region | detailed, with houses (3D) | three main streets | only the main street, with errors | detailed, with houses | three main streets |
| Bogoroditsk, Tula region | detailed, with houses | detailed, with houses (3D) | only the main street | detailed, with houses | three main streets |
| Angarsk, Irkutsk region | main road network | detailed road network | only the main street | detailed, with houses | detailed, with houses |
| Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky | detailed, with houses | detailed road network | only the main street | point on the route | detailed, with houses |
| Astrakhan | detailed, with houses | detailed, with houses (3D) | detailed, with houses | detailed, with houses | detailed, with houses |
| Sochi | detailed, with houses | detailed, with houses (3D) | detailed road network | detailed, with houses | detailed, with houses |
| Chekhov, Moscow region | detailed, with houses | detailed, with houses (3D) | detailed, with houses | detailed, with houses | detailed, with houses |
| Tver | detailed, with houses | detailed, with houses (3D) | detailed, with houses | detailed, with houses | detailed, with houses |
| Rybinsk | detailed, with houses | detailed, with houses (3D) | detailed, with houses | detailed, with houses | detailed, with houses |
| Pechory, Pskov region. | detailed, with houses | main road network | three main streets, with errors | detailed, with outlines of houses, without addresses | three main streets |
| village Lanshino, Moscow region | part of the road network | a point on the map | detailed road network | detailed road network | main road network |
The leaders were Navitel, Progorod and Cityguide. Moreover, the maps of Progorod in almost all settlements from the table have buildings not only with corresponding contours, but also with height. Although CityGuide is good (OSM maps are used), you will have to search for maps of the regions you need in a large list and download them separately, which is not very convenient. For some reason, you can’t download the entire map of Russia at once. In addition, the Kamchatka Territory was not on the list.
Yandex.Navigator surprised me a little, and this considering the fact that the online browser map is beyond praise. At the same time, it is very funny that in the same Bogoroditsk you can indicate the exact address, it will be marked with a marker on the map and a route to it will be built. But the "last mile" will not be displayed correctly.
Well, Sygic doesn’t like small towns the most. He knows them only by hearsay.
The issue of map relevance is also important. Here we looked at the map of Moscow, noting the presence of new well-known roads, overpasses and interchanges that were opened in the summer-autumn of 2013. Progorod, Cityguide and Yandex had no problems with this. Navitel had all the junctions and overpasses we were looking for, but at the intersection Yaroslavl highway and Malyginsky Proezd for some reason there was no U-turn under the overpass. But Sygic's map is at least a year old. We did not find any of the required road objects on it.
Our selection by cards: Navitel, Progorod and Cityguide.
Routes and navigation
All applications build quite adequate routes. And this is the most important thing. Navitel has some minor glitches. We described one of them in detail, but there is no reason to panic here. But it’s definitely worth reducing the sensitivity to traffic jams in its settings for residents of megacities.
To save the reader time, we will collect information on routes and navigation into one table.
| Navitel | Progorod | Sygic | Cityguide | Yandex | |
| adequacy of constructed routes | OK | OK | OK | OK | OK |
| quantity alternative options | No | 2 | 1 | No | 1-2 |
| exclusion of toll roads / other settings | Yes Yes | Yes Yes | Yes Yes | Yes Yes | no no |
| logic of behavior when leaving the route | customizable | return to old route | changing lanes in detour mode | changing lanes in detour mode | |
| traffic jams on the route | Yes | Yes | No | yes, but at a short distance | Yes |
| speed warnings | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| camera warnings | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | yes, late |
| DPOI | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| work without an Internet connection | Yes | Yes | offline only | Yes | functions are very limited |
It will be most convenient to travel with Progorod, Cityguide and Navitel. Sygic, despite its very practical interface, works only in offline mode: no traffic jams or DPOI. In addition, his logic of behavior when the driver leaves the route is far from civilized. But there are no less problems with Yandex: it will not warn you about speeding, it will only tell you about the camera when you drive past it, and without a connection to the Internet, search and route planning will not work in the application! But before starting navigation, it will offer the user alternative route options, which can be viewed on the map and the most suitable one can be selected. Progorod can do this too, although it uses a slightly different logic. We really liked both of these features.
