I’m sick of using google maps, they started putting gigantic ads for stores on the map and I’m tired of them tracking me. So I ask you Lemmy, what should I switch to?!
EDIT: Was not expecting so many replies, thank you Lemmy! I am checking out Open Street Maps currently thanks for the recommendations!
Any OpenStreetMap (OSM) app/website:
Organic Maps on iOS/Android: https://organicmaps.app/
OsmAnd (small price) on Android/iOS: https://osmand.net/
OpenStreetMap off course: https://www.openstreetmap.org/
OsmAnd web maps: https://osmand.net/map/
Maybe some things like TomTom Go or Sygic Maps (is this still a thing?)
Do you know which of these has the most updated real-time traffic data, like for accidents and road closures? I depend heavily on maps not just for navigation but to also get the fastest routes to my destination. Obviously google maps is great with that because of the sheer amount of crowsourced data it collects, but it’s also effective with rerouting quickly for unpredictable events.
Magic Earth is closed source but it claims it respects the users privacy, it uses open street maps and it has decent traffic data for navigation for some countries. It also has the advantage that you can configure it to stick to the original route if you prefer. This is very important for me because sometimes I want to take a scenic route, or just routes I prefer but that are not necessarily the fastest.
Thanks! This looks promising. Unfortunately it doesn’t even have my address yet (new neighborhood). I’ll park it in the meantime but will definitely keep it on my phone and will try it on familiar routes (in case something goes wrong).
Maybe TomTom Go? Always had great traffic updates, at least in Europe
I love OSM in so many ways, but unfortunately its address resolver is kinda garbage compared to Google Maps. For example, the string “10392 SE 23, portland, or, usa” correctly resolves to what I meant, “10392 SE 23rd Ave, Milwaukie, OR, USA” in Google Maps. OSM needs the exact city (Milwaukie is a suburb of Portland) and the “rd” on 23 to resolve.
I don’t think they’ll ever get address and Street information right. It needs a plugin that links gmaps street info into osm.
Then write to their support team, not just rant here. And donate too.
I just switched to MagicEarth since it works with Android Auto. Pretty happy with it so far.
Any openstreet map clients, I enjoy magic earth
I’m trying them all out and magic earth seems to find the places I would typically nav to the easiest but OSM has more overlays
Some great apps have already been mentioned here so I’ll share a last resort if you need: GMaps WV (Google Maps WebView Wrapper). It’s Google maps in a restricted sandbox made by the Divest OS dev and app is on FDroid.
When I used it on a more regular basis a year ago it didn’t have ads and after installing it just now to test and share this, I haven’t found any either.
Privacy wise it’s not as good as omsand~ or Open Street map but you could use it on another profile in your phone if you have android if that is a concern.
More info can be found here along with the source code of the wrapper: Https://divestos.org/pages/our_apps#gmapswv
Great thread this.
Adding onto it; anybody know any FOSS alternatives close enough to Apple Maps in terms of functionality? I mean making routes and tracking your vehicle on your way to the destination along with any warnings of construction work or accidents.
Please excuse my non-iOS using ignorance, but isn’t FOSS antithetical to Apple’s closed ecosystem and extreme limitations on side-loading?
Yes. I am asking for FOSS alternatives that have the same level of functionality and efficiency as Apple Maps.
Yeah, I totally get that, but how are there FOSS applications on iOS that aren’t side loaded? At best you can get paid ports/skins of open source software through the app store, but Apple changes developers a small fortune to put apps in the store, which generally equates to no free apps that don’t rely on ads or in-app purchases.
An Apple Developer account is $99 a year and the only prerequisite to putting an app on the store. If it’s free, there are no other fees. I wouldn’t call $99 a small fortune.
There are many “open source” apps on the App Store, though most may argue they technically are not because you never have the option of compiling yourself, so perhaps “source available” would be more apt. Things like KDE-Connect are on the App Store so clearly there is some demand for iOS counterparts to open source multiplatform applications.
I am not looking to download a FOSS app on an iPhone. I am merely looking for a FOSS app similar to Apple Maps in terms of functionality.
Is there any way to export Google maps saved places and or lists to any of: magic earth, open street maps, organic maps? I’ve got lots of lists I’d rather not throw away if I can
If you use Google takeout (the service that lets you access all your data), you can download your Google maps favourites as a GeoSON file. It depends on specific apps if they can directly import it, but there’s surely some converter around to export it to .kml or .gpx, that can easily be imported in other apps
Other people have mentioned phone apps so I’ll add that I got a Garmin device for hiking and it’s got road navigation. It’s better in some cases because the maps are downloaded so if you’re somewhere without service, it can still do navigation.
Obviously, they’re meant to supplement a phone for off-grid stuff like hiking, boating, etc. but the road directions seem perfectly fine. It knows where gas stations are. And some of their models are car-only so I guess they’re also used by drivers in areas with spotty phone coverage.
The downside is, obviously, that you have to update the maps and there’s no traffic details. But I just thought I’d mention it as an option. (You also don’t have to use their maps if you prefer OpenStreetMaps or whatever.)
I’ve used maps.me for years. Works online and offline. Even took it abroad and used it instead of the stuff locals used, with the exception of london and liverpool, since I couldn’t find a way to check train schedules.
Organic Maps is the open source evolution of maps.me, by the same developers, have a try
Oh, thanks! For anyone reading this, it’s on fdroid. Looks solid.
I use navmii for offline navigation. The search functionality is not so great, but the navigation works swell.
Mapy.cz are the best maps available on desktop and android. They use OSM as a source. There is some tracking but in this case it’s worth the hassle.
What is this “tracking hassle” you’re talking about? And why is it worth it, if the OP is saying that he’s sick of being tracked?
They collect minor things like search terms and app usage info. The rest is stored on the server only if you explicitly upload a photo or a recorded track or something similar. No collection of location data or WiFi networks etc. The telemetry can be blocked of course if you have such setup (VPN+pihole for example)
Search terms is not some minor thing to collect, though.
