I thought I was ready to ditch Google Maps — until I noticed what I missed

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For years, I have wondered whether Google Maps is the best navigation app or if I am using it out of habit. So I tested a handful of Maps alternatives, hoping one of them would stick.

However, I found myself going back to Maps every time because I kept missing some small yet practical features that most competitors still struggle to match.

These features are easy to take for granted until they’re gone, and after I noticed what was missing, it became clear why Google Maps still earns a spot on my phone’s home screen.

Here are the apps I tried, and why I still went back to Google Maps.

Waze: Excellent traffic data, but not a replacement for everything

The most apparent competitor to Google Maps is Waze, a navigation app Google owns but keeps separate.

Waze is laser-focused on real-time, crowdsourced route information, with drivers reporting traffic jams, hazards, and road closures in real time.

This information often yields the fastest route, especially during peak traffic hours.

But Waze feels like a different tool, and not a Maps replacement. It’s brilliant at directing you around jams. However, it lacks directions for walking and public transit.

The Waze interface can feel cluttered with constant alerts, especially if your goal is simple navigation.

Maps, by contrast, covers all forms of transit and general exploration in a way that Waze doesn’t.

I also missed the depth of map details. Waze’s map is functional, but bare bones.

There’s no satellite view, no terrain mode, and no way to switch perspectives when you want a better sense of your surroundings.

Offline support is another deal-breaker. Waze doesn’t let you download maps ahead of time, which makes it unreliable in areas with spotty data coverage or while traveling.

In practice, that means I may use Waze for commutes and dense urban traffic, but still fall back to Maps for everyday navigation.

That’s not because Google Maps is superior in every category, but because it is versatile.

HERE WeGo: Offline powerhouse, but not as complete

If there’s one category where other apps can outshine Google Maps, it’s offline navigation, and HERE WeGo is a standout.

You can download maps, plan routes without data, and get turn-by-turn directions even with no signal. That’s especially useful for international travel or rural areas with patchy coverage.

That offline reliability comes with trade-offs.

HERE WeGo’s overall data depth, from business listings to reviews, doesn’t match Google Maps’ massive dataset.

In places where connectivity isn’t an issue, I felt like I was giving up everyday convenience for offline access, and I often missed the rich search results that Google Maps delivers so effortlessly.

In the end, HERE WeGo impressed me with its offline reliability, but it never became something I wanted to open every day.

OsmAnd and Maps.me: Custom and offline, but niche

Apps like OsmAnd and Maps.me are worth it if privacy or offline navigation is top priority.

OsmAnd utilizes OpenStreetMap data. It prioritizes offline functionality and customizable map features, including biking and hiking routes — areas that Maps does not emphasize.

Maps.me also shines with rich POIs and offline features.

Still, in daily life, they feel like niche tools.

Searching for obscure addresses can be inconsistent, especially compared to Google’s extensive and frequently updated database.

Without a significant user base feeding live corrected data, you may also experience more map errors or missing places, which can be frustrating when you want to get somewhere.

What kept bringing me back to Google Maps

After testing all of these, here’s why I still lean on Google Maps as my default.

Comprehensive transit options

Google Maps isn’t just for driving; it integrates walking, biking, and public transit all in one app, with accurate schedules and frequently updated route info.

Most alternatives focus on one or two modes, not all.

Live traffic and rerouting

Maps uses a blend of real-time data and predictive modeling that often gives efficient rerouting decisions.

While competitors like Waze can be faster in some traffic jam scenarios, Maps strikes a balance that works for everyday use.

Places and search details

Whether I’m looking up a restaurant’s hours, user ratings, peak times, indoor maps, or Street View before I leave, Google’s database has more depth.

Alternatives have points of interest, but they rarely match Google’s layer of business info across categories.

Multi-stop planning and trip diversity

Maps allows up to 10 stops, works for running errands, road trips, or mixed transit journeys, and lets me switch modes quickly, something other apps don’t allow.

Exploring alternatives to Google Maps made me a more informed user.

Each app I tried excelled in certain areas, and in specific situations, some outperformed Google Maps.

For instance, I prefer HERE WeGo for offline maps, Waze for faster traffic updates, and OsmAnd for privacy.

But if you want one app that handles transit, traffic, local search, multi-modal planning, and everyday navigation with consistently strong data, Google Maps still leads the pack.

That’s why, despite trying the options, I keep coming back to Maps.