Our choice: Progorod and CityGuide. With some stretch - Navitel and Yandex.
Tests
We've run a series of tests to show how fast these apps will run on different mobile platforms. In a separate table we have summarized the results obtained on two systems, the main characteristics of which are as follows:
Both platforms are budget, but the tablet has a 4-core SoC, while the smartphone has a single-core SoC, but with a more modern architecture. Will there be any significant difference between them? In the table, smartphone and tablet data are separated by two vertical bars.
| Navitel | Progorod | Sygic | Cityguide | Yandex | |
| Loading time, s | 11 || 8 | 5-6 on both platforms | 6 || 3 | 12 || 9 | ≈2 in all cases |
| Satellite search time | in accordance with GPS technologies (1-2 min.) | ≈20-30 sec.** on both platforms | |||
| Route planning time, s* | 2,5-5 || 1,5-5 | 1-4 on both platforms | 12-20 || 6-15 | ≈2 in all cases | -*** |
| Utilization of computing cores in motion, % | 60 || n.d. | 70 || n.d. | 40 || 15 | 65 || 19 | 20 || n.d. |
| Smooth scrolling and zooming with traffic jams disabled | with strong jerks | with jerks | relatively smoothly | relatively smoothly | smoothly |
| Volume of network traffic on the route, MB/h | 2,5 | n.d. | - | n.d. | n.d. - 4**** |
| Volume of network traffic in a metropolis, MB/h | 4,5 | 1 | - | 1 | 3,5-6,5**** |
* the dash indicates the time of laying two routes: from the south of Moscow to the city of Olenegorsk in the Murmansk region; the second route is to Vladivostok.
** already two seconds after loading you see your approximate position on the map, determined by signals base stations and their coordinates. And after another 20-30 seconds the device “clings” to the satellites.
***routes are calculated on a remote server, and construction time depends on the quality of communication at a particular time. In GPRS or EDGE coverage area it may take a minute or more, but with good connection - 2-3 seconds.
**** The first digit indicates the traffic volume in the case of a pre-loaded full map of the region. The second digit indicates an empty card cache.
So, the main problem with application performance is the inability to use all available computing cores of the SoC. And although multithreading is declared by almost all developers, in practice on a 4-core system this results in one core being loaded at 100%, the second at 30%, and the other two cooling down. The only exception is Yandex. The application not only has low system resource requirements, but also active work on four cores it can show a total load of 60-70%, which indicates that someone is still able to create multi-threaded applications (benchmark developers do not count).
If we talk about the smoothness and comfort of working with the map, then Yandex, Cityguide and Sygic behave quite well, which cannot be said about Navitel and Progorod. Scrolling the map and scaling occurs with noticeable jerks, slowdowns and jerks. Moreover, if your smartphone has a resolution of 1280 pixels or more, the situation will worsen regardless of the type of SoC installed in the system.
Our choice: Yandex, CityGuide and, probably, Sygic. The latter takes a very long time to build routes, but otherwise is very smart.
Application Features
Since the competition is great, developers try to add a few highlights to their creation, and it would be a shame not to mention them.
Navitel Navigator
Progorod
Here we will only note the augmented reality mode, which will work quite well on those devices that have an orientation sensor.
Perhaps it will come in handy when traveling by car.
Sygic
Sygic tries to attract users with all sorts of useful and interesting little things: universal search, photos on the map from Panoramio, POIs from Foursquare, articles from Wikipedia (if they have a link to coordinates), a sidebar and a trip computer. All details in the corresponding .
CityGuide
Nothing unusual.
Yandex.Navigator
The main trump card is a universal search with a speech recognition system and voice commands, which works quite well.
Results
So, the most mentions marked “our choice” went to CityGuide and Progorod. Navitel, Yandex.Navigator and Sygic are lagging behind. But if we evaluate applications by their main functions (the quality of maps and the navigation process), then the following three leaders emerge before us: Progorod, CityGuide and Navitel. The cheapest of them is Progorod. The most expensive is CityGuide. And Navitel will receive the title of the most unfriendly due to the impossibility of transferring the application to other smartphones.
