How to make a navigator from your phone without the Internet. Navigators for Android. Criteria for choosing GRS navigators for Android with offline maps

In this collection we will tell you which navigator for Android is the best. The optimal applications for different usage scenarios are considered - with an Internet connection, offline, for drivers, tourists and walking around the city. Only proven software.

#10 - Sygic

Opens our top free GPS navigator Sygic, which is one of best solutions for offline navigation. In addition to high-quality offline maps, it has an accurate congestion tracking system, pedestrian mode, up-to-date information on parking spaces, and also calculates the time of arrival at your destination. Among the interesting features, Sygic boasts Head-up Display technology, through which the image is projected onto the car glass, allowing you to use the navigator without being distracted by the phone screen. None additional accessories this is not required.

Sygic is a solid and high-quality navigator for mobile devices, but the mediocre user-friendliness of the interface discourages many users from this program, so be prepared to take the time to get to know the software in order to take full advantage of its capabilities.

#9 - Waze

The Waze navigator occupies a different niche; it requires a constant Internet connection. This leads to one of its main disadvantages - almost complete uselessness in offline mode, however, when connected to the network, a number of interesting opportunities open up. Waze will tell you about the current state of the road situation: traffic jams, repair work and accidents. It will suggest the most optimal route if it detects a traffic jam or accident along your route. One of the competitive advantages of the application is the instant change of the route to a more optimal one depending on the traffic situation and tracking of gasoline prices at nearby gas stations.

Thus, Waze is a modern and high-quality solution for the motorist, however, the need to constantly be online is somewhat constraining, which is more true when traveling in small towns and rural areas, where connecting to the network can be a problem.

#8 - MapFactor GPS Navigator

Perhaps, such an unprepossessing, but nevertheless telling name of the application perfectly conveys its entire essence. MapFactor is a powerful tool for navigating around the world, which is quickly updated, allows you to pre-load maps of a huge number of countries, choose from several route options for different times of day (based on traffic), use 3D maps and much more.

Unfortunately, there are some minor problems, the appearance of which cannot be avoided by working according to the scheme that is used at the heart of this application. The fact is that the maps are taken from OpenStreetMap - a project in which almost anyone can participate. Users note the fact that the program takes into account even small paths, since local residents are working on many places. So the variability of routes in some situations can play a cruel joke on you.

No. 7 – Seven Roads

The Seven Roads navigation application is one of the programs that boasts a high degree of detail in maps coupled with frequent updates. Active work is underway on the application, which allows you to navigate the city and be completely confident that the application will lead you to the right place. This, unfortunately, leads to an unpleasant disadvantage: the cards weigh quite a lot, but now hardly anyone has problems with free space in the device memory and its performance.

Seven Roads is a serious and high-quality navigation application with solid functionality and an intuitive interface. Perhaps the most best option for those who just want to download the program and use it without spending a lot of time understanding the logic of the menu and getting used to its features. Here you just need to install the application and download the desired map.

No. 6 – 2GIS

2GIS is a navigator with a built-in directory function that allows you to view information about the organization of interest in one click. Information is updated regularly, so you can always find out the current schedule of its work, address, website, phone number and, for example, customer reviews. There is also a small but extremely convenient function - door navigation, which allows you to quickly find the entrance to the building. If this does not seem enough, the application also contains maps with detailed images of floors shopping centers, as well as a taxi call function.

Classic route options are available directly from the navigator functions: on foot, by public transport or by your own car. For the latter, a traffic jam map has been developed, which is completely synchronized with the real situation on the road. For pedestrians, a search is underway for convenient routes, including passages between houses and through courtyards. Maps are available for downloading to the phone's memory, which allows you to save on traffic.

No. 5 — Maps and GPS navigation OsmAnd

In the middle of our rating is the OsmAnd application, which is not called one of the best navigators for smartphones for nothing. A wide variety of settings, extremely detailed maps, track recording, etc. Tourists will love that the app's shortcuts within cities are really short and easy to walk.

The application has an almost standard function of offline viewing of maps, the ability to work with their saved copies, and display of public transport stops. One of the functions for which the application is so loved by users is building a route without an Internet connection, which is very convenient during vacation or just in a new place. In addition, the route planning itself occurs in an extremely flexible manner, taking into account small details, current traffic and road conditions.

4 - MAPS.ME

Another application that provides full offline navigation. Offline search works fully here, and the maps are impressive in their detail despite the relatively small size of the source files. You can set the frequency of map updates yourself, maintaining a balance between data relevance and traffic savings.

