Are there any good google maps alternatives?
from InterestingUsername@lemmy.ml to degoogle@lemmy.ml on 15 Sep 17:18
https://lemmy.ml/post/52764975

#degoogle

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tehWrapper@lemmy.world on 15 Sep 17:28 next collapse

Openstreetmaps

Android app OSMAnd+

kuiskaaja@lemmy.ml on 15 Sep 19:50 next collapse

osmand is great, but grab the open-source version from f-droid for unlimited downloads :)

frischkaesbagett@feddit.org on 19 Sep 12:15 collapse

Funfact: it is one map - the data is universal. That’s why it’s called OpenStreetMap

Citrus_Cartographer@lemmy.world on 15 Sep 17:41 next collapse

Cartes is probably the closest thing that I’ve found (besides Apple Maps or Bing Maps).

  • You can share links with anyone, and they don’t need a particular app to open it.
  • The interface will be familiar to Google maps users.
  • It supports leaving reviews for locations.
  • It will pull up Wikipedia information and photos if any have been uploaded to Wikimedia or Panoramax.
  • It’s really good for public transit routing.
  • It’s okay for planning driving routes, but for turn by turn directions you’ll want to use CoMaps (which Cartes has a link to open up the route there).
InterestingUsername@lemmy.ml on 15 Sep 18:02 next collapse

Thanks it sounds really good

Wrongdoer2@sh.itjust.works on 15 Sep 19:27 next collapse

Omg why haven’t I heard of that one before ???

jtrek@startrek.website on 15 Sep 20:18 next collapse

Interesting. I really need one that does public transit.

Funny how this one has random snippets of French in the UI.

Courantdair@jlai.lu on 15 Sep 20:32 collapse

It’s a French project, I guess it’s translated in French before English. Non-English speakers are used to seeing snippets of English in translated UIs but I understand the other way around is unusual

jtrek@startrek.website on 15 Sep 21:07 next collapse

I read enough French that I didn’t notice at first, but then I was like “wait that said ride for 2 arrêtes…”, and chuckled.

Niquarl@lemmy.ml on 15 Sep 21:16 collapse

They are still looking for translators if you have some time available. They are on codeberg

iturnedintoanewt@lemmy.world on 16 Sep 10:21 collapse

Clearly the French have their priorities straight.

<img alt="" src="https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/dc9e156d-9317-422d-b5b1-fbb5294552ca.png">

Croissants clearly need to be before any meager restaurant or coffee shop.

reallyzen@lemmy.ml on 17 Sep 08:18 collapse

Uh-uh, nop: Croissants, then Fine Dining with exceptional wines need be before anything else.

NarrativeBear@lemmy.world on 16 Sep 03:42 next collapse

Is this web based only or is there a android app, can’t seem to find it on any app store.

Citrus_Cartographer@lemmy.world on 17 Sep 20:47 collapse

Web based. You can “install” the Web App, but it doesn’t seem to allow for any additional features that I can tell.

For offline modes, CoMaps and OsmAnd+ are my go to.

nameisnotimportant@sh.itjust.works on 16 Sep 13:41 next collapse

Looks great but the lack of mobile app is a deal breaker :/

Linearity@piefed.zip on 17 Sep 06:02 collapse

Why the fuck did we ever start using links for places?? We already had a decent universal system: COORDINATES!

kokesh@lemmy.world on 15 Sep 17:43 next collapse

Not if you live more wild away from civilization.

caos@feddit.org on 15 Sep 18:39 next collapse

Which map is good depends largely on your needs, I think. Do you need it for car navigation, walking, biking, or public transport? OSM maps are better for pedestrians and cyclists in many regions, while Google Maps is more designed for car drivers.

eleijeep@piefed.social on 15 Sep 18:52 next collapse

I’ve been using CoMaps for a while as my only map app and I’m very happy with it.

NanoooK@sh.itjust.works on 16 Sep 07:44 collapse

My main issue with it is that often it cannot find the street/city I’m searching. That’s why I don’t use it all the time.

CorrectAlias@piefed.blahaj.zone on 16 Sep 08:46 next collapse

Contributing to OSM is the best way to give yourself and others freedom from Google. It’s very easy to do through StreetComplete, which is a gamified system that updates the map as people complete quests.