If you live in one of the Russian megacities, there is reliable and high-quality cellular If you are not afraid of speed cameras and prefer not to spend extra money, then you can use Yandex.Navigator. It's free. Moreover, it works quickly and has a practical interface.
Sygic can be useful when traveling abroad. However, it will not be cheap at all. In this regard, Navitel is many times more attractive, but it will not contain information about traffic. Just like Sygic in Russia.
P.S. Better to see once than hear a hundred times. Therefore, we encourage you to try out the apps you like and draw your own conclusions. But at the same time, it is important not to forget that all navigation programs, without exception, after they are removed through the application manager, leave almost all of their files in internal memory phone forever, “freezing” hundreds of useful megabytes. Don’t forget to delete them manually later, based on the names of the folders on the drive. Oh, Android, Android...
GPS navigation is one of the most popular features on a smartphone. When exploring a city by car or bicycle, it is essential to follow the best route. Navigators will help you optimize auto and pedestrian routes and get to the desired coordinates faster.
We compared popular, top mobile navigators. Main criteria: ease of use, functionality and price (free) of the navigator. At the end of the review, we will summarize: which navigator is the best.
Participants:
Over time, the review will be updated with new GPS programs. If, in your opinion, there are more interesting navigators for Android, leave your comments at the end of the article, through the contact form. Thank you!
Google Maps for Android - standard Android navigator
Reviewing Google Maps a year ago, we noted that some functions of the navigator were not finalized or optimized. By 2020, the situation has improved markedly – especially in terms of user experience. However, we note some of the rough edges of Google Maps.
The function of downloading offline maps appeared relatively recently. It allows you to plot routes and navigate on the map without an Internet connection. Due to the fact that offline maps are not yet a fully tested function, not everything is so smooth with it. However, like other Android navigators.
The inconvenience is that you cannot download maps for large regions of Ukraine, Russia, Belarus and other CIS countries. Only selected offline maps of large cities or regions are available. When driving outside the city limits, it is difficult for a motorist to do without online synchronization.
Disadvantages of Google Maps
1) The choice of locations and attractions in Google Maps is quite poor: to get full information about hotels, restaurants, shops, schools, etc. available nearby - you have to use third-party applets (Foursquare, TripAdvisor, Yandex.City).
2) No data on road accidents; You cannot add points with car accidents yourself, which would be quite useful for notifying other drivers.
3) In comparison with Yandex Navigator, there is no warning about speed control, there are no alternative voice assistants.
Advantages of Google Maps
However, Google Maps also has many positive aspects.
Yandex Navigator: navigator with voice control
Interface mobile version Yandex Navigator is well structured and clear. When driving a car along a route, it displays information about the approximate time remaining to the destination and the distance to the final point. If you need to stop at a service station, gas station or car wash along the way, you can specify an additional point on the Yandex Navigator map - and the route will be optimally recalculated taking into account intermediate point. You can turn the traffic and directions layer on and off by pressing a single button with a yellow traffic light.
The exclusive features of the navigator include the night GPS mode for Android, where the map is displayed in dark colors, without distracting the driver’s attention when driving late and prevents the eyes from getting too tired when looking at objects. By the way, the range of searchable POI objects is really impressive. Along with the already familiar restaurants, ATMs and cinemas, you can use layers to display nearby communication points, post offices, salons and many other interesting places.
Another one nice feature- voice control from your phone. Similar to Google Maps, you can search for the necessary objects on the map, request addresses on the map.
As for the program's offline operation, you can download GPS maps for Android for major settlements in Ukraine, Russia and Belarus. By turning on Yandex Navigator offline, you can view them, but plotting routes and searching for local attractions on the map is only possible if you have a network connection.
Thus, Yandex Navigator for Android leaves the most pleasant impression. The product claims to be the best free gps navigator and for Android in 2020.
Navitel: a well-designed GPS navigator for Android
Navitel Navigator is a GPS program from a leading developer in the field of navigation and creation digital cards. To purchase the cards themselves, you will have to fork out a small amount, but if you wish, you can download them for free on torrents or file hosting sites (for example, on the pda forum).