Nice features of the application: the ability to search by category (fitness centers, restaurants, cafes, shopping centers), tight integration with Booking.com, metro map, traffic jams, display of travel speed. Also, cyclists and walkers will appreciate the display of the slope of descents and ascents. Mushroom pickers and hunters may find the display of forest paths useful, but it is worth clarifying that this function is not available everywhere. In general, in terms of the ratio of positive and negative reviews, MAPS.ME is one of the best among all current navigators.

#3 - Google Maps

Google Maps- a navigation application for smartphones that has already become a classic, which is installed by default on many Android devices. Google maps always have up-to-date information about bus and minibus schedules, work correctly in most countries of the world and boast rich functionality. If you do not have any special needs while traveling, then best choice will use this application because you can be sure that Google Maps will show the most optimal route from point A to point B.

When traveling by public transport, you can set the departure time, the desired amount of walking and transfers. One of the most famous features of these cards is 3D images streets from all over the world, thanks to which you can always find your way around where you are, and also understand what the place where you are going to go looks like. Standard functionality in really high-quality packaging - this is Google maps.

No. 2 - Yandex Navigator

Navigator from Yandex is an extremely successful answer Russian company for Google development. This application boasts very effective route planning to avoid traffic jams, repair work and accidents. It will always inform you about obstacles and help you arrive at your destination using the most optimal route; even the smallest delays at traffic lights are monitored. Building a route works without an Internet connection, however, the function of avoiding traffic jams in this case ceases to function. To enable the offline navigator, you will need to download the required maps to your smartphone, but they take a lot of time, and you can hear a lot of complaints from drivers regarding the quality of offline navigation from Yandex - the application is fully opened only if there is an Internet connection.

While driving, the navigator shows you the distance to the end of the route and calculates the approximate time of arrival. There are also voice prompts for movement: direction, location of surveillance cameras, events on the route and much more. Directly while driving, monitoring of the situation on the road continues, so while driving, the program adjusts and creates the most optimal route for you.

No. 1 - Navitel GPS & Maps

Navitel is, in our opinion, the highest quality and most sophisticated navigator for Android. And there are good reasons for this. For example, one of the most effective offline navigation systems is implemented here, and this application really knows the territory of Russia. Among the features of Navitel, we highlight information about traffic jams while driving, warning about speed limits, monitoring weather conditions, as well as the presence of internal similarity social network, where users can share their own location and give each other advice.

There is also quite detailed three-dimensional cartography integrated into the application. If you communicate with friends in instant messengers, Navitel will pick up notifications from the system and allow you to read incoming messages without turning off the cards. Navitel has everything that can be found in other applications, but there is no emphasis on any specific function. Everything works well and correctly, which makes it easy to navigate in any conditions. But for high-quality performance you will have to pay, the application is free only during the 7-day trial period, then you will have to buy the necessary card (price tag from 500 to 2000 rubles depending on the territory) or understand the intricacies of using hacked software.

Concluding the rating of the best GPS navigators, I would like to say that it is impossible to unequivocally answer the question of which navigator is better to install on Android smartphone without knowing the reader's needs. For ourselves, we have selected Yandex.Navigator and Google Maps for online use, and MAPS.Me with Navitel for offline navigation when moving by car, and 2GIS is optimal for walking in the city. Then the choice is yours. We hope that the TOP navigators for Android OS will help you make the right decision.

GPS navigation is one of the most popular features on a smartphone. When exploring a city by car or bicycle, it is essential to follow the best route. Navigators will help you optimize auto and pedestrian routes and get to the desired coordinates faster.

We compared popular, top mobile navigators. Main criteria: ease of use, functionality and price (free) of the navigator. At the end of the review, we will summarize: which navigator is the best.

Participants:

Over time, the review will be updated with new GPS programs. If, in your opinion, there are more interesting navigators for Android, leave your comments at the end of the article, through the contact form. Thank you!

Google Maps for Android - standard Android navigator

Reviewing Google Maps a year ago, we noted that some functions of the navigator were not finalized or optimized. By 2019, the situation had improved markedly – ​​especially in terms of user experience. However, we note some of the rough edges of Google Maps.

The function of downloading offline maps appeared relatively recently. It allows you to plot routes and navigate on the map without an Internet connection. Due to the fact that offline maps are not yet a fully tested function, not everything is so smooth with it. However, like other Android navigators.

