Summary
Apple Maps versus Google Maps? Eventually, every iPhone user will be confronted with this choice, whether they have been loyal iPhone users for years or have recently upgraded to the iPhone 15. Apple Maps was once met with disapproval and muffled amusement, whereas Google Maps dominated the navigation industry. However, such is no longer the case.
Since its inception years ago, Apple Maps has undergone consistent yearly revisions, and the public has begun to take notice. The pre-installation of Apple Maps on every iPhone provides it with a marginal advantage over Google’s enduring dominance. Particularly now that long-awaited functionalities such as remote navigation have been implemented.
Google Maps vs. Apple Maps
Choosing between the two navigation applications, however, is challenging. Both Google Maps and Apple Maps have a great deal to offer, and the two no longer possess many distinguishing characteristics. In order to assist you in determining which one is superior, we have compared Apple Maps and Google Maps. The comparison between the two is as follows:.
Comparing Apple Maps and Google Maps: Availability
Apple Maps, similar to the majority of Apple services, is exclusive to the company’s own product line. Its designation as a walled garden is not coincidental. This means that individuals lacking an Apple-made device, such as an iPhone or Mac, are incapable of accessing the content.
Google Maps, on the contrary, is accessible in some capacity on virtually every device available. Android, Windows, the iPhone, the Mac, and even CarPlay by Apple. Should you ever encounter a situation where you require directions for a new device, your current knowledge of Google Maps will be advantageous. Upon logging in with your Google account, all of your information, including your travel log and preferred destinations, is synchronized automatically.
Although Apple offers a wide variety of devices, each with its own version of Apple Maps, this does not surpass the near-universal availability of Google Maps.
Defendant: Google Maps
User Interface: Google Maps vs. Apple Maps
Following years of iterative development, both Apple Maps and Google Maps have delivered user interfaces that are highly intuitive and focused. However, their presentation of that information is quite dissimilar.
Apple Maps approaches this in a straightforward manner, with an interface that consolidates nearly all relevant information for the sake of usability. By enlarging the search bar, one can access information pertaining to enterprises and locations, as well as recent search history.
It is critical to note that the search bar remains in its current location until a destination is selected. To remove the search bar, simply touch the X icon located in the corner.
Conversely, Google exhibits an abundance of icons and toolbars in its interface. The search bar is situated atop the display of your mobile device. It not only contains account information but also icons that are specifically designed to locate local amenities. That will likely be extremely helpful if you ever need to locate a fueling station or restaurant quickly.
Similarly, a menu containing the Explore and Commute functions, noted locations, local news, and the opportunity to contribute to Google’s mapping database is located at the bottom of the display. While tapping the center of the screen will eliminate all of these elements and reveal a pristine, uncluttered map, it is still a touch excessive.
Defendant: Apple Maps.
App Store Maps versus Google Maps: A ComparisonSimilar
to its user interface, the map design of Apple Maps is more minimalistic in nature. Although Apple Maps has access to a wealth of information, unless you peer in super-close, it does not display much of it. Google Maps also displays a greater quantity of information as the user zooms in, but it begins displaying a substantial portion of that information considerably earlier than Apple Maps.
However, regardless of how the map is viewed, both display the essential information. Roads, destinations, and landmarks are all present. The only significant distinction is the amount of extraneous information that is presented, such as lesser-known road names and businesses. Additionally, both of them feature a dim mode that facilitates nighttime transportation by reducing eye strain.
Google Maps had also initiated the implementation of extraneous yet valuable information, such as crosswalks, stop signs, and so forth. Apple has begun including this information in turn lanes, taxi and transit lanes, and crosswalks as of iOS 15. Additionally, it contains data pertaining to intricate highway interchanges, a feature that Google Maps has long incorporated.
Both applications provide the necessary information; however, Apple Maps’ minimalist design significantly improves visual appeal. Occasionally, the abundance of information on Google Maps can be distracting. When you are disoriented and having trouble orienting yourself, the last thing you need is that.
Defendant: Apple Maps
Apple Maps vs. Google Maps for Navigation
The distinction between how Apple Maps and Google Maps locate locations is negligible. Both services monitor your progress during your voyage, providing you with the most pertinent information at that moment: travel time and distance, as well as your current ETA. Thus, if you require an additional ten miles of freeway travel time, that is the message that will appear. However, as soon as your turn approaches, it will adjust and inform you.