Strengths of Navitel Navigator
1) Map display options: switch between 2D and 3D modes, which will be especially useful in some situations.
2) User-friendly interface. The lion's share branded chips available in the top bar for quick access. Choosing between night and day skins
4) Switching between satellites: under any weather conditions, the map with POI is always available.
Note. Not long ago we did something for Android, where we listed in detail all the advantages and individual “features”.
Navitel Navigator: GPS routes on the screen
5) Convenient controls. When navigating along a route, managing the map is quite intuitive and simple: there is a zoom function, rotation of the map according to movement, and the ability to switch between preset profiles for any type of transport.
6) Information content. The movement is visually accompanied by information about the speed of the object, the remaining time to reach the destination, the distance of the nearest turn and audio support. In general, the navigation is well thought out and intuitive.
Well-thought-out functional parts and high-quality design make mobile app Navitel is the main candidate in the “Best GPS navigator for Android” category.
Waze - an informative GPS navigator for Android
Waze (Free) is a free navigator for Android with opensource code.
Benefits of Waze
1) The social features integrated into Waze greatly improve your driving experience. Waze users report problems on the road - be it repairs, accidents, traffic jams, traffic police posts, cameras and other “troubles”. Accordingly, other drivers are already aware of the changes. In addition to reviews, the application collects information from its own database on the server.
2) The map with routes is informative. Waze uses proven OSM maps. They are highly detailed and accurate.
3) Waze automatically reroutes if your phone crashes, the app crashes, or anything else that might interrupt your navigation. Standard Google Maps doesn't do this. Likewise, Waze makes it easy to view your route or map when needed and always returns to Automotive mode.
OsmAnd: navigation for Android in offline mode
Let's list strengths OsmAnd navigator.
Pros of OsmAnd
1) Autonomy. OsmAnd is, first of all, a good offline navigator. Suitable for those who prefer to download maps to their gadget once and no longer connect to the Internet while in offline mode.
2) Cards. OsmAnd uses raster and vector for navigation Open cards Street Maps compiled by users of the service. They allow you to filter POI objects (attractions, museums, theaters, pharmacies, etc.) and select a profile for the corresponding vehicle. The travel route can be optimized taking into account the shortest distance, avoiding toll roads, dirt roads, ferries, and highways.
OsmAnd is one of the best navigators for Android
3) Customizable maps. You can add objects yourself, create or edit maps. Thanks to the support of plugins, the functionality of OsmAnd is significantly expanded: for example, you can activate the OsMo live monitoring system with tracking of other gadgets using the service; add to groups; download sea and ski maps; calculate optimal distances between specified points using GPX; impose contour lines and layers of relief, which will certainly be appreciated by tourists and athletes).
4) Additional functions. All standard features for GPS navigators are also present: voice control, assistant, screen reorientation, profile switching.
Maps.me
Maps.me is a GPS navigator, popular in Russia, the USA and Germany. Characterized by high accuracy and autonomy of cards.
Strengths of Maps.me
1) The accuracy and detail of maps is perhaps the most important thing, regardless of the type of transport. This navigator will be of interest to travelers and pedestrians, since the map displays the smallest details - trails, benches, names of objects.
2) Additional layers. Maps.me displays vector maps, through layers you can also display traffic jams and .
3) Lots of settings. In the maps.me settings you can change units of measurement, scaling, view your movement history, etc. There are navigation settings, in particular, you can configure auto zoom, voice instructions, and enable the display of speed cameras.
4) Switching navigation modes. The choice is car, pedestrian, public transport, taxi and bicycle.
5) Autonomy. Offline maps downloaded from mobile device, take up little space, yet work fully, as if the Internet were present. It is clear that realtime functions will not be available, but for a pedestrian or cyclist information about traffic jams is not as important as for motorists.
Disadvantages of Maps.me
1) Limited navigation for motorists. It’s difficult to call Maps.me a perfect car navigator. At a minimum, travel routes are not always lined up correctly, not to mention the fact that the navigator does not offer alternative options.
