Smartphones have changed how we interact with the world around us and with sat nav being one of their most useful features, apps also mean we can get around more easily. The most popular and highly rated sat-nav apps are responsive and clear, with simple menus and reliable routes to your destination. There are hundreds available for free and some you’ll need to pay for, while many new phones even come with one or more navigation apps pre-installed. Such is the choice of sat-nav apps, it can be difficult to know the good and bad points of each, along with the additional benefits of paying for an app from a well known brand like TomTom or Garmin. This guide should help: we’ve put the most popular free and paid sat-nav apps on test to find out their strengths and weaknesses, along with information on the devices they’re compatible with. Read on for our list of the best sat-nav apps. Available on: iOS, Android Price:Free for 50 miles per month, around £15 per year Rating: 5/5 TomTom’s GO app has the best interface, with the rendering of some buildings in 3D only making it clearer.
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A side bar shows useful info such as nearby fuel stations and potential delays. The traffic alerts are impressive too. The length of roadworks was correct to the yard, while the repetition of guidance at junctions and roundabouts was useful. The app is free for 50 miles a month, which is good if you only need it occasionally. CoPilot review.
Available on: iOS, Android Price:Free seven-day trial, full EU maps around £25 Rating: 4.5/5 The CoPilot has won in previous years but it's just edged out this time by the TomTom, which proved slightly more accurate overall. The CoPilot was quick to calculate a route, offering three options, and the one it chose automatically was the best because it avoided a street that's always bad for traffic. Vocal instructions were always easy to understand and the repetition of street names is an excellent feature. A sidebar indicates any possible delays on the route, as well as the distance remaining to the destination. HERE WeGo review. Available on: iOS, Android Price: Free Rating: 4/5 The Waze app is much improved since we last tested it. When inputting a destination, it now asks if you need parking nearby, a nice little touch that’s indicative of the thought behind the app.
Waze is easy to use and instructions are well timed and clear. The app seems to prefer quieter roads to save time but there are some occasions where the faster roads recommended by the TomTom GO app are actually faster. The best sat-nav apps are more accurate overall too. Google Maps review. Available on: iOS, Android Price:Free, Traffic European maps around £10 Rating: 3.5/5 The Scout app was a big surprise in this test.
The design is clear, the menus are easy to use and the app consistently identified the best route of the several it offered. Instructions were spot on and alternative routes are found quickly if you take a wrong turn or deviate. Real-time traffic alerts cost £8 and you can add maps for other cities and countries at extra costs. The app uses off and online date to help keep data usage down on your mobile.
Sygic Car Navigation. Available on: iOS, Android Price: Free Premium trial for seven days, Europe & Russia lifetime premium & traffic & car connectivity around £46 Rating: 3/5 Sygic has changed significantly since we last tested it and is now compatible with the infotainment systems on certain cars, meaning you can get sat-nav like instructions on the head unit in your car even if the car didn’t come with it. The app gives instructions that are easy enough to follow but rivals are better designed; the Sygic map looks too busy and the voice guidance isn’t the best here. Offline Maps & Navigation.