We informed you that Google Maps It has returned to the Apple online store and, as we can see, it has done so triumphantly: it has positioned itself as the most unloaded. In other words, as they say, "arrive and kiss the saint." They must be very happy in the Mountain View office.
It should be remembered that Apple rejected the Mountain View maps application when they launched their own, called Apple MapsWhat came next was a real disaster: bugs and errors (the issue of lost motorcyclists in Australia is a joke), desperation of users, criticism, etc. The fact is that, finally, they had to readmit Google Maps in the Apple Store - which we tell you on Android Help– for compatible iPhone devices and, the result: this program is, right now, the most downloaded application in the online store. Another bucket of cold water for those from Cupertino.
Therefore, the market that Apple knows and dominates so well has given them a humility cure. It has been proven that simply being a prestigious company is not enough, and that if you want to enter a market where you don't have a presence, such as in this case the navigation and maps market, you have to do so with a minimum of quality... something that didn't happen with Apple Maps. Furthermore, it's not worth blaming third parties (as may be the case with TomTom, responsible for cartography), since the faults are numerous and it does not give the impression of adequate quality control. The consequence: migration to Google Maps and many doubts about what the apple company can do in this market in the future.
Google Maps for iOS, complete but with some shortcomings
The new version for iOS of Google Maps offers everything you need for users to use and feel satisfied: an intuitive interface, common options such as layers on maps and reliable cartographic data almost everywhere in the world. Includes turn-by-turn voice navigation, real-time traffic information, fuel-efficient routes, automatic alternatives to incidents, public transport with live updates and options to walk, cycle or even locate bike and scooter rentals.
It also adds modern features: Street View to explore on street level, Immersive View to preview monuments, parks and routes and check the weather in advance, personalized lists for save and share sites, and all content enriched with photos, reviews, and community Q&A. Please note that some features are not available in all cities or countries and that navigation is not designed for oversized or emergency vehicles.
But there are some shortcomings that are important, such as that does not have Latitude (That feature was removed; now it's built-in "Location Sharing"), and Street View may be more hidden than desired. We'll have to wait for future updates for the Apple version to reach the level offered by the Android version... if it ever does.
Availability and download on the App Store
If you can't find Google Maps in the App Store (for example, if you live in Moldova), there are several useful checks: verify that you are searching for “Google Maps – Google LLC", check that your App Store region is configured correctly and that there are no content restrictions in Screen Time. Keep iOS up to date and check if your company or carrier enforces profiles that limit downloads. Alternatively, you can always use maps.google.com from Safari. Google Maps is free; remember that mobile data usage may incur operator costs.
Features that make the difference
- Smart navigation: Fuel-efficient, turn-by-turn routing with voice guidance and automatic rerouting due to traffic, incidents, or outages.
- Urban mobility: real-time bus, train and metro times, plus information about ride hailing and bike/scooter rentals where available.
- Advanced scan: Street View, Immersive View with weather forecast, Lens in Maps for directions in augmented reality, and popularity of places to avoid crowds.
- Informed decision: 250+ million businesses with photos, reviews, and filters by cuisine, hours, price, or rating; creating lists, reservations and food orders in supported countries.
Offline Maps on iPhone
Important: Offline maps cannot be downloaded in some countries or areas due to contractual limitations, language availability, address formats, or other reasons.
- Open Google Maps and search for a city or area. Tap the bottom panel with the name of the place.
- Choose the option Download offline map and adjust the rectangle to the area you want.
- Download and, if you wish, activate Automatic Updates to keep them up to date when you have Wi‑Fi.
When you don't have a connection you can browse whenever you want. the entire route is within the downloaded area. Please note that without a connection, there are no public transport, bicycle or foot routes, nor are they displayed. real time traffic nor automatic diversions due to incidents. From your profile > offline maps You can view the list of maps, rename them, delete them, or force them to be updated.
Browser and 3D compatibility on computer
If you use Google Maps in the browser, for the full version with 3D images and Earth view make sure you have a modern browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari or Edge) with hardware acceleration and WebGL support. On computers running macOS, Windows, ChromeOS (Intel CPU), or Linux, keeping your system up to date is usually sufficient. If your computer complies and you still don't see 3D, your browser might block WebGLSome older cards do not display 3D, including: Intel 965GM, Intel B43, Intel G41, Intel G45, Intel G965, Intel GMA 3600, Intel Mobile 4, Intel Mobile 45, and Intel Mobile 965.
Updated Comparison: Google Maps vs. Apple Maps on iPhone
Precision
Talking about data accuracy, Google Maps stands out for its increasing accuracy that allows you to better know the route that best suits you in terms of speed, safety or fuel. It is based on massive data that provides hundreds of millions users each year. Apple, for its part, is usually very precise in geolocation at the device level.
Coverage and data
Google Maps has extensive global coverage, drawing on multiple sources (including Street View vehicles) and a huge community of reviews and images. The synergy with the Google ecosystem makes it easier for businesses to manage their business cardApple Maps relies more heavily on third parties like TomTom (although it frequently improves), and its strong suit remains location accuracy, which is limited by local coverage.
Display
Apple Maps offers a very clear 3D view buildings and a minimalist design, with Flyover mode and vehicle speed on screen. Google, for its part, is moving forward with Immersive View and readability improvements, enhancing the visual experience without losing its breadth of options.