The inconvenience is that you cannot download maps for large regions of Ukraine, Russia, Belarus and other CIS countries. Only selected offline maps of large cities or regions are available. When driving outside the city limits, it is difficult for a motorist to do without online synchronization.

Disadvantages of Google Maps

1) The selection of locations and attractions in Google Maps is quite scarce: to get complete information about hotels, restaurants, shops, schools, etc. available nearby, you have to use third-party applets (Foursquare, TripAdvisor, Yandex.City).

2) No data on road accidents; You cannot add points with car accidents yourself, which would be quite useful for notifying other drivers.

3) In comparison with Yandex Navigator, there is no warning about speed control, there are no alternative voice assistants.

Advantages of Google Maps

However, Google Maps also has many positive aspects.

Yandex Navigator: navigator with voice control

Interface mobile version Yandex Navigator is well structured and clear. When driving a car along a route, it displays information about the approximate time remaining to the destination and the distance to the final point. If you need to stop at a service station, gas station or car wash along the way, you can specify an additional point on the Yandex Navigator map - and the route will be optimally recalculated taking into account the intermediate point. You can turn the traffic and directions layer on and off by pressing a single button with a yellow traffic light.

The exclusive features of the navigator include the night GPS mode for Android, where the map is displayed in dark colors, without distracting the driver’s attention when driving late and prevents the eyes from getting too tired when looking at objects. By the way, the range of searchable POI objects is really impressive. Along with the already familiar restaurants, ATMs and cinemas, you can use layers to display nearby communication points, post offices, salons and many other interesting places.

Another nice feature is voice control from your phone. Similar to Google Maps, you can search for the necessary objects on the map, request addresses on the map.

As for the program's offline operation, you can download GPS maps for Android for major settlements in Ukraine, Russia and Belarus. By turning on Yandex Navigator offline, you can view them, but plotting routes and searching for local attractions on the map is only possible if you have a network connection.

Thus, Yandex Navigator for Android leaves the most pleasant impression. The product claims to be the best free GPS navigator for Android in 2019.

Navitel: a well-designed GPS navigator for Android

Navitel Navigator is a GPS program from a leading developer in the field of navigation and digital map creation. To purchase the cards themselves, you will have to fork out a small amount, but if you wish, you can download them for free on torrents or file hosting sites (for example, on the pda forum).

Strengths of Navitel Navigator

1) Map display options: switch between 2D and 3D modes, which will be especially useful in some situations.

2) User-friendly interface. The lion's share of branded chips is available in the top line for quick access. Choosing between night and day skins

4) Switching between satellites: under any weather conditions, the map with POI is always available.

Note. Not long ago we did something for Android, where we listed in detail all the advantages and individual “features”.

Navitel Navigator: GPS routes on the screen

5) Convenient control. When navigating along a route, managing the map is quite intuitive and simple: there is a zoom function, rotation of the map according to movement, and the ability to switch between preset profiles for any type of transport.

6) Information content. The movement is visually accompanied by information about the speed of the object, the remaining time to reach the destination, the distance of the nearest turn and audio support. In general, the navigation is well thought out and intuitive.

Well-thought-out functional parts and high-quality design make mobile app Navitel is the main candidate in the “Best GPS navigator for Android” category.

Waze - an informative GPS navigator for Android

Waze (Free) is a free navigator for Android with opensource code.

Benefits of Waze

1) The social features integrated into Waze greatly improve your driving experience. Waze users report problems on the road - be it repairs, accidents, traffic jams, traffic police posts, cameras and other “troubles”. Accordingly, other drivers are already aware of the changes. In addition to reviews, the application collects information from its own database on the server.

2) The map with routes is informative. Waze uses proven OSM maps. They are highly detailed and accurate.

3) Waze automatically reroutes if your phone crashes, the app crashes, or anything else that might interrupt your navigation. Standard Google Maps doesn't do this. Likewise, Waze makes it easy to view your route or map when needed and always returns to Automotive mode.

OsmAnd: navigation for Android in offline mode

Let's list the strengths of the OsmAnd navigator.

Pros of OsmAnd

1) Autonomy. OsmAnd is, first of all, a good offline navigator. Suitable for those who prefer to download maps to their gadget once and no longer connect to the Internet while in offline mode.

