The best GPS navigation software for Android

Good time everyone!

I think that everyone who often travels by car (especially in an unfamiliar part of the city, or even getting out on vacation, on a trip) often faces the problem of orientation: where is the road better, which one is shorter, is it possible to drive directly, are there traffic jams etc. This is just a small part of the questions that can be solved with the help of modern GPS navigators .

Today the choice of programs (applications) for navigation is huge! And different products differ not only in functionality, but also in the approach to solving the problem (for example, one navigator will tell you that there is a shorter road, and the other will not even warn about it until you ask him).

So making a choice is not so easy, and that is why I decided to sketch this very note. .

By the way, I want to immediately answer one popular question:"Why do I need navigators at all, do I have online maps * from Yandex / Google on Android?". (* not to be confused with navigator apps, which they also have)

Firstly, these products only work online. Now imagine if you find yourself in a place where the Internet does not catch (and this can easily happen on the way)?

That's it! And the navigator has an offline mode of operation: it is unlikely to warn about rain in it, but it will definitely tell you about the repair of the road and the shortest path!

Secondly, navigation applications have much greater functionality and usability (there are various auto-modes, which are ways to control all aspects that may affect you on the way (up to refueling the car)).

ThirdlyAs a rule, applications have much more accurate maps. In large cities it is hardly noticeable (both there and there - everything is for sure), but as soon as you find yourself outside the metropolis, the difference will be striking.

Fourth, you can combine the work of Yandex and Google maps with the readings of navigator programs. As you know, the truth is somewhere in between.

Best GPS Navigation Software

Navitel Navigator GPS & Maps

Google Play Link: //play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.navitel

Free period up to 7 days!

Screenshots of Navitel Navigator (from the official site)

Probably one of the most famous navigators (over 20 million users around the world)! Offline maps are supported for a large number of countries (Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Austria, etc., there are more than 60 of them!).

Note that the program is able to control almost everything that surrounds you on the way: the weather, road repairs, gas prices, the opening hours of the cafe, the movement of your friends, estimated travel time, etc. A mega-useful thing for all those who like to explore little-known roads!

Features:

all maps are available offline: i.e. wherever you are - you will always know where to go;
maps can be loaded into device memory or SD card;
the ability to exchange messages with friends, laying a route to cross with them on the way;
traffic jams: the app will warn you about the best way (monitors traffic jams in real time);
the ability to predict the weather 3 days ahead;
useful information: fuel prices (at gas stations in the area), opening hours of restaurants, cafes, etc. (very useful on the road, helps to save money);
control over road works, speed cameras, speed bumps, etc. (he will warn about everything in advance);
support for three-dimensional maps;
the ability to use voice prompts (just like in a rally!);
on-board computer: control of speed, temperature, weather conditions, etc.;
laying of several routes (taking into account different conditions) - you can choose the most optimal one;
GPS / GLONASS.

Yandex. Navigator

Link to Google Play: //play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ru.yandex.yandexnavi

The product is completely free (at least for now).

Yandex. Navigator - screenshots of the application

A product from a well-known search engine and company in our country. It differs, first of all, in the presence of the most convenient voice assistant "Alice" (which is a huge plus, because the voice is faster and more convenient to control when you are driving). She is able to answer most of your questions: for example, she can build a road home, tell you about the weather, about gas prices, etc.

The rest of the functions are quite standard: road control, offline mode of operation, laying of several routes, warnings about traffic jams, accidents, etc.

Features:

the application contains maps of the following countries: Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Abkhazia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Turkey, Uzbekistan.
voice control with "Alice" (very convenient)! Imagine, you can ask your navigator by voice to show the way home, or ask what is the temperature outside the window, what is the weather forecast, what is the penalty for exceeding, etc.
the navigator is able to show the route taking into account traffic jams, repair work, accidents. The application also warns about toll roads, shows alternative routes (if any);
the ability to lay routes offline;
during the entire journey, the application can warn you about a speed camera, speed bumps, traffic jams, how and where to turn in order to save time;
the navigator controls your speed: if you exceed it on this section of the road, the program will warn you about it;
the navigator saves the history of your movement (later you can quickly build a route by setting already visited points).

PROGOROD

Google Play link: //play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cdcom.naviapps.progorod

The ability to use the full functionality of the application for free up to 20 days!

City - screenshots from officers. site

This application helps not only to build and get the shortest route, but also to save money on the road. It knows where gasoline is sold at discounts, where what promotions are, where it can be rolled up.

In addition, the Progorod application has partner agreements with many organizations, which means that you will receive discounts on fuel, spare parts, maintenance, etc. (where others will pay the full price!).

I note that the application is rapidly gaining popularity: it is used by more than a million drivers in our country alone!

