Replacing Google Maps

I love maps. I have several map apps on my phone. I enjoy planning trips on them, staring at them, finding new roads I haven't been down. Maps suggest adventure. They offer places to explore, and the routes to get there. I can spend the better part of a morning looking at maps.

In my continuing quest to reduce dependence on Big Tech, I think I may have found something to replace Google Maps. The app is called Osmand Maps+, and it stands for Open Street Maps And. Based in the Netherlands, it's an app that uses the open source and free Open Street Maps system and combines it with features you'd find on a GPS, such as route mapping. Give it an address/destination, and it will find and navigate the route for you. On that level, it's exactly like Google Maps. But as with most open source solutions, it has its points of friction, which at times makes it inconvenient but not unusable.

During my recent trip to Pennsylvania, I used Osmand to do most of the routing for me. One thing I have to say from the outset: this is an app where you have to download maps to your phone. It is not cloud-based, which is exactly why I like it. You download the maps, and then the app uses GPS to position you on the downloaded map. You still need to use Location Services, but as far as I know, that data is not sent to Google. I could be wrong about this.

The cost for a basic plan (Maps+) is $15/yr, which is what I signed up for. This gives you access to unlimited map downloads (there's a free version which limits you to 7 map downloads). Due to space limits on my phone storage, I download only those maps for the region I'm in. This is a great deal IMO to be able to free myself from Google.

The friction points are small. It speaks directions to you and gives you warnings for turns and such, but it may not necessarily tell you what road you're turning on. I found I had to pay more attention to the screen at times to be sure I was on the right path. It does not necessarily offer you route options when you put in a destination; it largely gives you the one fastest route. In my PA trip, I found it hard to get Osmand to ignore interstates. It will ignore toll roads, but if the interstate is a freeway, it will always put you on the interstate. It's more difficult to program it to use state routes only. It also does not flash pictures of signage or give you lane guidance. If you need to be in a particular lane, Osmand won't tell you that.

The largest feature lacking is traffic. Nothing, I'm afraid, compares to Google when it comes to traffic conditions. While Osmand is fine for general navigation, knowing what traffic is ahead is something only Google can handle. I do believe there are Garmin units that can handle that as well, but we'll get to Garmin in a minute.

I give Google maps credit for things like police presence, traffic conditions, optional routing, and re-routing when conditions warrant. When we travelled to Springfield IL, going through cities like Columbus and Indianapolis were nightmares of construction and traffic. Google Maps re-routed me at least three times on that trip to avoid traffic. I can't gripe about that.

I have in the past considered a Garmin, but the cost has always been prohibitive. I do have a Zumo XT for my motorcycles, but in the car, it would mean I would have to have two devices operating - my phone, and the Garmin. I drive used cars, and while each car has its own in-house navigating system, neither is updated past 2015. I don't have the capability to use Android Auto, and so my phone is the one device I use for navigation, music, handling calls, etc. while driving. A Garmin would be inexpensive and superfluous, and besides, I believe there is an additional cost to get traffic and weather on a Garmin. In short, too expensive a device to do what my phone does basically for "free."

I'm now using Osmand for 90% of my travel navigation. If I feel I need the information Google Maps provides, I switch as needed. But it's nice to have a very full-featured alternative to Google Maps, and I'd recommend Osmand to anyone interested in ditching Google Maps.