2) Cards. For navigation in OsmAnd, raster and vector maps of Open Street Maps are used, compiled by users of the service. They allow you to filter POI objects (attractions, museums, theaters, pharmacies, etc.), select a profile for the appropriate vehicle. The travel route can be optimized taking into account the shortest distance, avoiding toll roads, dirt roads, ferries, and highways.

OsmAnd is one of the best navigators for Android

3) Customizable maps. You can add objects yourself, create or edit maps. Thanks to the support of plugins, the functionality of OsmAnd is significantly expanded: for example, you can activate the OsMo live monitoring system with tracking of other gadgets using the service; add to groups; download sea and ski maps; calculate optimal distances between specified points using GPX; impose contour lines and layers of relief, which will certainly be appreciated by tourists and athletes).

4) Additional functions. All standard features for GPS navigators are also present: voice control, assistant, screen reorientation, profile switching.

Maps.me

Maps.me is a GPS navigator, popular in Russia, the USA and Germany. Characterized by high accuracy and autonomy of cards.

Strengths of Maps.me

1) The accuracy and detail of maps is perhaps the most important thing, regardless of the type of transport. This navigator will be of interest to travelers and pedestrians, since the map displays the smallest details - trails, benches, names of objects.

2) Additional layers. Maps.me displays vector maps, through layers you can also display traffic jams and .

3) Lots of settings. In the maps.me settings you can change units of measurement, scaling, view your movement history, etc. There are navigation settings, in particular, you can configure auto zoom, voice instructions, and enable the display of speed cameras.

4) Switching navigation modes. The choice is car, pedestrian, public transport, taxi and bicycle.

5) Autonomy. Offline maps downloaded to a mobile device take up little space, but work fully, as if the Internet were present. It is clear that realtime functions will not be available, but for a pedestrian or cyclist information about traffic jams is not as important as for motorists.

Disadvantages of Maps.me

1) Limited navigation for motorists. It’s difficult to call Maps.me a perfect car navigator. At a minimum, travel routes are not always lined up correctly, not to mention the fact that the navigator does not offer alternative options.

2) There are errors. Since the maps are developed by the community, the data is not always up to date, especially for remote places and villages.

3) Quite inconvenient map display mode. Maps look very dry, scaling may not work.

Which navigator is the best as of 2019?

Each of the Android navigators, in some aspects (functions, maps) is better than its competitors and is good in its own way. Which navigator is right for you depends on your preferences and beliefs. We hope that we helped you choose the right application and it will remain on your phone.

Yandex Navigator It is absolutely free and has excellent functionality. It wins the category "Best navigator for Android with support for Yandex Maps."

Navitel Navigator created and supported by the most famous company, so the quality of products and technical support are at their best - both for Android OS and other mobile devices.

Navigation app Waze- certainly attracts with its openness and free cards. However, like any developing product, this navigator is not perfect. We hope the growing community will have a positive impact on the quality of the application. As of 2019, alas, Waze maps are inferior in information content to the same Navitel or Google Maps.

Concerning OsmAnd, then this offline navigator for Android will serve perfectly in conditions where it is impossible to connect a mobile device to the network and works using open technologies.

Google Maps- navigator with voice control function. The good thing is that it is available out of the box (that is, it is initially included in Android). Google Maps is suitable for inexperienced travelers and drivers; it can be called one of the best offline navigators.

Maps.me will appeal to avid travelers and walkers. The navigator will delight you with detailed maps adapted for walking. We would recommend alternatives to motorists - Google Maps or Yandex Navigator.

A GPS navigator turns out to be useful not only when traveling to unfamiliar cities and neighboring countries, but also for daily use. Voice prompts, warnings about approaching objects, choosing the optimal path and saving travel time are its main tasks. Separate devices are intended for navigation, but it is much more convenient to download a special application to your phone or tablet. You can choose the best of them only by direct comparison, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of each. Our review presents the five best navigators for Android with maps without the Internet, which you can download for free from our website.

Application screenshots

What is the application about?

A multifunctional navigator created in Slovenia, which will delight you with stable operation and intuitive controls. The program interface has been translated into more than 30 languages, including Russian.

Sygic GPS Navigation is a high-quality navigation app for Android with detailed 3D maps, voice guidance and many advanced features. A special feature of the navigator is that it works offline; you just need to download a map of the desired city in advance and follow its updates. In addition, the application boasts a pleasant interface, navigation for pedestrians and the Glympse service, thanks to which you can share your route with friends.