Axolotl_cpp@feddit.it on 16 Sep 15:02 next collapse

My issue with OSM is that i need an account which may potentially contribute to leak my identity

randombullet@programming.dev on 16 Sep 16:04 next collapse

Not really fixing the account issue, but can you use an email alias? I use one for my account.

CorrectAlias@piefed.blahaj.zone on 16 Sep 18:18 collapse

I was also worried about this, but if you make your changes wide reaching enough and don’t use the same username as everywhere else (honestly, this is a good practice for all accounts), it shouldn’t leak your identity.

NanoooK@sh.itjust.works on 16 Sep 18:22 collapse

The city exist on the map, it’s the search that doesn’t find. Not sure what I could do in that case.

CorrectAlias@piefed.blahaj.zone on 16 Sep 20:07 collapse

It can’t find the entire city on the map, even though it’s on the map? I’ve never experienced that, I’m not sure how that’s possible.

kuerbiskernoel@feddit.org on 16 Sep 08:46 next collapse

Have you downloaded the map for that area?

NanoooK@sh.itjust.works on 16 Sep 18:23 collapse

Yes.

oxomoxo@lemmy.world on 17 Sep 07:47 collapse

This is a real problem. Search on any OSM app is not the same as GMaps or the other mainstream map services. Contributing to OSM through EveryDoor or StreetComplete in your area will definitely help improve this but as a stop gap I use an app called GMaps WV. It loads Google Maps in an isolated web browser, which allows you to use their search and once you find what your looking for it has a share option that copies the coordinates to the clipboard which you paste into CoMaps and let it take over.

floofloof@lemmy.ca on 15 Sep 19:14 next collapse

Magic Earth is good but it’s proprietary and some features require a subscription. I also vote for CoMaps.

nfreak@lemmy.ml on 15 Sep 19:29 collapse

I use CoMaps for walking and for searching around, but Magic Earth’s been better for driving. It’s genuinely pretty good, but it sucks that it’s closed source and proprietary, I’ll gladly replace it with CoMaps or another FOSS alternative if one catches up.

Ecarus@pawb.social on 15 Sep 20:09 next collapse

Osmand+

Marthirial@lemmy.world on 15 Sep 20:55 collapse

Is there a difference between OsmAnd+ and OsmAnd~ ?

Niquarl@lemmy.ml on 15 Sep 21:13 collapse

You get more map updates as it offline unless you are an OSM contributor. There’s also some online services they offer for favourites and stuff

kepix@lemmy.world on 15 Sep 21:03 next collapse

github.com/PimpinPumpkin/Vela

pjusk@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 16 Sep 01:02 next collapse

Holy shit im impressed by this project! Vela is degoogled gmaps, like newpipe is an alternative for youtube. Mighty impressive what they have done so far, seems like a new project, keeping my eyes on this one!

Edit: lts ofc entirely AI generated…

jjlinux@lemmy.zip on 16 Sep 03:29 next collapse

Yeah, but so far I haven’t had to provide any information to it whatsoever other than location access. For finding businesses and stuff like that, great stuff.

iturnedintoanewt@lemmy.world on 16 Sep 10:33 collapse

If you use live traffic re-checks, it pings google every few minutes, providing your updated position. And when it’s off, I think it still sends Google your initial position and route? But I’m not sure that can be turned off completely.

jjlinux@lemmy.zip on 16 Sep 14:37 collapse

Yeah, it pings Google for almost all of it. But for a quick “where is X store” and traffic if, for example, going to the airport and my wife made us late (it never happens, it’s just an example 😏), I’m not too concerned. I have been using OSMAnd+ exclusively for a few years now, but this is something very useful for my needs.

I’m guessing that, since I’m on GrapheneOS, there’s not much, if anything at all, that they can tie to my person.

<img alt="" src="https://lemmy.zip/pictrs/image/6817aeb0-5313-4ebb-85f6-3ad06a97b48e.avif">

iturnedintoanewt@lemmy.world on 16 Sep 18:23 collapse

What’s the difference between Openstreetmap and Graphene’s geocoder? I have the later, i think it’s the default.

