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Google Maps vs Apple Maps: navigation by device?

By Official AppDuo editorial team · Updated

Google Maps logoGoogle Maps7.8/10Free · FreeApple Maps logoApple Maps7.5/10Free · Free

Quick verdict

Google Maps vs Apple Maps: navigation by device.

Google Maps: Anyone who wants a single map app for navigation, traffic, finding places and reading reviews.

Apple Maps: iPhone, Apple Watch and CarPlay users who want built-in navigation with Siri.

Choose for your main task, existing devices and plan limits; the overall score cannot replace your requirements.

Head-to-head

Google Maps leads on 4, Apple Maps on 1, 4 even

FeatureGoogle MapsApple Maps
Platforms[1],[15],[22]Web, iOS and AndroidiOS, macOS and web; no Android app, and the web version launched English-only
→ Android users, or groups with mixed phones, can only share Google Maps.
Motorbike mode in Vietnam[11]Available since July 2018, showing shortcuts cars can't use and roads closed to motorcyclesNo public information found
→ Motorbike riders in Vietnam should note only Google Maps has documented support for this mode.
Place data in Vietnam[1],[19]Places, reviews, reservations and saved listsPer VnReview, POI data is thinner than Google Maps; Siri sometimes misreads street names
→ If you often search for shops and read reviews in Vietnam, Google Maps has the clear advantage.
Offline map limits[2],[22]No offline walking, cycling or transit directions; offline driving lacks traffic and alternate routes; maps expire unless updatedOffline maps available (since iOS 17); no public information found on detailed limits
→ Travellers in low-signal areas should check carefully, since Apple Maps' offline limits aren't clearly documented.
Sign-in and data collection[4],[6],[14]App Store label: location, search history, contacts, identifiers linked to you; some used for third-party advertisingNo sign-in needed; random identifiers rotate several times an hour; App Store label: data not linked to you, no tracking
→ Privacy-minded users get less identity-linked data collection with Apple Maps, though these are Apple's own claims.
Ad and data controls[4],[14]Personalised ads managed in My Ad Center; review, delete, auto-delete and export data via Google TakeoutShows business ads by search terms; beyond blocking location, no way described to turn off ad personalisation
→ Google collects more but gives users more tools to control and export their data.
App store ratings[7],[8],[18]US App Store 4.7/5 (7,447,462 ratings), Vietnam App Store 4.5/5 (384,465), US Google Play 3.4/5US App Store 2.2/5 (64,665 ratings), Vietnam App Store 1.9/5 (6,524)
→ On the same App Store, users rate Google Maps far higher, especially in Vietnam.
Ecosystem integrations[5],[13],[19]Gemini, Google Account, Street View, Google Maps Platform; shared lists with groupsCarPlay, Apple Watch, Siri, MapKit; turn-by-turn on CarPlay in Vietnam since April 2025, Vietnamese voice
→ It depends on your devices: Apple Watch and CarPlay owners benefit from Apple Maps, Google users from Google Maps.
AI features[5]Natural-language Ask Maps, hands-free Gemini navigation, landmark directions (some US-first)No public information found
→ Those wanting conversational map queries should note only Google Maps documents AI features, though some aren't yet outside the US.

Choose Google Maps if…

  • Anyone who wants a single map app for navigation, traffic, finding places and reading reviews
  • Travellers who want offline maps, saved place lists and shared lists with their group

Choose Apple Maps if…

  • iPhone, Apple Watch and CarPlay users who want built-in navigation with Siri
  • Privacy-minded users who do not want to sign in to use a map

How the products differ

Google Maps: Google Maps is the default pick for most people: it is free, broad, has a motorbike mode in Vietnam and keeps adding AI such as Ask Maps and Gemini navigation. The trade-off is handing a lot of location data to Google, seeing ads, and a Google Play rating of just 3.4/5.

Apple Maps: Apple Maps suits iPhone owners who want a free, clean maps app with no sign-in and clear privacy claims, especially alongside CarPlay or Apple Watch. The trade-offs are thinner place data in Vietnam than Google Maps according to VnReview, low App Store scores, and no Android app.

Choose around your use case

Google Maps: Fits Anyone who wants a single map app for navigation, traffic, finding places and reading reviews; Travellers who want offline maps, saved place lists and shared lists with their group. Strengths: Free for personal use on web, iOS and Android; Wide toolkit: navigation with live traffic, transit, Street View, Immersive View, saved lists, reservations and reviews.

