this post was submitted on 09 Jul 2024
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I'm sick of using google maps, they started putting gigantic ads for stores on the map and I'm tired of them tracking me. So I ask you Lemmy, what should I switch to?!

EDIT: Was not expecting so many replies, thank you Lemmy! I am checking out Open Street Maps currently thanks for the recommendations!

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[–] juliorapido@discuss.tchncs.de 54 points 2 months ago (6 children)

Any OpenStreetMap (OSM) app/website:

Organic Maps on iOS/Android: https://organicmaps.app/

OsmAnd (small price) on Android/iOS: https://osmand.net/

OpenStreetMap off course: https://www.openstreetmap.org/

OsmAnd web maps: https://osmand.net/map/

Maybe some things like TomTom Go or Sygic Maps (is this still a thing?)

[–] Fleppensteijn@feddit.nl 14 points 2 months ago (4 children)

None of them seem up to date on public transport when I tried, which makes it kind of useless

[–] eco_game@discuss.tchncs.de 13 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Public transport in Magic Earth mostly works for me. It's not as good as Google Maps, but it's better than nothing.

[–] Caligvla@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 2 months ago

Magic Earth seems much more complete than OSM from experience, which is curious considering they use OSM data. I wonder where they get the extra info.

[–] 2xsaiko@discuss.tchncs.de 11 points 2 months ago

Organic Maps is planning on implementing it. For now I just use a dedicated app for that though, Γ–PNV Navigator is great for Germany for example.

[–] juliorapido@discuss.tchncs.de 5 points 2 months ago

Probably better to use local services.

[–] PrivateNoob@sopuli.xyz 3 points 2 months ago

Also they are way slower

[–] authorinthedark@lemmy.sdf.org 9 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] juliorapido@discuss.tchncs.de 5 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Including all maps and features?

[–] authorinthedark@lemmy.sdf.org 12 points 2 months ago (2 children)

yeah, OsmAnd is open source, so someone else built it to be released on fdroid, and the original developers have said that they don't have a problem with that I think as long as they don't release it on Play/try to sell it

[–] juliorapido@discuss.tchncs.de 5 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] authorinthedark@lemmy.sdf.org 8 points 2 months ago

i found this out after reading through osmand documentation and seeing a bunch of features marked as premium that I DEFINITELY hadn't paid for, and trying to figure out what happened lol

[–] Librerian 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

It does lack a few features though, as they rely on proprietary software/libraries. Android Auto for instace, as well as ANT+ for connecting sensors. At least for those features you need the Google Play version.

[–] authorinthedark@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 2 months ago

ah that makes sense

[–] scytale@lemm.ee 6 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Do you know which of these has the most updated real-time traffic data, like for accidents and road closures? I depend heavily on maps not just for navigation but to also get the fastest routes to my destination. Obviously google maps is great with that because of the sheer amount of crowsourced data it collects, but it’s also effective with rerouting quickly for unpredictable events.

[–] juliorapido@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 2 months ago

Maybe TomTom Go? Always had great traffic updates, at least in Europe

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[–] Aggravationstation@feddit.uk 4 points 2 months ago

I second this. OsmAnd has done me well for several years.

[–] pingveno@lemmy.ml 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I love OSM in so many ways, but unfortunately its address resolver is kinda garbage compared to Google Maps. For example, the string "10392 SE 23, portland, or, usa" correctly resolves to what I meant, "10392 SE 23rd Ave, Milwaukie, OR, USA" in Google Maps. OSM needs the exact city (Milwaukie is a suburb of Portland) and the "rd" on 23 to resolve.

[–] mub@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 months ago

I don't think they'll ever get address and Street information right. It needs a plugin that links gmaps street info into osm.

[–] governorkeagan@lemdro.id 2 points 2 months ago

OsmAnd is free with enough contributions to OpenStreetMap.

Personally, I was using MagicEarth for public transport when needed but it’s stopped working for some reasons. Once Organic Maps gets support for public transport (currently it only provides train times for me), I’ll fully move there. It’s great for everything else though!

[–] theshatterstone54@feddit.uk 38 points 2 months ago (4 children)

organic maps has gotten pretty good recently

[–] stoy@lemmy.zip 5 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Thank you for this, I like the map design, and it claims to work with car play!