Features:

maps of most countries are available: Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, USA, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, etc. (almost all of Europe and America);
construction of three directions of the route (both online and offline). When building, you can set intermediate points (i.e. those places that you definitely want to pass);
the ability to enter information by voice;
daily map updates;
warning about road features: speed bumps, speed limits, pavement repairs, etc .;
the ability to view the road and terrain in 3D mode;
the ability to easily and quickly search for shops, cafes, gas stations, etc.;
the ability to take into account online the situation on the roads and weather;
the possibility of a free call to the emergency service in case of an accident;
application control is allowed even with gestures!

CityGuide

Google Play Link: //play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=cityguide.probki.net

CityGid - screenshots with officers. site

A very interesting navigator that contains both paid and free maps. Many countries are supported: Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Georgia, Finland, etc.

"CityGuide" allows you to work with maps both in the presence of the Internet, and in its absence. A user-friendly interface and a well-developed algorithm of the application's operation allow it to be used even in the harshest conditions ...

Features:

daily map updates: i.e. you will always know where the repair work is going, where the accidents occurred, where it is better not to turn off ...;
the patented algorithm "Traffic-2" for building a route allows you to choose the least time-consuming road;
the application "knows" and takes into account the work of crossings, bridges, toll roads, etc. (approx.: many navigators do not take this information into account);
one of the best optimized engines for working with maps: very smooth movement and movement across the map, support for hardware acceleration, fast route building (almost without "thinking");
you can work with all the cards in the application without an Internet connection;
walkie-talkie: the ability to communicate through the navigator with other users;
when adding friends to favorites: you will always see where they are on the map, you can plan a trip together;
the ability to quickly call the equator, taxi, emergency services, etc. On the road can be very helpful, for example, if a breakdown occurs ...

Google Maps (Maps: navigation and public transport)

Google Play link: //play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.maps

Google maps screenshots (from the developers)

A universal application from Google: millions of users use it not only on navigators, but also on ordinary phones. The application knows about the roads in 220 countries of the World!

In addition, Google Maps knows everything in the area and can report on: road loads (where there are traffic jams, where are repairs), find the fastest mode of transport to move from point A to point B, tell you where the nearest cafe or restaurant is, recommend city attractions ( district), and much more.

Features:

support for hundreds of countries (the widest geography of use);
it is easy to get a route from one point to another: Google will show you how to get there in your car, how you can get there by bus, plane and train (if it's a long distance). Moreover, it will calculate the approximate travel time, and where you can get tickets (very convenient!);
it is easy to find interesting places: both in your city and somewhere at a party;
the ability to create lists of favorite places and share with them with friends;
support for the work of cards without an Internet connection;
there is an opportunity to see photos of restaurants, cafes, museums without before visiting them (not for all organizations);
the ability to view the path (streets, roads, etc.) in 3D mode, i.e. the way everything looks in real life;
construction of schemes of buildings of airports, stadiums and other large premises.

OsmAnd

Google Play Link: //play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.osmand

The app is free.

OsmAnd - a screen from the developers

The application is focused primarily on autonomous work - i.e. without access to the Internet, you can find your way in an unfamiliar area, learn about objects on the map (gas stations, cafes, hotels), see sights and much more.

The application supports maps of many countries: Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, etc.

Features:

offline maps are available (vector and raster formats are supported);
the possibility of voice navigation (convenient when driving in a car, cycling (when hands are busy) ));
display of bus stops, places you like, attractions of the area, etc.;
quick search for an address on a map without access to the Internet;
regular map updates (for example, they started repairing the road somewhere, somewhere a new detour appeared, etc. - all this must be constantly taken into account, which is what the application does);
day and night modes of operation;
voice warning about dangers and obstacles on the road: repairs, speed bumps, speed limits, accidents, etc.;
building a route by points: i.e. you yourself can specify the places through which you want to make a route.

iGO Navigation

Google Play Link: //play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nng.igo.primong.igoworld

Advantages: fully autonomous operation, low system requirements.

iGO Navigation - navigation all over Europe! Screens from developers

Quite a popular application (especially abroad). Allows you to travel throughout Europe, America and Asia, without any additional. kart!

The application is able to work autonomously, besides, it is very undemanding to memory (according to the developers, approximately 2 times less memory is required on the device for iGO Navigation to work (in comparison with other similar products)).

Features:

support for terrain maps of 100 countries! (Russia, Ukraine, Germany, Italy, France, Turkey, etc.);
low requirements for device memory (approximately 1.5-2 times compared to other similar applications);
several options for building a route (you can choose the best option yourself based on the requirements);
a large database of cafes, restaurants, gas stations and other attractions;
the ability to view 3D models of cities, streets;
stable work offline (without Internet access);
there is a sound indicator function (it will tell you how to go along the selected route);
helps to find the house and street even in places where house numbers are not consistent (note: in Russia there is a confusion with odd and even house numbers) .

By the way, if you are "lost" or missed your friends and relatives in an unfamiliar city, I will recommend one of my previous articles:

👉 "How to show others your location if you do not know the address (search by coordinates). How to find the desired address in an unfamiliar city."

Good orientation to all!

Good luck!

👋

First published: 06.09.2018

Correction: 01/15/2020