A minor downside of my quest to replace Google’s apps on my phone where possible is that my phone’s home screen is now a mildly confusing mess of contrasting icons and themes.
There’s a certain element of nostalgia in that, as it brings me back to the days when uniform app design wasn’t standard policy by Google.
However, over the past weeks, some apps have steadfastly remained in place, most notably Google Maps.
Google Maps is an app I’ve tried to replace for years now. I’m tired of the packed UI that shoves irrelevant data in my face. I’m tired of AI-generated summaries. I’m tired of its obsession with saving time.
But all that being said, I can’t replace it. It’s just too useful to let go.
I stopped ignoring these Google Maps features, and my commute improved instantly
These underrated features completely changed how I use Maps
Ditching Google Maps means installing multiple alternatives
No Android app can match Maps’ features
I don’t drive anymore, but when I did, I used Google Maps for every other form of transport you can think of. Whether I was checking bus routes, traffic conditions, or rental bike locations, Google Maps had me covered.
However, there was one app that I used for driving directions instead, and that was Waze.
While Google has brought some of Waze’s best features to Google Maps in recent years, to me, it’s still the best navigation app for drivers.
However, that’s all it does. It can’t replace Google Maps, as its focus is on helping you drive from A to B and nothing else. That’s where I turned to Citymapper.
Citymapper is a phenomenal resource for traveling via public transport or on foot. I’ve found it to be significantly more accurate than Google Maps for tracking the London Underground, and its wealth of walking-related information is invaluable when navigating unfamiliar streets.
However, it’s severely limited in scope, so if you’re outside one of its supported cities, it’s unusable.
I still keep Citymapper installed for when I’m traveling in London and foreign cities, but it can’t replace Google Maps.
I’ve tried and failed to adopt alternatives like TomTom Go (Expensive), Apple Maps (Can’t share to Android devices), Magic Earth (Intermittent connection and limited features), and Here WeGo (Buggy), but in the end, Google Maps remains my everyday navigation app.
Google Maps is packed with features I use daily
I can’t give it up
Within Google Maps, I can check reviews for restaurants, browse their menus, check driving directions, find parking spots, save the location of where we parked the car, share my location with friends, and leave a review.
That’s a phenomenal amount of functionality for a single app, and something I think we now take for granted.
Another tool I use is the Depart at and Arrive by options for traveling. I take the train every week, and the timetable doesn’t tell the full story. I need to know whether I’ll miss my train at a specific time, and whether any issues with my planned journey will delay my arrival.
Yes, this feature is baked into other navigation apps, but not with everything else Google Maps has to offer.
Offline maps, multiple stops, location pictures, incognito mode, collections. These are all fantastic tools within the app. Let’s also not forget the fantastic gestures in Google Maps, many of which I would bet most people aren’t aware of.
Still, Google Maps isn’t perfect. I’m annoyed at how much information Google tries to pack into its locations, as it buries the crucial information like photos and reviews in a seemingly endless sea of tabs and buttons.
But most of my problems are minor inconveniences. Even when it’s inaccurate in regard to public transport, I’ve never had a trip ruined because of it (never trust a single app to give you accurate times, always go to the source).
How I would switch from Google Maps
Just give me Citymapper with location data the equal of Maps’
When I travel and open Citymapper again, I wonder why I ever used Google Maps for navigation.
Citymappers brilliant UI makes navigating a breeze, and the navigational information I have at my disposal makes Google Maps feel ancient by comparison.
However, I’m still turning to Google Maps to check reviews, compare locations, or check driving times if I’m taking a car.
What would make me give up Citymapper for Maps is a massive effort to clean up the app. While I love the amount of detail within Maps, it’s overwhelming at times. Google recently cleaned up the app’s settings page; I want to see Google do the same for the map.
The biggest thing keeping me on Maps is the amount of information Google has at its disposal. If Citymapper had the same level of data on locations, I would switch to it in a heartbeat.
Competitors have shown that it’s possible; I used Apple Maps on an iPhone for a year with little issue. But on Android, it’s Google Maps or nothing.
I need a true Google Maps competitor
I don’t like relying on apps. I need the option to switch between different apps, as the nature of modern software development means your favorite apps will eventually become unrecognizable. But for now, I’m sticking with Google Maps.
