Wednesday App Review: Maps.Me

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If you’re looking for a mapping program or app, then you have no shortage of options. From Nokia HERE to Waze to Google Maps, it seems like the options are endless. And, while you probably already have a dedicated navigation app that you use for such things, I can almost guarantee it isn’t Maps.Me. But, maybe it should be. This handy little app is basically an atlas in your pocket, and I love it. I simply can’t fathom why it isn’t more popular than it is. When I travel, this app is easily my No. 1 resource because it can be used 100% offline. That’s right–unlike mapping giants like Google Maps or Waze, which can really fly through your data during the course of a long trip, Maps.Me has very similar features but won’t drain your data at all. And did I mention it’s free? gtdfbvcMaps.Me includes not only standard maps but also maps with routing and an exhaustive list of searchable points of interest like restaurants, gas stations, hotels and shopping centers. The interface of the app itself is a pleasure to use, especially if you’re used to the slow loading times of Google Maps like I was before I discovered Maps.Me. If you try going back to Google Maps after using this program, you’ll realize just how much of your life is really spent staring at a fuzzy map screen, waiting for Google to load the new resolution. Or maybe I’m just impatient. Either way, it is very well done and the maps themselves are compressed so they don’t take up all that much room on your device. Maps.Me was originally released in 2012 as MapsWithMe, and the Pro version which included routing and other things did cost money. However, currently the full version–routing and all–is free to download, which makes it 100x more appealing. Maps.Me uses OpenStreetMap as its base mapping program, and while OpenStreetMap updates almost daily, Maps.Me updates about once a month. If you find something wrong with your Maps.Me, then you can log on to OpenStreetMap and submit a correction. It’s pretty sweet. I have read some comments saying that the program had trouble finding some addresses, but personally I haven’t had all that much trouble with it. But, to be fair, I’m kind of weird and I much prefer to just read the flat maps and create my own routes the old-fashioned way. I expect the routing quality will vary slightly from region to region though. While the app itself doesn’t require an internet connection, keep in mind that it WILL require GPS, which can impact the battery life on your phone with constant use. Overall, I can’t express enough that if you travel at all, you really need this app. Whether you know how to read a map or not, a free routing app that doesn’t use any of your data really can’t be beat. Maps.Me is available for AndroidiPhone and Blackberry, and can be downloaded via Amazon, Slide Me and Android Pit as well.]]>

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2 Comments

  1. Bob on March 19, 2015 at 1:58 am

    Thanks for pointing out this new option I have not heard about before. I agree having offline maps is a much better experience. I’m currently using Nokia HERE maps, which also has offline maps, and it works on Windows Phone. I would try out Maps.me as well, but looks like they are Android and iPhone only.
    Is Maps.Me better than Nokia HERE?
    Also, how do these companies make money, if their apps are free?



    • Liz E. on March 23, 2015 at 9:27 am

      Hi Bob! I haven’t really played much with Nokia HERE, but I have heard that they’re pretty comparable. The main difference is that I believe Nokia HERE maps are powered by Google, whereas the Maps.Me maps are powered by OpenStreetMap. So I suppose it comes down to whichever you prefer. Personally, I think they’re both pretty decent.