And yeah, ditto for me, I’ve been using comaps until now, but being able to search shops without resorting to the full invasion of gmaps is neat indeed.

jjlinux@lemmy.zip on 16 Sep 19:56 collapse

The GraoheneOS one is a reimplementation of the stock Google play service, while OSM is entirely community driven. I chose OSM in my phone for that, but in all honesty, you should be fine using GrapheneOS’s all the same.

kepix@lemmy.world on 16 Sep 23:01 collapse

sorry man, this is my best guess. herewego has not much local business data and rating. comaps is only good for biking basicly. osmand has no traffic data.

my biggest problem with vela, that tge gmap links my gf sends, wont open on lineage.maybe it does on graphene, cause the project priority is that platform.

jjlinux@lemmy.zip on 16 Sep 03:27 collapse

This is fucking gold. Thank you so much.

zecg@lemmy.world on 15 Sep 22:04 next collapse

Osmand is so good, Maps is a shittier alternative these days. I only use Osmand and occasiobaly “gmaps wv” wrapper for google maps from fdroid if I need traffic density.

quickenparalysespunk@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 15 Sep 22:47 next collapse

Here Wego is proprietary and corporate, BUT it’s non-USA and it has live traffic

edit: to clarify, non-USA ownership, but usa roads and traffic data are available

TacoButtPlug@sh.itjust.works on 27 Sep 21:16 collapse

I had been using them but just checked and they went MAGA recently. Looked up their history and… ofc they’re owned by BMW/Mercedes. So No more Here WeGo.

Grabthar@lemmy.world on 16 Sep 00:30 next collapse

I’ve been using a few but mostly CoMaps. What I would love to see most in any google maps alternative is voice search, but not sure that is an option outside big tech.

BlueberryWalnut@sopuli.xyz on 16 Sep 00:52 next collapse

deflock Half joking

I wish there was a way to export a pre-calculated route from deflock to CoMaps though that would just be the bees knees

blindbunny@lemmy.ml on 16 Sep 02:14 collapse

dontgetflocked.com/app/

Manalith@midwest.social on 16 Sep 16:29 next collapse

Interesting, I’ve been using the actual deflock app, but it doesn’t have android auto. I’m assuming this pulls data from OSM or deflock. Do you know how quick that syncs?

blindbunny@lemmy.ml on 16 Sep 19:42 collapse

No clue

BlueberryWalnut@sopuli.xyz on 29 Sep 08:02 collapse

Hmm. That doesn’t seem to address what I’m after as it looks like just another app that doesn’t let you export a route. Also I noticed that its routing algo is worse/doesn’t allow fine grain control of the dodge distance. Also also absolutely proprietary. Ty tho!

cardfire@sh.itjust.works on 16 Sep 03:01 next collapse

I pay to use Sygic for turn by turn driving directions and it’s been worth it. Can even pay through their website and bypass paying through Google Play, which I feel is a big blind spot for a lot of these services.

Also it’s a euro based company, so data sovereignty is possible.

modeh@piefed.social on 16 Sep 04:46 next collapse

Vela Maps

Jokulhlaups@lemmy.world on 16 Sep 06:43 next collapse

I love Osmand+. it’s so much more than just google maps. it also has public transport, but it’s in beta state right now.

Zweiblum@feddit.org on 16 Sep 06:46 next collapse

I tried most of the ones mentioned here but they rarely include any ratings or additional features. For me what comes close enough to a Google/apple maps alternative is mapy.com . Its not Foss and some features are behind a subscription. But its European and 19€ a year is OK with me. Some features that might be interesting:

  • Sport/Activity tracking
  • Traffic / speed camera info
  • Way finding using public transport
  • Integrated navigation voices
  • Live location sharing
xelar@lemmy.ml on 16 Sep 08:21 next collapse

Osmand(Open Street Map)) Mapy.com Comaps

fleebleneeble@reddthat.com on 16 Sep 09:21 next collapse

I use CoMaps and Vela Maps.