2) There are errors. Since the maps are developed by the community, the data is not always up to date, especially for remote places and villages.
3) Quite inconvenient map display mode. Maps look very dry, scaling may not work.
Which navigator is the best as of 2020?
Each of the Android navigators, in some aspects (functions, maps) is better than its competitors and is good in its own way. Which navigator is right for you depends on your preferences and beliefs. We hope that we helped you choose the right application and it will remain on your phone.
| Navigator application | Developer | Price | Offline maps support | Traffic jams | Voice acting | Russian language |
| Google Maps | Google Inc. | for free | + | + | + | + |
| Yandex Navigator | Yandex | for free | + | + | + | + |
| Navitel Navigator | Navitel | from 1000 rub. | + | + | + | + |
| Waze | Waze navigation | for free | + | + | + | + |
| OsmAnd for Android | OsmAnd | from 6.75 $ | + | + | + | + |
Yandex Navigator It is absolutely free and has excellent functionality. He wins the " The best navigator on Android with Yandex Maps support."
Navitel Navigator created and supported by the most famous company, so the quality of products and technical support are at their best - both for Android OS and other mobile devices.
Navigation app Waze- certainly attracts with its openness and free cards. However, like any developing product, this navigator is not perfect. We hope the growing community will have a positive impact on the quality of the application. In 2020, alas, Waze maps are inferior in information content to the same Navitel or Google Maps.
Concerning OsmAnd, then this offline navigator for Android will serve perfectly in conditions where it is impossible to connect mobile device to the network and works using open technologies.
Google Maps- navigator with function voice control. The good thing is that it is available out of the box (that is, it is initially included in Android). Google Maps is suitable for inexperienced travelers and drivers; it can be called one of the best offline navigators.
Maps.me will appeal to avid travelers and walkers. The navigator will delight you with detailed maps adapted for walking. We would recommend alternatives to motorists - Google Maps or Yandex Navigator.
Good afternoon friends. Today we will talk about navigators installed on Android and working without the Internet. Is it worth mentioning that navigators have made life much easier for drivers in different countries. Many people simply stopped taking with them various atlases and road maps of different parts of the Earth.
But you don’t always have navigators at your fingertips, which can’t be said about mobile phone. Also, on the road, the Internet often disappears. Therefore, a decent number of navigator applications for Android have been developed that function without the Internet. By installing this software on your phone, you can choose a shorter and safer route to the desired location, including in an unfamiliar city or country. I suggest you consider 10 such navigators of 2019 on Android and choose the one you like best.
Sygic
This offer is very popular in many countries. But many drivers have found that if the program is used for a long time, the information provided is not entirely reliable. Most likely, some places on Earth simply stopped supporting this software.
But despite this, Sygic is still one of the main leaders among offline navigator programs for smartphones. This application has a good design that is easy on the eyes and fingers. In addition, the program can function using only GPS, which makes it possible to work efficiently without permanent connection with the Internet. The software updates its topographic databases for free in most regions of the Earth.
In general, this application is one of best selections for people who spend a decent amount of time on the road. Even if for a number of reasons GPS and the Internet stop working, thanks to the downloaded maps, people will be able to navigate the area. To obtain additional features, like voice acting and detailed instructions, you need to install the PRO version.
Download Sygic.
Until recently, this navigation program did not shine among a number of navigator programs. But, MapFactor developers began to carry out endless updates and improvements to the application. As a result, this software took the top three among similar applications of the Android system.
Its main advantage is that once you install the program on your gadget, you no longer need the Internet for excellent navigation on the ground. It is only necessary to update the application every month to update information about changes in cartography.
MapFactor provides navigation routing in many languages and allows you to plan your route ahead of time. The program makes it possible to see the required route in both 2D and 3D formats. That is, both a map with all the details, and in a simplified form.
For example, when traveling on highways between cities, it is preferable to use simple cards, due to the fact that you only need to carefully observe the movement. If you are in locality, it is better to use maps with all the nuances, such as gas stations, food outlets, recreation and other landmarks.
Download the navigator without the Internet for Android MapFactor.
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