Both services possess the ability to provide real-time updates on various conditions along your route, such as traffic jams, road closures, and more. Both applications also provide alternative route suggestions in the event of heavy traffic congestion on the current route; however, they do not exhibit the same level of assertiveness as Waze, which is owned by Google.
Moreover, your mode of transportation is irrelevant, as both Apple Maps and Google Maps provide directions suitable for cyclists, pedestrians, vehicles, and public transportation users.
In terms of navigation, Apple Maps and Google Maps can be as dissimilar as a possible deviation in the middle of any route connecting two locations.
For example, the ETA for my commute from my residence to our London office was 1 hour and 13 minutes, and the routes were identical at 51 miles. Traveling by train presents a few distinctions: while Apple estimated that it would take me 57 minutes to reach my destination, Google Maps calculated 58 minutes.
Neither app provided me with many route modification options. Despite configuring the toll road to permit tolls, Apple Maps circumvented it and denied me the opportunity to take it. Similarly, Google provided no recommendations pertaining to exiting the freeway at one stoplight. In contrast, the sole alternative routes provided were so diametrically opposed that all three routes diverged shortly after I departed my residence.
It is peculiar that while both applications provide comparable principal routes, the alternates are so drastically different.
Irrespective of which one you possess, it is certain that the most efficient route will deliver you to your intended location in approximately equivalent duration.
Conversely, Google Maps offers the benefit of enabling users to pre-plan and include numerous locations along their route. Apple Maps does permit the addition of station stops in the middle of the journey; however, their primary purpose is to provide fuel or food. It is not intended for, for instance, establishing a route to your mother’s residence in order to retrieve her and then proceeding to your grandparents’ residence without initiating an entirely new route.
Google Maps is concurrently implementing modifications to its route calculation methodology in an effort to optimize fuel efficiency and safety. Therefore, it will utilize a variety of factors, including real-time traffic data, to determine a route that is accident-free and consumes less gasoline without significantly delaying your final ETA.
As a result, Google secures a razor-thin victory by offering the additional convenience of trip planning.
Defendant: Google Maps
Apple Maps versus Google Maps: TrafficBoth
Apple Maps and Google Maps have access to real-time traffic information and can alert you to impending roadblocks along your route. It should not come as a significant surprise, whether it be roadway closures, congested roadways, or something wholly different. Both applications provide the capability to notify users of roadside issues, including accidents, speed cameras, and general dangers that could potentially impact travel durations.
Google maintains a slight advantage in this regard due to the inclusion of its “Commute” function. After configuring the work and home locations in the settings, the commutation feature provides an overview of the anticipated journey. The navigation system will provide information regarding the duration of the voyage, the volume of traffic on main highways, and the specific routes to be followed. Should that route fail to satisfy your preferences, you are presented with several alternative choices.
Additionally, unlike Apple Maps, you can modify your departure or arrival time within the Google Maps app. The “travel time” function of the Apple Calendar performs a similar function; however, it requires the creation of a calendar event with the “travel time” option enabled. While somewhat practical in certain circumstances, the overall procedure is quite complex and certainly merits simplification.
Additionally, you can save your residence and place of employment, among other locations, on Apple Maps. Although it expedites the generation of directions for frequently visited locations, it necessitates a few additional steps that are omitted by Google Maps’ Commute. Google is also in possession of the aforementioned historical and real-time information.
Defendant: Google Maps
Compare Apple Maps and Google Maps for public transportation
If one prefers modes of transportation other than automobiles, directions provided by both Google Maps and Apple Maps can incorporate information regarding public transportation. To utilize public transportation in either application, simply select a destination and tap the “Public transport” option at the top of the screen.
Despite the fact that both services incorporate information from ride-sharing platforms, transit authorities, schedules, and status updates, Google maintains the upper hand. Google has the capability to approximate the level of congestion in the public transportation system at any given moment by utilizing a combination of historical and crowdsourced data, in addition to information on the locations of Google Maps users.
Later this year, Google Maps will even extend this function to indicate the level of congestion in specific neighborhoods or areas. Similar to the commute function, this enables you to anticipate precisely what lies ahead and adjust your route accordingly.