Advantages and disadvantages

Sygic GPS Navigation will become an indispensable assistant for taxi drivers, travelers and simple trips around the city. Its main advantages include:

• Detailed maps of all continents.
• Work without an Internet connection.
• Free map updates several times a year.
• Step-by-step navigation with the ability to choose the optimal route.
• Warnings for speed cameras, sharp turns and railroad crossings.

The disadvantages include the following:

• There is no routing for trains. What would be useful when traveling by this type of transport: which station to get off at, how to accurately navigate the place of arrival, etc.
• Severe battery discharge.
• Sometimes problems arise in the algorithms for constructing routes on complex sections of road junctions.

Based on all its characteristics, Sygic is a good free navigator that will optimal choice In most cases.

Download

Navfree Free GPS

Application screenshots

What is the application about?

Travel around the world with Navfree Free GPS. This is a completely free navigator without the Internet with voice prompts and without any hidden fees.

For navigation, the program uses map data received by millions of users around the world. This way, you yourself work on the quality of the maps by making changes to the existing service. Feedback with users and open access to editing downloadable content, these are not the only features of this Android application. The navigation system works great both with and without the Internet. And the user-friendly interface makes working with the program as comfortable as possible.

Advantages and disadvantages

TO strengths The navigator includes the following items:

• Free maps updated daily.
• Ability to make edits using built-in tools.
• Full voice navigation.
• Almost instant creation of routes without an Internet connection.

The disadvantages of the program are the flawed maps, which is due to the fact that they are compiled by the users themselves. Also you can't find the address here with a simple click on the selected area of ​​the map. Otherwise, this free navigator, which can be downloaded in Russian, copes well with its responsibilities.

Download

MapsWithMe Pro

Application screenshots

What is the application about?

If you want to have the best offline maps and navigation on your smartphone, then feel free to download the MapsWithMe Pro program. This application has a record high level of map detail and works on all continents of the world.

1. MapsWithMe Pro provides users with detailed offline maps of all countries in the world that can be used offline.
2. The application's information base contains more than a million points of interest (POI): restaurants, gas stations and other organizations. In order not to search again each time, you can save them in the list of bookmarks.
3. You can also load created bookmarks from other maps.
4. In addition, the application can also be used as a navigator.

Advantages and disadvantages

Without exaggeration, MapsWithMe Pro can be called one of the best offline navigators of 2016. It has a lot of advantages, the main ones are:

• Current and highly detailed maps of all countries of the world.
• An innovative way to compress cards, as a result of which they occupy a small amount of space in the device’s memory.
• Opportunity quick search points of interest (POI).

The application has no significant drawbacks. Minor disadvantages include the inability to get directions by public transport.

Download

Maverick Pro GPS

Application screenshots

What is the application about?

An easy-to-use service for tourism, navigation in and outside the city, working for almost everyone mobile devices under Android OS.

The program is designed to work with maps in offline mode, which can first be downloaded to Android for free. Geotracking is supported, with the ability to record a track in one click. In the future, they can be viewed in Google Earth and other applications, and also sent via e-mail. You can download the navigator and use navigation for free, but the full capabilities of the program are available only in the Pro version.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of Maverick Pro GPS are:

• Ability to convert maps from other formats.
• Geotracking.
• On-board computer that shows speed, altitude and much other information.

The disadvantages include:

What is the application about?

The last one on our list is a free offline navigation program with some unique features.

The downloaded OsmAnd navigator on your device provides not only automobile, but also pedestrian and bicycle navigation around your city.

1. Detailed terrain maps showing streets, alleys and intersections are available for almost every country in the world.
2. Use night mode, which is ideal for perceiving information in the dark.
3. OsmAnd will allow you to freely navigate in unfamiliar areas, allowing you to save the path you have taken to the memory of your smartphone.

Advantages and disadvantages

The main advantages of OsmAnd are:

• High-quality, auto, bicycle and pedestrian navigation.
• View public transport stops and routes.
• Flexible interface settings.

Minor disadvantages include the inability to find the specified address on the map by tapping on it in contacts. There are also sometimes problems with the voice prompts working.

Download

The five offline navigation apps reviewed do an excellent job of providing users with unique features. It is not possible to unambiguously determine which navigator of 2016 is the best; personal preferences come into play. We can only note that the most detailed maps are provided by the MapsWithMe Pro program.

