10 iOS Mapping Apps That Let You Navigate the World

Even though Apple Maps has gotten better each year, there are myriad other intriguing mapping options for iOS users that are available now in Apple’s App Store.

When Apple Maps was a mess, it was CEO Tim Cook who recommended users try out Google Maps, among other alternatives. Since then, Apple Maps has gotten better, but most would argue that Google Maps is still the leading force in online mapping apps. Google Maps has everything from navigation to Street View, and its directions data is usually spot on.

TomTom got its start with popular in-car GPS hardware. But like other GPS device makers, it got into the business of selling GPS applications for mobile devices. The company’s TomTom app provides the same mapping experience one would find in its hardware, but it’s customized for Apple products. Users will get directions, estimated destination time and more. Graphical views of streets also make it easier to know where to go. TomTom’s iOS app for U.S. navigation costs $25.

Waze is owned by Google but acts as a stand-alone operation, distributing one of the more social GPS apps in this roundup. The app gives users full navigation and directions information, but adds a social element that lets users tell others about traffic jams, police stops, accidents and even issues with maps. Think of Waze as Google Maps with a social element tossed in.

GPS Navigation (Sat Nav) is affordable at just 99 cents. The app has navigation for vehicles and pedestrians and works both online and off. In addition, it includes a Wiki travel guide to help users get around towns they don’t know particularly well. GPS Navigation (Sat Nav) also offers turn-by-turn voice prompts and different route modes, depending on whether users want to take the scenic route or get to a destination more quickly.

Nokia’s Here is one of the most well-respected mapping applications in the world, powering a slew of in-car navigation systems. For those who don’t have such services, Nokia is offering its Here maps for free on iOS. The app features full turn-by-turn directions, as well as support for offline mapping. There’s even a built-in feature that will help people find the right options for mass transit. All of that plus a trip-planning feature built in make this free app a winner.

Not everyone is looking to explore the world in a car, and that’s where Land Nav Assistant comes in. The app, which costs $2, lets users input latitude and longitude coordinates or military grid points and provides navigation to the destination, assuming a person is walking on foot. Better yet, the navigation is “visual,” so users will be able to see terrain and potential areas of trouble as they get from one point to another. Land Nav Assistant is a neat app for hikers and other professional thrill-seekers.

Scout, like Waze, includes a social feature that the company argues makes for an all around better navigation experience. The free app lets users create a travel plan, chart a course and seek directions. It also includes built-in chatting, allowing users to communicate with each other to warn them of potential issues in the road or to show where they are in relation to each other. The Scout sales pitch is for users to meet up with each other “without the hassle of using multiple apps to coordinate, communicate, and navigate.”

Although many apps now include offline map support, OffMaps 2 is designed specifically for that purpose. In some cases, Web connectivity isn’t available and users who only have online maps will be out of luck. With OffMaps 2, users can download maps from over 4,000 cities and tourist destinations around the world and get full navigation and direction support without worrying of Web connectivity. The app is useful for people going off the grid or going to a country where Web support isn’t readily available on their phones. OffMaps 2 is available for 99 cents.

In addition to finding the proper routes to locations, once users get to their desired spot, they’ll want to know how to find affordable parking. That’s where the ParkWhiz comes in. The free app identifies paid parking lots around a person’s location and works at finding them the best deals by advertising unsold parking spaces. The app does a fine job at finding people the best parking deals across the globe.

Garmin is another company that made a name for itself in hardware GPS devices but is now a go-to option for those who want high-end mapping experiences on their iPhones or iPads. The app, which costs $50, has the full Garmin experience, including the ability to find directions, traffic information and more. Like TomTom’s option, the app also includes a graphical depiction of streets so users may know where to go.