Sims@lemmy.ml on 16 Sep 11:06 next collapse

I’m not sure how it stacks up with the rest, but for web: mapcarta.com

“Explore the globe with Mapcarta—the open map that unites the world through the collective knowledge of OpenStreetMap, Wikipedia, Wikidata, and other open projects.”

hanrahan@slrpnk.net on 16 Sep 12:02 next collapse

good or better then google maps, no, they’re are a trillion $ company with major resoirces

I use OSMAnd+ its a little bit shit but ot gets me by. I also edit a little bit of Open Street maps in my area to help

SailorMoss@sh.itjust.works on 16 Sep 12:17 next collapse

I can never find anything on OSM based maps by themselves. My current method is to search via the Apple Maps web beta then use geoshare to copy the location to CoMaps for turn-by-turn. I have magic earth installed as a fallback if I have problems with comaps.

Strawberry@lemmy.blahaj.zone on 16 Sep 13:27 collapse

Oh wow that’s an excellent app, now I don’t have to suffer when friends send me google links

group_hug@sh.itjust.works on 16 Sep 12:38 next collapse

Paper map?

0x0@lemmy.zip on 16 Sep 13:14 next collapse

CoMaps, which uses OpenStreetMap. StreetComplete gamifies adding data to OpenStreetMap.
Sometimes Magic Earth.

The only time i use google is when i want street view.

titanicx@lemmy.zip on 16 Sep 13:24 next collapse

I’ve tried several over the past few weeks. There aren’t any that can even do the basic job of mapping from point a to b consistently for some reason. Mapquest came the closest, but 3 issues.

  1. It won’t stay in landscape mode unless I put my tablet on Dex
  2. It often can’t find addresses based on business names, and sometimes not at all.
  3. It doesn’t have wide enough categories to find a good amount of places if you don’t know the address or name of what you’re wanting

I like the interface, it looks nice, but it’s missing key map things, that should be the basics over things like a unicorn icon, which is cute, but useless.

geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml on 16 Sep 13:45 next collapse

No. Most aren’t able to do basic navigation to addresses of people. I’d like it to be different but for me CoMaps and the other ones aren’t useful (yet)

Luffy879@lemmy.ml on 16 Sep 15:32 next collapse

Probably because the area youre in is not mapped out, however the routing engine is pretty much on par with the ones by Garmin and others

geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml on 16 Sep 16:00 collapse

Roads work but I do prefer entering a destination instead of going to a city and then having to figure out where the street and streetnumber are.

Especially since I only use navigation if i don’t already know where something is.

TiredTiger@lemmy.ml on 16 Sep 18:12 collapse

I’ve generally been able to with Organic Maps. If the street address won’t get me exactly to them, I’ll add a mark right at their place on the map and route to that. That almost always works.

melsaskca@lemmy.ca on 16 Sep 14:07 next collapse

The foldable paper ones that you picked up at the gas station or tourist kiosk were the best and they were immune to name change updates.

jumping_redditor@sh.itjust.works on 16 Sep 14:26 collapse

They get outdated when names change, detours are required, anywhere they don’t exist, lack public transit, don’t have live traffic info, and don’t even show you where you are.

melsaskca@lemmy.ca on 16 Sep 14:55 collapse

Who cares? Most of that list is negligible and the rest is a specific real-time occurrence that may not even be updated in a timely manner on the tech side. The underlying geography and major routes don’t change. Grab an old map and hit the road, you’ll find it’s mostly correct but you do need illumination if operating it in the dark.

agent_nycto@lemmy.world on 16 Sep 16:51 collapse

I’m sure this is safe to do while driving

deathmetaldawgy@lemmy.ml on 16 Sep 17:41 collapse

About as safe as staring at a fake road on your phone screen ? You’re not supposed to look at the directions for too long on your phone just cuz you can put it at eye level now, that’s still distracted driving. You remember what turns you take and if you can’t do that you either pull over and look or you have someone that can navigate

agent_nycto@lemmy.world on 16 Sep 19:09 collapse

The map app reads the directions to you.

deathmetaldawgy@lemmy.ml on 16 Sep 19:27 collapse

Yeah and for me it’s always too late, and most of them don’t have a solid plan, like you’ll need to be in this lane etc. That’s one of the biggest parts of navigation. If you pre plan your route you will know where to go and so on

cantences@anonsys.net on 20 Sep 17:59 collapse

@deathmetaldawgy
try Magic Earth

jumping_redditor@sh.itjust.works on 16 Sep 14:23 next collapse

for basic things openstreetmaps based ones (comaps organic maps), for anything else no.

communism@lemmy.ml on 16 Sep 14:49 next collapse

Comaps works well for me. If it’s not comprehensive enough, contribute! OSM is crowd-sourced.

