Not all apps use your phone’s location the same way. Some apps use your phone’s location just to give you information, like a list of nearby restaurants. Other apps can take actions for you based on your location, like automatically adding an event to your calendar when you arrive at work.
If you don’t want an app to have access to your location, you can turn off its permission. Find out how in the article below!
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The best GPS apps and navigation apps for Android
BackCountry Navigator
Price: Free / $9.99 / Up to $29.99
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BackCountry Navigator is an excellent navigation app for hikers. It’s pretty expensive but what you get is a number of offline topographical maps. It’s perfect for those places where data services don’t exist. There are a few fun features as well. You can add favorite spots and markers on the map, view different types of trails, and more. It also has a few map choices. Buying the app gets you unlimited, ad-free use of the app. It’s powerful, but be sure to try it before you buy it. It is fairly expensive.
HERE WeGo Maps
Price: Free
HERE WeGo is one of only a few serious competitors to Google Maps in the navigation app space. It features a simple, elegant interface with mapping options all over the world. You can download maps for offline use in your region. That should help in areas with spotty data connections. HERE also shows you traffic information (where available), public transit maps, and you can customize by saving places for quick directions later. It’s all free to use. There is also a map creator app that can let you alter maps as well.
MapFactor
Price: Free with in-app purchases
Joe Hindy / Android Authority
MapFactor is one of the low-key popular navigation app options. It includes the basic navigation and GPS features. It uses OpenStreetMap. That means you can get free offline maps that are updated monthly if you want. There are additional map options as well, but they may cost money. Some of the other features include voice directions, cross-border routing, 2D and 3D modes, day and night themes, and more. This GPS app also has support for dozens of countries around the world. It’s not half bad for what you get.
MapQuest
Price: Free (with ads)
MapQuest has undergone many redesigns over the years. However, it’s the same sturdy service we’ve known about since the good old days. It employs the standard turn-by-turn directions. There are also other features such as live traffic updates (where available), re-routing directions based on traffic, and a service to find cheaper gas. You can even use it to call a tow truck if you break down. It’s not as good as Google Maps or as effective at finding cheap gas as GasBuddy. However, it’s a great way to kill two birds with one stone.
Maps and Waze
Price: Free
Google Maps and Waze are both excellent GPS apps. They are also both by Google. Google Maps is kind of the measuring stick for navigation apps. It has tons of locations, reviews, directions, and street-level photography of most locations. Additionally, it has accessibility features and you can download maps for offline use. Waze is a little more simple. It’s great for directions, especially on road trips or daily commutes.
It uses user data to show things like traffic jams, police locations, and other useful info. Plus, Waze has a lot of fun voices for navigation. You can’t go wrong either way. They are both quite good, even if they serve different types of people.
Read more app lists here:
Maps.Me
Price: Free
Joe Hindy / Android Authority
Maps.me is another free navigation app and GPS app. It features offline maps, turn-by-turn directions, and updated maps via OpenStreetMap. There is also bookmarking locations, offline searching, traffic data (where available), and worldwide support. It’s about as close to a Google Maps competitor as it gets. It should work for most people most of the time. Some have reported some issues here and there, but nothing overly worrisome. The app is completely free, with no in-app purchases. There are some ads, but they aren’t a big deal.
OsmAnd
Price: Free / Up to $8.99
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OsmAnd is a different type of navigation app. It caters directly to people who want offline maps. You can download a bunch of them and most of them are pretty good. The free version of the app has a download limit. You can purchase additional downloads through in-app purchases. Some other features include turn-by-turn navigation, an offline search, maps for things other than driving, and more. It’s probably not as good as something like HERE or Google Maps for online use, but it’s among the best offline GPS apps available right now.
Polaris GPS Navigation
Price: Free / $0.99
Polaris Navigation tries to be the all-in-one navigation app and in most cases, it succeeds. Its biggest feature is that it has access to Google Maps, OpenStreetMap, MapQuest maps, and Cycle Route Maps. So whatever source you want is the one you get. It also features multiple coordinate formats, trail recording, a unique waypoint management system, and your standard stuff like turn-by-turn directions. There are also a handful of features for activities like hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, and other outdoor activities. It looks old, but it works well.