Apple Maps, however, has begun to catch up as of iOS 15. Apple Maps has been updated to conspicuously showcase station information at the top of the screen and provides the option to mark preferred transit routes for convenient access. Additionally, the update notifies passengers when their stop is approaching, ensuring that they exit at the appropriate moment.
Real-time transit information, including live departure times, schedules, disruptions, and delays, is provided by both services. Apple Maps also provides the precise distance to an en route bus or train by noting its location.
However, Apple Maps continues to lack information regarding the level of activity associated with a specific service, which is a deficiency. Although this feature was initially alluded to in the iOS 14.5 beta, as of the release of iOS 16, it has not come to fruition.
This system appeared to operate similarly to Google in that it utilized crowdsourcing to estimate the number of Apple Maps users in a given area by gathering their approximate locations. However, in accordance with Apple’s policy on privacy, this data would be encrypted and anonymized prior to being transmitted to Apple servers. The reason for the feature’s delayed public release remains uncertain; however, the privacy features may not be entirely satisfactory.
For now, Google Maps is the victor.
Apple Maps versus Google Maps: A ComparisonNavigation
applications are capable of much more than simply locating directions from A to B. When you are lost and don’t know where you’re going, both Google Maps and Apple Maps have features that allow you to see your surroundings. These features can assist you in locating restaurants, petrol stations, parking lots, and other businesses or points of interest.
Google Maps prominently displays this information by including icons beneath the search bar and an expanded list of categories accessible by scrolling to the end. An icon is present for virtually every necessary item, whereas the Explore option situated at the bottom of the display provides a broader perspective of the vicinity.
In forthcoming updates to this functionality, Google will additionally provide more precise recommendations to users inquiring about particular items. For instance, in the morning, a search for “restaurants” is more likely to return results for establishments that serve breakfast and coffee shops, as opposed to those that are exclusively open for lunch and supper.
A similar function is implemented in Apple Maps; to access it, press and expand the search bar. Similarly, “Find Nearby” allows you to select a category that is pertinent to the location you are currently examining. Unlike Google, there is no comprehensive list available; rather, you will be presented with a limited selection of options that vary based on the specific region you are examining. Apple Maps also includes a feature known as “Guides” that integrates pertinent editorial content to aid in the user’s familiarization with a specific area.
The Explore results of Google Maps have the potential to leverage a substantial amount of data gathered by Google itself and through crowdsourcing. Contact details, business hours, and whether operations are restricted due to the pandemic are all included. Google can assess the level of activity at a given location because it is aware of where individuals are at all times. Thus, in the event that a supermarket or restaurant experiences heavy congestion, you will have advance notice.
Google also intends to extend this functionality in the future by providing the ability to observe the volume of pedestrian activity in specific areas or neighborhoods. This will also be visible from the map itself, as opposed to the page of a specific business.
Google Maps has access to a greater quantity of this data than Apple Maps, which relies on partnerships with third-party services such as Foursquare, Yelp, and TripAdvisor. It does not provide real-time updates on a company’s activity, and despite indications in the iOS 14.5 beta, this functionality remains absent as of the iOS 16 release date.
Apple also includes a ‘Curated Guides’ feature in iOS 15, which provides suggestions for attractions to visit while in a particular city. These guides are automatically updated and can be retained, ensuring that you are consistently current. An alternative option would be to generate an individualized guide for the purpose of sharing with loved ones.
“Vibe Check” is a crowd-sourced application being developed by Google with the intention of assisting individuals who are new to a particular area in discovering lesser-known attractions. It highlights noteworthy attractions and features information contributed by locals.
Additionally, this characteristic unveils the “vibe” of a given vicinity, enabling one to discern the overall ambiance of the spot. Google Maps, on the other hand, has not yet introduced the functionality, stating only that it will be available “in the coming months.”
Although Apple Maps’ minimalist approach results in a considerably more streamlined interface, it does so. However, due to Google’s unwavering commitment to incorporating every feasible detail, the interface can occasionally appear somewhat disorganized. Similarly, Apple presently possesses the advantage of promptly discerning noteworthy attractions when one visits a novel location; however, this may soon alter.
