Find the Way: 5 Best Offline Navigators for Your Phone

What do you usually need for a successful road trip? You will probably answer that this is a car and a cheerful company of friends. You are right! However, these are not all the most important things. 

So, imagine that you have picked up a 7 seater hire Birmingham and expect a pleasant UK travel experience. You have planned to visit many spots in a hire car, but unfortunately, you can’t find them due to the unforeseen lack of Internet access. The good news is that the offline navigator app will help you drive your car hire wherever you want!

All modern smartphones have a GPS module that keeps in touch with satellites regardless of the presence of a cellular network. Offline navigators operate approximately according to the same principle – they store maps of the area in the phone’s memory and then guide you according to them. Therefore, you will know the right direction at any moment.

We have studied the topic and selected the five best navigators that can work without the Internet. Most of the programs on the list are free, so you’ll have plenty to choose from.

Sygic 

With almost 20 years of history, Sygic begins our review of offline navigators. Many people use this application because of the user-friendly and not overloaded interface, which is quite easy to understand. You will definitely not experience a lack of functions. 

The application makes it easy to lay a route through several points on your own or entrust this business to automation, which almost unmistakably selects the most optimal and profitable path. The program can work both in vertical and horizontal mode, so it looks good on tablets too. The maps have excellent detail, with complete information about attractions, hotels, various infrastructure facilities, and current traffic on the roads. 

Sygic is a paid application, but the price depends on the number of downloaded offline maps. You can buy either a map of the whole world or the desired regions. The payment is one-time, and all subsequent updates will be free. Also, the company provides a 7-day trial period, which is enough to get acquainted with all the navigator’s features.

MapFactor 

MapFactor is an excellent navigator that creates offline routes well both in the city, along the highways, and in the outback. In the latter case, the detail of the maps is slightly worse, but this is the only drawback among the many advantages. 

The program uses the OpenStreetMaps service. The uniqueness of MapFactor lies in the ability to specify the vehicle dimensions, its cross-country ability, and maximum speed. Based on this, the application will select the best route for your car. The program also features a pleasant voice accompaniment, 3D navigation and provides directions from door to door. MapFactor operates stably even without an Internet connection, and you can be sure this software will not let you down wherever you go.

OsmAnd 

OsmAnd is a perfect alternative to more popular navigators. The developers have focused on high detail maps, so it’s better suited for pedestrians and cyclists. However, it also goes well for drivers, even with no 3D navigation. 

On the other hand, the OsmAnd maps are well-designed and show small settlements and secret paths, up to camping sites in the forests. Also, it offers a lot of settings for displaying various shops, monuments, stops, and similar objects. 

The application is free to use. The free version offers seven maps to choose from, which is enough for an ordinary user.  The unlimited paid version with worldwide maps is available for a one-time payment of £19.99 and is well worth the price. By the way, the paid version of Osmand has a unique feature – the ability to view descriptions of sights from Wikipedia without the Internet.

HERE WeGo 

HERE WeGo is an app that shows you the way to your destination wherever you are. You can explore the world around you and find new places without fear of getting lost. 

With HERE WeGo you can create your own routes and visit the places you need, even without an Internet connection. Just download the maps and save them on your phone or tablet. 

Also, the application will help you find what you need. See where the nearest restaurants and shops are. Have your travel plans changed? Make an appointment with your friends and send them your location using the Glympse feature. When preparing for your trip, mark on the map the places you want to visit upon arrival. 

You can also view ratings and reviews from TripAdvisor, Lonely Planet, and more. When traveling by car, step-by-step voice prompts are also available.

MAPS.ME 

This is the best offline map app according to many users. The maps are so informative that you can see almost everything, from new buildings to small paths, even in the outback. This is possible thanks to the millions of MAPS.ME users who add up-to-date information to the maps every day. 

The program has a convenient modern interface and is equally well suited for any type of movement. It always creates the best routes. In addition, MAPS.ME takes up 2-3 times less memory than competitors, has a convenient search form, and supports the ability to save desired places. All features of the application are completely free, which is why MAPS.ME is the winner of our rating.

So, an offline navigator is an essential thing in an unfamiliar area. Any application we have reviewed above will help you find the right way even without a cellular connection and the Internet!