Sygic: GPS, Navigation, and Offline Maps
Price: Free / $13.99 / $17.99 / $29.99
Sygic is a monumentally popular navigation app that boasts over 50 million downloads to date. Like others on this list, it provides downloaded maps for offline use except this one uses TomTom maps. It has the usual features like turn-by-turn, voice-guided directions (which include voice-spoken street names so you can concentrate on driving), alternate routes, and even a speed limit display.
You can unlock additional features by purchasing one of the three premium versions. The $13.99 option gives you basic features, the $17.99 option adds real-time traffic updates, and the final price tier version gives you everything. It’s expensive, but at least it’s not a subscription.
Scout GPS Navigation
Price: Free / $24.99 per year
Scout GPS is actually an older GPS app with a fresh coat of paint. It used to be called TeleNav, and it’s changed its name, icon, and appearance to give it a fresh look. It’s still a reliable and stable navigation app with all of the basic features, including turn-by-turn navigation. However, Scout GPS focuses more on people rather than navigation which gives it a unique flavor.
It can do things like text people automatically with your ETA and alert you when other people need you. The location-based, social media element helps separate it from the pack. The full version costs $24.99 per year. This is also the system some car manufacturers use. It’s not really important, but we like little fun facts like that.
- Swipe down from the top of the screen.
- Touch and hold Location
. If you don’t find Location
- Tap Edit
or Settings
. Then drag Location
- Tap Edit
- Tap App location permissions.
- Under ”Allowed all the time,” “Allowed only while in use,” and “Not allowed,” find the apps that can use your phone’s location.
- To change the app’s permissions, tap it. Then, choose the location access for the app.
Stop an app from using your phone’s location
You can control which apps can access and use your phone’s location and when. For example, you could let Google Maps use your phone’s location to give you driving directions, but not share your location with a game or social media app.
- On your phone’s home screen, find the app icon.
- Touch and hold the app icon.
- Tap App info
.
- Tap Permissions
Location.
- Select an option:
- All the time: The app can use your location at any time.
- Only while using the app: The app can use your location only when you’re using that app.
- Ask every time: Every time you open the app, it’ll ask to use your location. The app can use the setting until you close it.
- Deny: The app cannot use your location, even when you’re using the app.
- If you’ve allowed location access, you can also turn Use Precise Location on or off.
Tip: To stop all apps from using your phone’s location, learn how to turn off location settings.
Learn how an app can use your phone’s location
Important: If an app has permission to use your phone’s location, it can use your phone’s approximate location, precise location, or both.
- On your phone’s home screen, find the app icon.
- Touch and hold the app icon.
- Tap App info
- Tap Permissions
- Under “Location,” you can find the type of location the app requested. If you don’t find “Location,” this app hasn’t asked for your phone’s location.
Types of location apps can request:
- Approximate location: The app can tell that your phone is in an area about 3 square kilometers.
- Precise location: The app can tell your phone’s exact location.
- In the foreground: The app can use your location only when the app is open on your screen or when you ask the app to do something.
- In the background: The app can use location info at any time, even if you aren’t using it.
Why apps ask you to change location settings
- “Change location setting?”: The app needs your phone’s location turned on to work properly.
- “Improve location accuracy?”: If location is already turned on for an app, the app can ask you to turn on more settings or sensors to better find your phone’s location.
- Wi-Fi connection: An app can ask you to turn on Wi-Fi or let your phone look for Wi-Fi networks. Scanning for Wi-Fi helps find your phone’s location more accurately.
- Google Location Services: Let apps find your phone’s location more accurately. Learn how Google Location Accuracy improves your location info. Google Location Accuracy is also known as Google Location Services.
Change other location settings
- Get info based on your phone’s location:
Learn how to turn on location. - Help apps get better location info:
Learn how to turn on nearby network or device scanning for your phone. - Remember where you go, and manage your list of where you’ve been:
Learn how to turn on Location History for your Google Account. - Help Google Maps get your phone’s location:
Learn how to improve your location’s accuracy in Google Maps.