Here is the final part of the “series” about popular car navigation applications for Android. In it, we tried to summarize all the information from five previously published reviews of individual applications and give a final assessment. In order not to burden the reader, we will try to do this in the most concise and clear form using tables, providing them with relatively small comments.

Why did you choose these particular applications? The main criteria were popularity and the presence of a large number of positive reviews, as well as ease of use. The updated Shturmann did not fit into the first two criteria a little. The “Seven Roads” application did not pass all three criteria. Google Maps as a navigator is still in beta testing. Megafon navigation is essentially the same as Progorod, but only in an online version. The iGO app has not yet officially appeared in the Android version. Therefore, there are only five participants.

Prices and popularity

Putting ourselves in the buyer’s shoes, let’s start by looking at price tags and studying information about how popular a particular product has gained among users.

* if you purchase a key on the developer’s website. The price is for the application itself with unlimited access to maps.
** rental of foreign cards.
*** for Europe the service is paid - from 12 euros per year.

So, the most expensive product is Sygic. It is aimed at European consumers, so the price tag is quite appropriate. In addition, you will have to pay separately for traffic jams and advanced information about cameras, but this all applies only to Europe. Network services do not work in Russia.

The prices of Navitel and Progorod seem to be the most adequate. However, Navitel has a very strict policy regarding reinstallation. Transferring the application to another smartphone will most likely not work at all.

Against the backdrop of all these restrictions, Yandex looks like a king. However, the application has a number of significant limitations, thereby leaving good chances for others.

Feature Set Comparison

The developers of most of the presented applications are trying to attract users with various additional functions, for example, weather, photos on a map, articles from encyclopedias, tagging in social networks, displaying the location of friends and even augmented reality.

We have summarized the entire core set of functions of all five applications in one table:

* only for European countries for a fee

This table is for self-study. Here everyone must answer the question for themselves whether this or that program has a minimum sufficient set of functions. For example, some people definitely need to work with tracks, while others need to install free OSM maps. Some applications also have extraordinary abilities. For example, displaying on a map photos of places taken by Panoramio users (from Sygic), or an augmented reality mode (Progorod), as well as speech recognition and voice commands(Yandex.Navigator).

The applications also have major flaws. Thus, Sygic does not have a function for displaying traffic (traffic jams), and Yandex.Navigator will not work fully in the absence of an Internet connection.

Interface

Since each of us has our own ideas about beauty, we will not talk much about which program’s interface is more beautiful. Our eyes found the “picture” of Navitel Navigator, Progorod and Yandex more pleasant. But this does not mean that the other two programs have any problems with “ appearance" They're all good. These just stand out a little from the general background.

But if you step back from looking at the “pictures,” then completely different properties of interfaces come to the fore - practicality and information content. The first of them is when you always feel at ease. All you need is a quick glance at the screen to get as much information as you need. Not good a good example The interface of the same Navitel can serve as practicality - a jumble of thin lines and small details makes it difficult to read information while driving. Practicality also includes ease of operation with menus and search.

By information content we mean displaying various related information on the screen, such as the speed limit in a given area, information about cameras, etc. The presence of all kinds of tips and additional information in the POI database.

So, below we will provide screenshots of the interfaces of all programs with a short list of the main advantages and disadvantages. This time we will use a smartphone with a small screen resolution of 480x800, which is regulated by almost all software developers in today's test.

Let's start with the vertical map display option, which is the most natural for smartphones and more practical for navigation. Next to the usual map view we will place a 3D version.

Navitel Navigator 8.5

Progorod 2.0

Sygic 13.4

CityGuide 7.8

Yandex.Navigator 1.5

This is the junction of the Warsaw Highway and the Moscow Ring Road. Alas, the picture is static, and its perception while moving, when the scale of the map is constantly changing depending on the speed and upcoming events (turns), is radically different from what you will get simply by contemplating these two sets of screenshots. In addition, in 3D mode a lot depends on the tilt angle, which is adjustable in all programs. The developers have made it so that from one angle the map is beautiful and practical, but from another it is inconvenient to use, because the detail, perspective, etc. change. A similar remark can be made about scale. Therefore, we will give a verbal comment, but first we will post another portion of screenshots taken in navigation mode:

Navitel Navigator 8.5

Progorod 2.0

Sygic 13.4

CityGuide 7.8

Yandex.Navigator 1.5

Navitel Navigator

The picture deserves all the praise, but it is extremely impractical. The accumulation of a mass of small lines and contours makes it difficult to perceive the route line on the screen, which is slightly thicker than the road itself, but with busy traffic jams is in no way different from it in color. Camera icons, signs and other details are barely visible on the screen.

