Apple Maps vs Google Maps – Discovering the Perfect Travel Companion

Google Maps and Apple Maps are the most popular navigation apps that we have today. They undoubtedly come with a wide range of features and functionalities to make traveling and finding directions more convenient and easier. While both apps offer a similar purpose, there are some key differences in their UI and features.

In this blog, we are going to do a thorough comparison between Apple Maps and Google Maps, exploring their strengths and unique features.

So, fasten your seatbelts and join us on this exciting ride as we navigate through the world of map applications and discover which one suits your needs best.

Google Maps vs Apple Maps

Furthermore, we will do a detailed comparison between the apps to see what they offer and where they can improve upon.

Map design and interface

Apple Maps’ layout is much more straightforward, clean, and simple. Most of the features are bundled together under the search bar at the bottom. Furthermore, the user interface has subdued tones for the background and highlighted routes that make it stand out from other navigation apps.

Meanwhile, Google Maps has a lot of features on its interface, blocking the actual map view. Its streets and backgrounds are more vivid. It uses green and grey to differentiate between urban and natural areas from each other. Yellow and red colors are used to highlight roads and busy areas respectively.

The shortcuts for commonly searched needs like restaurants, gas stations, shopping, etc., are helpful. You can also find a menu of Explore and Contribute tabs at the bottom to help you find new areas.

So, both navigation apps provide the required information, but Apple’s less-feature approach is comparatively easier on the eyes. Also, the vibrant icons and cluttered information in Google Maps may sometimes be frustrating for users.

Availability

Apple Maps is exclusive to the company’s own line of products – iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple Watches. It’s not available on devices that are outside the Apple ecosystem.

Google Maps, on the other hand, is available on just every device out there – iOS, Android, Windows, and even on Apple’s car play. The app comes pre-installed on Android devices. But for iOS and iPadOS devices you must download it from the Apple App Store.

While Apple has a lot of devices, all of which have Apple Maps on them, it’s not enough to beat the near-universal availability of Google Maps.

Privacy

Apple Maps has always kept user privacy as a top priority. The company has developed a process called ‘fuzzing’ that ensures anonymity. This process converts your exact location to a less-precise one after 24 hours. It also offers privacy-focused features such as randomized identifiers, dependable app tracking, increased control over location monitoring, etc.

Apple never stores any information about your whereabouts or search history; none of that data is linked to your Apple ID.

Google, on the other hand, relies more on user data to personalize user experience and shares more information with third parties to better personalize Google Ads. Additionally, your personal data is stored in Google’s servers and not your device like Apple Maps. While there is an option to turn incognito mode travel, it’s still not as private as Apple offers.

Street view

With the street-view feature, Google Maps provide panoramic street-level imagery, allowing users to explore locations virtually from a first-person perspective.

Apple Maps also offer a similar service with its Look Around feature that offers high-resolution, 3D images. You can explore buildings and your favorite places in 3D. You also get a city tour option for local sightseeing and a 3D Flyover mode.

Google Maps has been around since 2007, and that’s the reason why it has more extensive coverage. More users have had plenty of time to contribute images from streets worldwide. Talking about Apple Maps, the Look Around feature has only been around since 2019, and the number of places you can explore is far less. You can only find Look Around spots in major cities in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Japan, and Ireland.

Public transportation

Both Google Maps and Apple Maps have the feature of public transportation information. Google Maps’ public transportation system can provide information such as transit routes, estimated time of arrival, and more. Google can also let you know how busy the public transport system is at a particular time.

While the public transportation information of Apple Maps has improved in recent years, it is still behind Google Maps when it comes to accuracy and coverage area. Apple Maps can tell you about the location of the bus or train that is en route. However, Apple Maps still cannot provide information on how busy or crowded a particular service is. But Google Maps can easily can. So, in this case, Google Maps is a clear winner.

Discovery

Google Maps and Apple Maps come with features that let you see what’s around. You can find restaurants, grocery stores, parking lots, gas stations, or any other point of interest.

Google Maps can also help you get information on wait times at restaurants, opening times of businesses, parking spaces available, and more. Apple Maps also provides a similar feature called “Find Nearby’’. It also has something called “Guides” which help familiarize you with any given area.

Apple Maps offers a lot of information due to its partnerships with third-party services like TripAdvisor, Yelp, and Foursquare, but not as much as Google Maps does. It doesn’t offer information on how busy a business is.

But as Apple follows a less-is-more approach, it ensures a much cleaner interface. Google’s insistence on including everything possible can feel a little cluttered at times. But despite the potential for information overload, Google still comes out on top in this instance. The app has been putting its data collection to optimal use by ensuring you know if you’re heading somewhere at the wrong time.

Conclusion

Initially, when Apple Maps was launched, it used to provide wrong instructions and blurry images at times. However, Apple has come a long way and become an excellent alternative to navigation apps. Apple’s privacy policy is worth noting if you value your data more than anything else.

Google Maps is an ideal option if you need a range of information for your travel requirements. It offers improved accuracy, more tailored recommendations, and many useful features. But it’s not a great choice for those who value their privacy.

Ultimately, the choice between Google Maps and Apple Maps comes down to the devices you use, personal choice, and the specific features you prioritize. It’s worth trying both apps to see which one best suit your needs and preferences.