Despite significant improvements to the satellite-navigation (sat-nav) systems that make up part of your car’s infotainment systems, many of us still like a navigation programme that can take us further than our journey by car. That tends to mean using a sat-nav app on a mobile device.
Sat-nav apps not only continue navigating you to your destination beyond parking up, but they can also save you a bit of money. Car makers’ proprietary systems have gotten better through collaborations with HERE, Garmin and TomTom. The latter produce some of the best aftermarket devices if your car’s older system is beyond updating.
Plus points mean they don’t drain your battery or consume huge amounts of mobile data allowance. However, they can pose a risk to vehicle break-in if left in the windscreen. Also, to get the best out of these systems, they may require monthly or annual subscriptions to make features like real-time traffic information (RTTI) work well.
By contrast and in return for the copious amounts of data collection, Google Maps provides similar services ‘for free’, a handset can be taken out of the car (removing the opportunity for theft) and mobile tariffs tend to include generous data packages to negate the concerns around overstretching data allowance.
But Google Maps is not the only sat-nav application out there and some would go as far to say it’s not the best either.
Here are the top sat-nav apps for 2022 in the UK:
- Apple Maps
- CoPilot
- Google Maps
- HERE WeGo
- Sygic Car Navigation
- TomTom Go
- Waze
Apple Maps
Though there are hacks via DuckDuckGo browser to get Apple Maps on non-Apple devices, officially Apple Maps is only available on Apple phones and by default, CarPlay. When it launched it was awful but it’s come on leaps and bounds to offer a sophisticated navigation tool with additional features, such as searching and calling points of interest (POIs) such as restaurants.
- Apple CarPlay support: Yes
- Cost: free
- Offline navigation: Yes
- Available on: Apple iOS
Co-Pilot
Best for caravans, towing and large vehicles, Co-Pilot is technically free but in order to activate the best features, like voice guidance and real-time traffic alerts, there’s a yearly subscription of £25.99. Newbies can sometimes get 14-day free trial of the additional features before you commit. CoPilot started out as a fleet and business solution with two-way tracking and the ability for an operator to send a route to a driver. It also offers special routing for caravans, larger vehicles and HGVs.
- Apple CarPlay support: No
- Cost: £25.99 per year
- Offline navigation: Yes
- Available on: Apple iOS, Android
Google Maps
The beauty of Google Maps lies in its ability to accurately continue guidance on foot, highlight points of interest or find parking, toggle between different routes and different modes of transport. Street-view, satellite view, 3D view and comprehensive destination information are all part of search giant Google’s mapping and navigation app. The link up with the search engine to take you off to further information, such as a website in one click.
Volvo and Polestar have integrated Android OS and by default, Google Maps into their vehicles, nor is it surprising that many proprietary systems are underpinned by Google Maps licences (though the navigation software may be different).
HERE WeGo
With Google and Waze available to the majority of users, you’d be forgiven for questioning a third choice. HERE – once part of Nokia – is one of the oldest automotive and mobile navigation providers. Here WeGo is the latest version of free route planning and guidance app, which includes advanced planning on computer you can then send to your device. There are no monthly costs, and public transit planning is a major feature.
Sygic GPS Navigation and Maps
Sygic is most often found as a recommendation for connected infotainment systems with sophisticated mirroring, such as Mazda and Jaguar/Land Rover systems. Paid-for upgrades include head-up display (achieved by reflecting the phone off the windscreen or a purpose-built lens), dashcam (ideal for when the phone is mounted on the windscreen) and real-view, augmented reality navigation that overlays instructions on the actual surroundings; pricing is subject to so much variation that it’s best to look for your own preferences before buying. Crucially, Sygic is also available for Windows phones, and it is based on TomTom mapping data with free updates for life. A version for caravan routing is also available.
- Apple CarPlay support: Yes
- Cost: Free to download and use, traffic and other features at extra cost
- Offline navigation: Yes
- Available on: Apple iOS, Android
TomTom Go
Almost as synonymous with navigation as Hoover is to vacuum cleaners, TomTom’s response to smartphones challenging their range of navigation devices has been to join ‘em. Specifically, to make the TomTom navigation environment, complete with lane guidance and custom voices, available on Apple iOS and Android. It’s also free – sort of. You get 50 miles free per month, then a the subscription price of £17.99 per year, or if you only want very infrequent use, £4.99 per month.
- Apple Carplay support: Yes (but can be glitchy)
- Cost: Free for 50 miles per month, £17.99 per year for all features
- Available on: Apple iOS, Android
Waze
Waze began as a community tool, growing its mapping network with its members contributing vast swathes of virtual road-building. All information is crowd-sourced, so incidents, roadworks, police presence, etc. is all data submitted by drivers with a couple of very brief taps.
It’s free and is available on Apple and Android. Unsurprisingly, it was so successful, it was acquired by Google, which now integrates the same data. Since UK mobile phone laws prohibit touching your phone interface while the vehicle is moving, Waze is great for navigation but don’t be tempted to report if you’re driving solo.
Waze has been integrated into mirroring apps like Carplay and Auto and has partnered with Amazon to enable Audible while you drive too.
- Apple Carplay support: Yes
- Cost: Free
- Offline navigation: Android only, but planned routes are cached on iOS
- Available on: Apple iOS, Android
>> Read more about which hardware sat-nav is best
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