Progorod

The “Picture” is a little similar to Navitel, but there are fewer small details, and the route line is much easier to read than in the previous case. There are two complaints: the status panel takes up a lot of space on the screen and chaos reigns on it, as well as the graphics and all the control buttons are too small.

Sygic

In the screenshots, the interface is unimpressive, but from the point of view of ease of reading information while driving, it deserves the highest rating. There is one significant drawback - house numbers are not displayed in navigation mode. They only appear if you try to scroll the map in one of the directions, which will switch it to viewing mode.

CityGuide

The map interface is quite good in practical terms. It may not be as beautiful, but it is quite comfortable.

Yandex.Navigator

Trying to find fault with the Yandex.Navigator interface did not work out well. He is very practical. The only issue is that users of platforms with screens with a high pixel density per inch complain about small buttons and other elements in the menu. For some reason, these UI elements did not fully comply with Google's developer guidelines, and programmers were working with absolute units of element sizes instead of relative DP and SP.

Well, for those who for some reason prefer the horizontal position of the map, we will post another set of screenshots.

Navitel Navigator 8.5

Progorod 2.0

Sygic 13.4

CityGuide 7.8

Yandex.Navigator 1.5

Cards

Unfortunately, most developers do not provide detailed information about their cards, since they may not look so brilliant compared to competitors.

We tried to collect as much information as possible and summarize it in one table. Pay attention to the line “Map online” - this is your chance to independently evaluate the quality of coverage. True, it also does not entirely accurately reflect the situation. Navitel and Progorod do not have the latest release online, while Yandex’s maps in the app and online are strikingly different in places, which sometimes causes confusion.

*data from Foursquare is also used as POIs
** the volume of the full map of Moscow is indicated
*** The map of Russia is updated almost every month, but changes in it each time concern a couple of separate areas. If we take, for example, the map of Moscow, it is updated twice a year.
**** Ukraine, Belarus and Türkiye are mentioned. There is no longer a word about Turkey in the company video, and only Ukraine appears on Google Play. However, in the list of maps for download you can find, for example, a map of Almaty.

According to the results of the 2010 census, the number of settlements in Russia was just over 153 thousand and about 20 thousand of them do not have a permanent population. Where did Yandex get 170 thousand from then? Firstly, nesting. A specific settlement always belongs to other territorial units. Secondly, the census does not take into account all types of settlements. Railway stations, winter huts, etc. may fall out of it.

So, our leaders, apparently, are Navitel and Yandex. The volume of cards is an indirect indicator. In Yandex.Navigator it has such unimaginable values ​​because these maps contain a huge number of raster images.

As for the details, this issue is complex and requires a lot of time to study. For our own understanding, we took several settlements and looked at how things stand with this issue.

The leaders were Navitel, Progorod and Cityguide. Moreover, the maps of Progorod in almost all settlements from the table have buildings not only with corresponding contours, but also with height. Although CityGuide is good (OSM maps are used), you will have to search for maps of the regions you need in a large list and download them separately, which is not very convenient. For some reason, you can’t download the entire map of Russia at once. In addition, the Kamchatka Territory was not on the list.

Yandex.Navigator surprised me a little, and this considering the fact that the online browser map is beyond praise. At the same time, it is very funny that in the same Bogoroditsk you can indicate the exact address, it will be marked with a marker on the map and a route to it will be built. But the "last mile" will not be displayed correctly.

Well, Sygic doesn’t like small towns the most. He knows them only by hearsay.

The issue of map relevance is also important. Here we were guided by the map of Moscow, noting the presence of new well-known roads, overpasses and interchanges, opened in the summer-autumn period of 2013. Progorod, Cityguide and Yandex had no problems with this. Navitel had all the junctions and overpasses we were looking for, but for some reason at the intersection of Yaroslavskoe Highway and Malyginsky Proezd there was no turnaround under the overpass. But Sygic's map is at least a year old. We did not find any of the required road objects on it.

Our selection by cards: Navitel, Progorod and Cityguide.

Routes and navigation

All applications build quite adequate routes. And this is the most important thing. Navitel has some minor glitches. We described one of them in detail, but there is no reason to panic here. But it’s definitely worth reducing the sensitivity to traffic jams in its settings for residents of megacities.

To save the reader time, we will collect information on routes and navigation into one table.