[–] governorkeagan@lemdro.id 2 points 2 months ago

I tested it with car play the other day. Worked fine, except for a strange issue with orientation after using the UI.

[–] usualsuspect191@lemmy.ca 5 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Second this. It's also way better than Google maps for downloading and using maps outside of cell service too. I've noticed it's got lots of hiking trails as well

[–] Cube6392 1 points 2 months ago

Hell yeah it does! It was originally positioned for OSM users who needed a hiking companion. The other types of navigation have been a later addition

[–] Debs@lemmy.zip 3 points 2 months ago

I like organic maps but I really need traffic data in order to plan routes around my city. As far as I can tell there is no way to get traffic data into organic maps.

[–] franglais@lemm.ee 2 points 2 months ago

I don't like that it doesn't give me alternative route options, there are times I want the shortest, not the quickest, or sometimes I want to stick to main roads, and not go through small villages even though I might save 5 minutes. Also, being offline, the routing for a long journey can be cumbersome in my potato phone/aftermarket android car radio.

[–] hyacin@lemmy.ml 10 points 2 months ago

I just switched to MagicEarth since it works with Android Auto. Pretty happy with it so far.

[–] jeffreyosborne@lemm.ee 10 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Any openstreet map clients, I enjoy magic earth

[–] doehni@feddit.org 6 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] vext01@lemmy.sdf.org 6 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I use osmand for hikes as it has all the obscure trails.

The ui could be better.

[–] BarHocker@discuss.tchncs.de 8 points 2 months ago

Have a look at Organic Maps if you don't need all the features of OSMand. It is simpler but more polished with a clean and tidy UI.

Some great apps have already been mentioned here so I'll share a last resort if you need: GMaps WV (Google Maps WebView Wrapper). It's Google maps in a restricted sandbox made by the Divest OS dev and app is on FDroid.

When I used it on a more regular basis a year ago it didn't have ads and after installing it just now to test and share this, I haven't found any either.

Privacy wise it's not as good as omsand~ or Open Street map but you could use it on another profile in your phone if you have android if that is a concern.

More info can be found here along with the source code of the wrapper: Https://divestos.org/pages/our_apps#gmapswv

[–] clark@midwest.social 6 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Great thread this.

Adding onto it; anybody know any FOSS alternatives close enough to Apple Maps in terms of functionality? I mean making routes and tracking your vehicle on your way to the destination along with any warnings of construction work or accidents.

[–] Aphelion@lemm.ee 5 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Please excuse my non-iOS using ignorance, but isn't FOSS antithetical to Apple's closed ecosystem and extreme limitations on side-loading?

[–] clark@midwest.social 6 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Yes. I am asking for FOSS alternatives that have the same level of functionality and efficiency as Apple Maps.

[–] Aphelion@lemm.ee 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Yeah, I totally get that, but how are there FOSS applications on iOS that aren't side loaded? At best you can get paid ports/skins of open source software through the app store, but Apple changes developers a small fortune to put apps in the store, which generally equates to no free apps that don't rely on ads or in-app purchases.

[–] clark@midwest.social 4 points 2 months ago

I am not looking to download a FOSS app on an iPhone. I am merely looking for a FOSS app similar to Apple Maps in terms of functionality.

[–] doehni@feddit.org 5 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] franglais@lemm.ee 1 points 2 months ago

I love the routing options, and use it in my aftermarket android car radio but it's not quite as good as gmaps for address search.

[–] Moonguide@lemmy.ml 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I've used maps.me for years. Works online and offline. Even took it abroad and used it instead of the stuff locals used, with the exception of london and liverpool, since I couldn't find a way to check train schedules.

[–] thepreciousboar@lemm.ee 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Organic Maps is the open source evolution of maps.me, by the same developers, have a try

[–] Moonguide@lemmy.ml 3 points 2 months ago

Oh, thanks! For anyone reading this, it's on fdroid. Looks solid.

[–] popcorp@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 2 months ago

Mapy.cz are the best maps available on desktop and android. They use OSM as a source. There is some tracking but in this case it's worth the hassle.

[–] deadcatbounce@reddthat.com 2 points 2 months ago

For navigation, I chose Waze.

There seem to a new wave of navigation apps heading towards us that talk P2P rather than a central server.