Very useful on a daily basis, navigation applications – or GPS guidance – require an Internet connection to operate. But some have a very practical offline mode to find your way around without a mobile network.
Like many, you probably use a GPS navigation and guidance application on your smartphone to find your way around. A practical tool for finding your way around the world. Small problem, to work while on the move, most of them require an Internet connection via the mobile network, which can be a problem in certain situations. This is particularly the case when you are in an area where the network is not bad, if at all. But also the case when you do not want to use mobile data (in 4G or 5G), because the volume of your package is limited, especially when you travel abroad.
Fortunately, there is a solution to avoid being lost in this kind of situation: all you have to do is use a navigation application offering an offline navigation mode, which does not require an Internet connection and which transforms your smartphone into a simple stand-alone, old-fashioned GPS. Admittedly, they require a little anticipation, because you have to download maps beforehand – preferably over Wi-Fi – so as to keep it permanently in the phone – which takes up a little space in the storage space. . And you have to remember to activate the GPS location – rest assured, it does not consume data – and to deactivate your mobile data if you do not want to use your Internet package – which is strongly recommended when you travel to foreign. And, of course, this disconnected mode prevents you from taking advantage of real-time information, especially on road traffic. But they represent an excellent way to continue to be guided everywhere, even in badly covered areas, risking everything to wear out your pass.
You enjoy your holidays abroad but cannot guide you without breaking the bank. Your Internet plan is coming to an end. In short, it is impossible to locate you and to have access to a route on your GPS application: you are lost. To avoid this kind of situation, some applications have an offline browsing mode, although they require a little anticipation. Be careful, you have to remember to activate your GPS location – rest assured, it does not consume data – and to deactivate your mobile data if you do not want to use your Internet package – which is strongly recommended if you are traveling abroad. ‘foreign. Here is our selection of GPS navigation applications for Android and iOS capable of working without an Internet connection, in offline mode. Take the time to test them as they have many differences in practice.
Here WeGo: an offline multi-transport GPS
Also available as an online service, such as Google Maps, Here WeGo is a particularly comprehensive free GPS navigation application, offering car and pedestrian directions in more than 100 countries and 1,900 cities – public transport are available, but only with an internet connection – and without any advertising. It offers precise voice guidance, with very detailed information. To be able to navigate without an Internet connection, all you have to do is download the map of a country – an entire one! –, of a particular region or area in advance, which will remain saved in the smartphone – with an option to store it on the memory card, and thus avoid saturating the main memory. If you temporarily have an Internet connection, you can even plan your route a little in advance with additional information, such as traffic jams, to find the fastest route.
Download Here WeGo for Android
Google Maps: the essential offline GPS
Installed by default on most Android smartphones, Google Maps is undoubtedly one of the most popular free GPS applications. And for good reason, the maps are easily readable and the way to follow is clearly indicated, which is practical to avoid missing an exit. What many don’t know is that the app also works without an internet connection. All you have to do is prepare your trip in advance and download the detailed map of your route. You can access it offline when you need it, to search, find your way around or calculate a route. On the other hand, only the car travel mode works and the downloadable area is unfortunately not infinite. In addition, sometimes Maps refuses to work in offline mode, which can cause some setbacks… To find out how to use its offline mode, see our practical sheet.
Download Google Maps for Android
Maps.Me: the collaborative offline application
Hugely popular, with over 120 million downloads, Maps.Me is a free mapping app based on OpenStreeMap – with a free, collaborative world map. It allows you to download maps for most countries in the world with a complete cartography of the cities, specifying the names of the streets, and to calculate complete routes on foot or by car. In addition, it displays points of interest such as metro stations, ticket machines, museums, hotels, theaters, etc. Downloaded maps have the advantage of being less bulky than those of other applications, which saves your phone’s storage. A welcome bonus: the app displays hiking trails and cycling routes to offer the most suitable route for pedestrians and cyclists. On the other hand, the minimalism of Maps.Me translates into the absence of practical and common functions, such as voice guidance, 3D mode for navigation, satellite view, traffic information and public transport directions.
OsmAnd: a complete but complex cartography
Like Maps.Me, OsmAnd is based on Open Street Maps. It allows you to download maps of any region. All map data can be stored on your smartphone’s memory card, which is convenient for offline use – although it can sometimes take some time to display the map. The application is often updated and offers a great knowledge of the roads around the world since it is completed by the community. It offers visual and voice guidance for the car, bicycle or pedestrian, as well as traffic warnings. It is able to recalculate the route en route, display traffic lanes, and even search for destinations by address or point of interest. However, if its interface is very complete, it can be a bit complex and unintuitive when you first get started.
MapFactor: a GPS designed to work without an Internet connection
MapFactor allows you to store maps of the whole world – they are classified by area (Europe, America, Asia, Oceania, Africa) then by country and possibly by sub-region on your phone’s internal storage or on an SD card. The application is also based on OpenStreetMaps, which means that the maps are enriched by the community every month. They indicate speed cameras and the heights of bridges and tunnels thanks to the Truck function, very useful for drivers of large vehicles. MapFactor has voice guidance in urban areas as well as sufficient depth of view on highways to anticipate actions. Note that you can also download professional maps from TomTom, but they are not free.
Download MapFactor for Android