It will be most convenient to travel with Progorod, Cityguide and Navitel. Sygic, despite its very practical interface, works only in offline mode: no traffic jams or DPOI. In addition, his logic of behavior when the driver leaves the route is far from civilized. But there are no less problems with Yandex: it will not warn you about speeding, it will only tell you about the camera when you drive past it, and without a connection to the Internet, search and route planning will not work in the application! But before starting navigation, it will prompt the user alternative options routes that you can view on the map and select the most suitable one. Progorod can do this too, although it uses a slightly different logic. We really liked both of these features.

Our choice: Progorod and CityGuide. With some stretch - Navitel and Yandex.

Tests

We've run a series of tests to show how fast these apps will run on different mobile platforms. In a separate table we have summarized the results obtained on two systems, the main characteristics of which are as follows:

Both platforms are budget, but the tablet has a 4-core SoC, while the smartphone has a single-core SoC, but with a more modern architecture. Will there be any significant difference between them? In the table, smartphone and tablet data are separated by two vertical bars.

* the dash indicates the time of laying two routes: from the south of Moscow to the city of Olenegorsk in the Murmansk region; the second route is to Vladivostok.
** already two seconds after loading you see your approximate position on the map, determined by signals from base stations and their coordinates. And after another 20-30 seconds the device “clings” to the satellites.
***routes are calculated on remote server, and the construction time depends on the quality of communication at a particular point in time. In GPRS or EDGE coverage area it may take a minute or more, but with good connection - 2-3 seconds.
**** The first digit indicates the traffic volume in the case of a pre-loaded full map of the region. The second digit indicates an empty card cache.

So, the main problem with application performance is the inability to use all available computing cores of the SoC. And although multithreading is declared by almost all developers, in practice on a 4-core system this results in one core being loaded at 100%, the second at 30%, and the other two cooling down. The only exception is Yandex. The application not only has low requirements for system resources, but also, when actively running on four cores, can show a total load of 60-70%, which indicates that someone is still able to create multi-threaded applications (benchmark developers are not check).

If we talk about the smoothness and comfort of working with the map, then Yandex, Cityguide and Sygic behave quite well, which cannot be said about Navitel and Progorod. Scrolling the map and scaling occurs with noticeable jerks, slowdowns and jerks. Moreover, if your smartphone has a resolution of 1280 pixels or more, the situation will worsen regardless of the type of SoC installed in the system.

Our choice: Yandex, CityGuide and, probably, Sygic. The latter takes a very long time to build routes, but otherwise is very smart.

Application Features

Since the competition is great, developers try to add a few highlights to their creation, and it would be a shame not to mention them.

Navitel Navigator

Progorod

Here we will only note the augmented reality mode, which will work quite well on those devices that have an orientation sensor.

Perhaps it will come in handy when traveling by car.

Sygic

Sygic tries to attract users with all sorts of useful and interesting little things: universal search, photos on the map from Panoramio, POIs from Foursquare, articles from Wikipedia (if they have a link to coordinates), a sidebar and a trip computer. All details in the corresponding .

CityGuide

Nothing unusual.

Yandex.Navigator

The main trump card is a universal search with a speech recognition system and voice commands, which works quite well.

Results

So, the most mentions marked “our choice” went to CityGuide and Progorod. Navitel, Yandex.Navigator and Sygic are lagging behind. But if we evaluate applications by their main functions (the quality of maps and the navigation process), then the following three leaders emerge before us: Progorod, CityGuide and Navitel. The cheapest of them is Progorod. The most expensive is CityGuide. And Navitel will receive the title of the most unfriendly due to the impossibility of transferring the application to other smartphones.

If you live in one of the Russian megacities, there is reliable and high-quality cellular If you are not afraid of speed cameras and prefer not to spend extra money, then you can use Yandex.Navigator. It's free. Moreover, it works quickly and has a practical interface.

Sygic can be useful when traveling abroad. However, it will not be cheap at all. In this regard, Navitel is many times more attractive, but it will not contain information about traffic. Just like Sygic in Russia.

P.S. Better to see once than hear a hundred times. Therefore, we encourage you to try out the apps you like and draw your own conclusions. But it is important not to forget that everything navigation programs without exception, after deleting them through the application manager, they leave almost all their files in internal memory phone forever, “freezing” hundreds of useful megabytes. Don’t forget to delete them manually later, based on the names of the folders on the drive. Oh, Android, Android...