Features
Google is ahead in features: real-time traffic, alternative routes, intermediate stops, Street View, offline maps, traffic alerts, integration with other Google services and a powerful API for developers. Apple responds with smooth navigation, lists, and improvements to transportation and cycling, as well as excellent integration with Crab.
Integration with other services
Google Maps integrates with your Google account, syncing locations across devices, and with Google Search, Assistant, and Earth. Apple Maps fits seamlessly into the Apple ecosystem (iCloud, iMessage, Siri and CarPlay).
Privacy policy
If there is something in which Apple usually stands out It is in the approach to privacy and data minimization. Google, for its part, offers advanced controls activity and permits to personalize the experience.
Siri or Google Assistant: Which assistant works best with each app?
With Siri you can request routes, check traffic or add stops, and C enhances that experience. On iPhone, Google Maps works great with Google Assistant (as a separate app), although it may require some additional steps when invoking it from iOS.
Extra information
Google Maps excels in providing information about places (schedules, reviews, photos) and perspectives with Street View and satellite. Apple Maps has enriched its listings with more details, reviews and photos, as well as integrated bookings via Siri in supported markets.
Which one is the best for you?
Our advice is that, since they are both free apps, you should download both and decide based on your priorities. travel and width In terms of features, Google Maps is a great option even on the iPhone. If you prefer simplicity, Apple Maps It offers a minimalist, fluid, and highly integrated experience with Siri, with a clear focus on privacy. On Android, Google Maps logically wins.
After fateful premiere Apple's introduction of its own maps in iOS 6, many people began to miss the maps that every iPhone or iPad had had until then, Google Maps.
Nowadays, Google maps are one of the best options that we can throw at our backs and that after years of development have achieved a level of accuracy and information that no other developer of this type of application has managed to achieve.
After being missing for a few months, today we woke up to the news that Google Maps is finally available on the App Store. and we can now install them again on our iPhones (there is currently no version for iPad).
Google Maps returns to our iPhones thanks to its new application.
The new version of Google Maps for iPhone has been completely updated. redesigned and updated and also includes functions that the native application previously offered by Apple on iOS did not have available, such as voice-guided navigation, very useful for using the Google Maps application and our iPhone as a GPS in the car.
The complete list According to Google, the list of new features is as follows:
Watchlist Checks
- Find addresses, places, and businesses around the world with Google Local Search.
- Discover places to eat, drink, shop, and have fun with local ratings and reviews.
- Sign in to sync your searches, directions, and favorite places between your computer and phone.
How to get to
- Get voice-guided driving directions.
- Find your route by train, bus, subway, or on foot.
- View real-time traffic information for cities around the world.
Street View
- Enjoy 360-degree panoramas of the world with Street View.
- Discover the inside scoop on more than 100.000 companies worldwide.
- View high-resolution satellite images of locations around the world.
Simple and easy to use
- Enjoy a completely new Google Maps experience on your iPhone.
- The interface design has been updated and optimized to make navigating the world even easier.
- Explore the map and navigate through results using gestures.
Clearly the best choice for our smartphone, at least until Apple Maps improve and live up to what they really should have been from the beginning, although as we have already mentioned on several occasions, time is the only thing that will make Apple Maps work as they should.
The Google Maps app for iPhone is available on the App Store for free. completely free.
For convenienceIt's normal to see how everyone uses Google Maps. It's what almost everyone uses, with the exception of those who use Apple Maps by design or for privacy reasons. The bad consequence for the latter is that not all Google Maps links are valid for them.
But there are ways to Take advantage of those Google Maps addresses for Apple Maps. Just follow a series of steps to avoid having to manually search for the location sent to us via an internet address. Let's look at two methods to achieve this.
How to convert a Google Maps web address to Apple Maps
A Google Maps address looks something like this:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Apple+Store+Passeig+de+Gr%C3%A0cia/@41.3883445,2.1693669,18.4z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x12a4a2f3d66b8e37:0x20f57d5735fb3ffb!8m2!3d41.387953!4d2.169367
You can get this URL by copying it from the address bar in a macOS browser, or by using the 'Share' option in Google Maps on iPhone or iPad. Of all these URLs, we are interested in the Coordinates, which you can find in the first group of numbers. In the example I used, they would be as follows:
41.3883445,2.1693669,18
From here you have to use the following base address from Apple Maps:
https://maps.apple.com/?ll=
And copy the coordinates right at the end so that it looks something like this:
https://maps.apple.com/?ll=41.3883445,2.1693669,18
This address should open the location shared with you as a Google Maps address in Apple Maps. Alternatively, you can enter the coordinates as is in the Apple Maps search engine:
Take you directly to that position is possible if you paste the coordinates into Apple Maps.
Doing this can be a bit cumbersome. (especially if you're on an iPhone and have to deal with such long addresses). There are extensions like Mapper, which, once installed, simply offers to open all Google Maps links in Apple Maps. Simple, but at a price.
With all the above, Google Maps on iPhone stands out for its reliability, a variety of features, and a huge database, while Apple Maps offers a polished experience, integrated with Siri, and with a clear design. In both cases, the turn-by-turn navigation and urban coverage are excellent; your choice will depend on whether you value the power and community of Google or the integration and privacy of the Apple ecosystem.