W3dd1e@lemmy.zip on 16 Sep 17:00 next collapse

I actually think Apple Maps has gotten pretty good. I think they are better than Google at directions, Google is better at discovery.

I know that’s probably not the alternative you’re looking for, but it’s something.

technocrit@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 16 Sep 17:23 next collapse

If OSM isn’t good enough, make it better.

NickwithaC@lemmy.world on 16 Sep 21:21 collapse

Sure, let me just fly my drone over everywhere in the world…

herseycokguzelolacak@lemmy.ml on 16 Sep 19:16 next collapse

I use CoMaps when navigating: www.comaps.app

I also recommend Obtainium for installing it: obtainium.imranr.dev

btsax@reddthat.com on 16 Sep 20:12 next collapse

I have a standalone GPS like it’s 2008, in addition to excellent offline navigation it also probably doesn’t spy on me

Pyr_Pressure@lemmy.ca on 16 Sep 20:34 next collapse

I’ve just started using MapQuest like many others since the lake ontario thing. It’s been pretty good and I find it a lot more functional and accurate than the Foss options at the moment. It’s not perfect but it’s also not Google or apple.

godsammitdam@lemmy.zip on 16 Sep 20:39 next collapse

I’m using OSMAnd+ myself. CoMaps is another one that uses OSM as the backend but is much more minimal in design.

For both, I use GeoShare which can interpet a google directions link when searching an address on my phone and pass it to OSMAnd+ or CoMaps (or, like, any other map app)

herseycokguzelolacak@lemmy.ml on 16 Sep 21:19 collapse

I use both, but I use OSMAnd~ for mobile mapping, and CoMaps for navigation.

rumba@lemmy.zip on 16 Sep 21:10 next collapse

I was using organic until CoMaps forked it, now CoMaps is the way. It’s open street map so you can sign up and fix whatever you want, pull down the next version and it’s there.

I do miss street view, voiced street names, and really miss cowdsourced hazards from waze but it’s worth it if you’re not on a long high speed trip.

edit: turns out you can turn on tts street names

captainlezbian@lemmy.world on 16 Sep 21:36 next collapse

No but I use comaps anyways

fake_meows@sopuli.xyz on 16 Sep 21:36 next collapse

If it meets your requirements, try Vela Maps which is a degoogled Google Maps.

" A degoogled maps & navigation client for Android - what NewPipe is to YouTube, for Google Maps. Open vector tiles for the basemap, the device itself scraping Google’s public web endpoints (per-user, no backend) for the things only Google does well: POI quality, routing, and traffic-aware ETAs. Built to run on GrapheneOS and other no-GMS ROMs. "

I think it’s a fairly new product and seems to be rapidly improving performance with quite a few updates lately. (I have discovered some glitches but they seem to be addressed as soon as the app updates the next time.)

It might meet your requirements because it’s not Google Maps.

It might not meet your requirements if you want a truly no-Google product, because it uses a few Google things anonymously in the back end…

countrypunk@slrpnk.net on 16 Sep 22:33 next collapse

Super cool. had no idea that existed

balsoft@lemmy.ml on 17 Sep 10:57 collapse

This needs to be made a library so that someone can write an OsmAnd plugin for the POI search.

[deleted] on 17 Sep 11:32 next collapse

.

myszka@lemmy.ml on 17 Sep 12:18 collapse

This was fun to read, thanks! I hope you’ve already thrown away the device you’ve written this from.

Kynn@jlai.lu on 23 Sep 12:00 next collapse

Cartes

TacoButtPlug@sh.itjust.works on 27 Sep 20:42 collapse

I just wanted to add here that Here WeGo is owned by BMW/Mercedes (according to wikipedia) and they just changed GUlf of Mexico to the trash. So … no Here WeGo.