Notwithstanding the possibility of information overflow, Google emerges victorious in this particular case. The application demonstrates effective utilization of the data it collects by notifying the user if they are approaching a destination at an inopportune moment. Additionally, it is a plus that the app does not automatically select Explore categories for you; Apple Maps should absolutely emulate this feature. However, it appears that Apple Maps is gaining ground, and Google’s continued dominance may not be as certain.
Defendant: Google Maps
Apple Maps versus Google Maps: hands-free navigationWhile driving,
hands-free control is essential because you cannot be perpetually touching your phone to complete tasks. While both Apple Maps and Google Maps offer hands-free navigation, their functionality differs.
Apple Maps is integrated with Siri, an inherent feature of each iPhone. That means you can immediately begin setting up everything without having to take any additional steps.
Siri is now compatible with Google Maps; however, the destination of the command must be specified. Apple Maps will be the default setting for Siri, and there is no way to alter this at this time. Therefore, in order to utilize Google Maps for directions to work, you must say, “Hey Siri, get me directions,” as simply requesting directions to work will launch Apple Maps.
You may also install and configure Google Assistant or deactivate Siri through the navigation settings of Google Maps. This enables “Okay Google” commands to be executed while Google Maps is open. In the same way, voice commands can be toggled by touching the microphone icon displayed on-screen.
Google Maps and Google Assistant are both pre-installed on Android, allowing you to immediately configure hands-free commands. Although Apple Maps is obviously absent, users still have the option to bypass the assistant and toggle vocal commands using an on-screen icon.
Constantly tapping the screen to instruct Maps to perform an action is not the most effective method, as your focus should be directed towards the road. It is inconsequential which device you employ.
Because everything is interconnected and you do not have to deal with the inconvenience of installing a new assistant or specifying which service you want to use each time, Apple Maps is superior for iPhone users. The primary reason Google Maps is superior on Android is because Apple Maps is not yet available.
Result: Tie
Apple Maps versus Google Maps: Street ViewStreet
View is an exceptionally useful application if you require an alternative perspective on the world; it displays a location from your own vantage point, as opposed to the conventional top-down view found on maps. It is especially useful for assisting with orientation in an unfamiliar environment.
Street View, a Google service, has been operational since 2007 and has experienced global expansion for the past fourteen years. Street View is not available in every country; for instance, substantial portions of Germany, South Korea, and mainland China lack internet access. It is still present in numerous locations.
To gain access to it, simply switch to the Street View mode on the map and select a region that is highlighted in blue. The user is subsequently presented with the option to either utilize Street View’s built-in swiping functionality or transition to a split-screen mode that requires them to touch locations on the map.
Additional benefits include Live View directions, which utilize augmented reality to superimpose navigational guidance onto the screen of your mobile device, thereby enhancing navigation efficiency. Furthermore, Live View is slated to receive enhancements in the near future, which ought to increase its utility even further. This encompasses the capability to access business data and traffic levels, as well as conduct targeted searches for particular services or locations. Everything is at street level.
Google’s ‘Immersive View’ will eventually enable smartphone users to observe the interior of a location or business. However, this feature remains explicitly “coming soon” at this time.
One drawback of Live View is its dependence on the presence of Street View coverage. This is acceptable in a great number of public areas, owing to Street View’s comprehensive coverage. However, if you are not covered, augmented reality directions will not be accessible.
“Look Around,” the corresponding application to Apple Maps, debuted in late 2019 and is considerably less comprehensive in scope. At this time, Look Around locations are exclusive to key cities in the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Ireland, and Canada. Formerly, there were some modifications to the process of accessing and traversing this mode.
Historically, the process of navigation involved the physical selection of a location on the map and subsequent scrolling to move between them. This is no longer the case; although the approach remains functional, it is now possible to navigate in a manner comparable to that of Google Maps. With a single tap, Apple Maps will navigate you to the specified location. Simple and pleasant.
iOS 15 also introduced augmented reality (AR) directions, allowing Apple users to locate themselves in real-world scenarios by simply raising their iPhones and having adjacent buildings scanned to determine their precise location. Essentially, the process is identical to that of Google Maps, should you be acquainted with the Google equivalent.