Apple Maps: Fits iPhone, Apple Watch and CarPlay users who want built-in navigation with Siri; Privacy-minded users who do not want to sign in to use a map. Strengths: Free, no sign-in needed, no in-app purchases listed; Rich navigation: lane guidance, speed cameras, up to 15 stops, offline maps.

Costs and limits to check

Google Maps: Free according to the researched profile; no paid plan is recorded. Trade-off: Collects a lot of data: location, search history and identifiers, with some used for third-party advertising per the App Store label.

Apple Maps: Free according to the researched profile; no paid plan is recorded. Trade-off: Low App Store scores: 2.2/5 (US) and 1.9/5 (Vietnam). Prices retain the currency and billing units recorded in the source profiles; no currency conversion or plan equivalence is assumed. Check official prices, limits and terms before payment.

When to consider another option

Google Maps is not aimed at: People uncomfortable with Google collecting their location and search activity; Anyone who needs full directions without a connection, as offline mode excludes walking, cycling and transit.

Consider alternatives to Apple Maps if you are: Android users: there is no Android app, and the web version launched English-only on a few browsers; People who need dense place data and reviews in Vietnam. Read these limitations alongside the feature table before deciding; a single strength cannot compensate for a missing requirement.

Frequently asked questions

Should I choose Google Maps or Apple Maps?

Google Maps vs Apple Maps: navigation by device. Google Maps: Anyone who wants a single map app for navigation, traffic, finding places and reading reviews. Apple Maps: iPhone, Apple Watch and CarPlay users who want built-in navigation with Siri. Choose for your main task, existing devices and plan limits; the overall score cannot replace your requirements.

Does a higher score always mean a better fit?

No. Overall scores are editorial judgements across several criteria. Your task, allowance and existing ecosystem may matter more; the table separates those differences so you can decide.

Where do prices and limits come from?

From each product’s researched profile, with source links and check dates in the review. This comparison reuses that evidence; its compilation date does not mean every price was rechecked that day.

Sources

Numbers in the table refer to these sources, read on the dates shown.

  1. 1.Google Maps official About page · Vendor-provided · Nov 10, 2026
  2. 2.Google Help: download offline maps · Vendor-provided · Nov 10, 2026
  3. 3.Google Help: Timeline in Google Maps · Vendor-provided · Nov 10, 2026
  4. 4.Google Privacy Policy · Vendor-provided · Nov 10, 2026
  5. 5.Google Blog: Maps navigation with Gemini (2025-11-05) · Vendor-provided · Nov 10, 2026
  6. 6.App Store listing (United States) · store · Nov 10, 2026
  7. 7.App Store listing (Vietnam) · store · Nov 10, 2026
  8. 8.Google Play listing (United States) · store · Nov 10, 2026
  9. 9.iTunes Lookup API (languages, version, ratings) · store · Nov 10, 2026
  10. 10.Wikipedia: Google Maps (history) · Community-reported · Nov 10, 2026
  11. 11.VnExpress International: motorcycle mode in Vietnam (2018-07-24) · press · Nov 10, 2026
  12. 12.9to5Google: Timeline on-device (2024-12-11) · press · Nov 10, 2026
  13. 13.Apple Maps official overview · Vendor-provided · Nov 10, 2026
  14. 14.Apple Maps privacy summary · Vendor-provided · Nov 10, 2026
  15. 15.Apple Newsroom: Apple Maps on the web launches in beta (2024-07-24) · Vendor-provided · Nov 10, 2026
  16. 16.Apple Maps on the web · Vendor-provided · Nov 10, 2026
  17. 17.App Store listing (US) · store · Nov 10, 2026
  18. 18.App Store listing (Vietnam) · store · Nov 10, 2026
  19. 19.VnReview (2025-04-28) · press · Nov 10, 2026
  20. 20.Tuoi Tre News (2026-05-15) · press · Nov 10, 2026
  21. 21.MacRumors: Apple Maps vs. Google Maps (2024-03-13) · press · Nov 10, 2026
  22. 22.Wikipedia: Apple Maps · Community-reported · Nov 10, 2026

Prepared by the AppDuo Editorial Team from the sources cited in this article. AI assists with organising and cross-checking data; editorial responsibility remains with AppDuo.

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