Off on vacation
These are the best car navigation apps
If the way to vacation leads through a foreign country, the function of being able to navigate offline is useful for saving mobile data.
© Rostislav_Sedlacek/Shutterstock.com
Campsites, beaches and hotels attract vacationers to distant destinations. With these navigation apps you will get there safely.
The times when you had to awkwardly fold maps in the passenger seat are long gone. Instead, inmates now have maps of the world in their pockets – if they use the right app. These applications reliably navigate holidaymakers across Europe’s roads.
Magic Earth
In the app “Magic Earth” (Android/iOS) the data security of its users is paramount. In contrast to many other free alternatives, “Magic Earth” is not only free of advertising, but also does not track its users. Registration is not necessary, “Magic Earth” can be used immediately after installation. The app reliably calculates routes for cars, bikes, pedestrians and public transport. The current traffic situation and information about petrol stations, parking lots or permanently installed speed cameras are also integrated. Map material from “Open Street Map” is used, and maps for offline navigation are also available for many countries.
Google Maps
That the free and ad-free “Google Maps” (Android/iOS) is the most frequently used navigation app is no coincidence. All the important functions are available, including 2D lane assistants, alternative routes, voice navigation or a display of the current traffic situation. Navigation in the car, on the bike or on foot works reliably, and public transport is also integrated. Google has retrofitted offline navigation and made it extremely easy for users: the “Offline Maps” menu item is hidden behind the profile button. Here you zoom in on the section of the world that you need as an offline map, download it – done. This saves mobile data traffic abroad, especially on longer vacation routes.
TomTom GO
Before every mobile phone could be a navigation device, specialists were responsible for it. One of these specialists is the company TomTom from the Netherlands, which has been offering navigation devices since 2004. With the app “TomTom GO” (Android/iOS) since 2012 it has also been present on the mobile devices market. The application has everything on board that you would expect from a specialist: offline navigation, lane assistance, traffic jam reports and many individual options. If you want to test whether a subscription to the paid app is worth it, you can do so for 30 days free of charge after installation. After that, usage costs EUR 3.99 per month, EUR 13.99 for half a year and EUR 19.99 for a whole year.