The implementation of these two modifications renders Apple Maps and Google Maps functionally equivalent. Nevertheless, Google Maps maintains the advantage due to its early adoption and the extensive collection of locations it has documented. Notwithstanding this, Apple Maps will not remain in the background for an extended period of time.
Defendant: Google Maps
Privacy: Google Maps vs. Apple MapsApple
has invested heavily in privacy in recent years, and Apple Maps continues this trend. Although privacy and live navigation may appear to be incompatible, Apple has devised a method known as “fuzzing” to guarantee anonymity.
Instead of a single route request from point A to point B, Apple Maps generates multiple requests, each containing a unique identifier that obscures the intended destination. Additionally, after 24 hours, the application transforms your exact location into a less precise one, and Apple does not retain any logs regarding your past activities or interests. Furthermore, any data that is transmitted to an external server is not linked to your Apple ID.
Apple Maps stores any personalized information on the user’s device, as opposed to a server where the information is beyond the user’s control. That means you are free to remove it at any time from the settings, secure in the knowledge that it is gone permanently.
Although it is still possible to back up and synchronize data across multiple devices using personal iCloud storage, this process does not occur by default. You are required to consciously opt in before uploading that data to a server, regardless of how secure it is, because doing so is riskier than storing it on your device.
Google Maps is incapable of performing any of that. Conversely, nearly all of your activities are directed via Google’s servers, where data collected from your queries and travels is utilized to enhance the personalization of Google advertisements. Because that is how the company generates revenue, and advertisements gain greater value as they become more pertinent to the user.
Although precautions are taken to prevent advertisers from discovering too much about you personally, your information is not completely anonymized, like Apple Maps’ navigation requests.
Similar to the Chrome web browser, Google Maps also features an Incognito Mode that restricts the amount of data that is saved. Everything must still pass through Google’s servers before being displayed; therefore, the only method to prevent Google Maps from tracking you actively is to uninstall the application.
Defendant: Apple Maps
Apple Maps versus Google Maps: The Bottom Line
Google’s approach to data acquisition is crucial in distinguishing Google Maps from the service offered by Apple Maps. Or, that is one perspective on the matter. As a result of Apple Maps’ emphasis on user privacy, the company is unable to use data for development purposes. The provision of real-time updates regarding the level of congestion at a particular train station or store, as enabled by Google, will perpetually be beyond the capabilities of Apple.
However, by utilizing Google Maps, you are also acknowledging that your every action and search is being monitored and analyzed for Google’s benefit. In regards to GPS and your precise whereabouts, that would be excessive for the more privacy-aware.
Just barely, Google Maps facilitates the discovery of new locations. Apple should provide a comprehensive list of categories rather than merely presenting its subjective judgment of what is most pertinent. In a similar fashion, Google Street View is more pervasive, but its twelve-year head start clearly disadvantages Apple’s Look Around. Apple Maps has a more streamlined interface and a clearer design, which are significantly more alluring than Google Maps’ relatively congested approach.
Over time, the majority of these comparisons proved to be arbitrary. Although Google Maps may have won a greater number of categories than Apple Maps, numbers do not reveal everything. Navigation is the most crucial factor to consider, and it turns out that there is no true incorrect response.
The navigation capabilities of Apple Maps and Google Maps were essentially identical, so whether you choose one or the other, you will be satisfied. You alone must determine which one is most suitable for your needs and the types of journeys you intend to undertake.
If privacy is of the utmost importance to you or if the default mapping application on your iPhone is satisfactory, choose Apple Maps. Nevertheless, Google Maps is the superior option if you desire a service that provides more information and utilizes your data to enhance the visual experience. Everything is up to you.
| Row 0 – Cell 0 | Google Maps | Apple Maps |
| Availability | x | Row 1 – Cell 2 |
| Interface | Row 2 – Cell 1 | x |
| Map Design | Row 3 – Cell 1 | x |
| Navigation | x | Row 4 – Cell 2 |
| Traffic | x | Row 5 – Cell 2 |
| Public Transportation | x | Row 6 – Cell 2 |
| Discovery | x | Row 7 – Cell 2 |
| Hands-free control | x | x |
| Street View | x | Row 9 – Cell 2 |
| Privacy | Row 10 – Cell 1 | x |
| Total | 7 | 4 |
