Maps.me has emerged as a leading offline navigation app for pedestrians, outperforming Google Maps in tests conducted across ten routes in French cities. The app consistently provided faster routes in terms of both time and distance.
Enhanced Pedestrian Features
Maps.me offers unique features tailored for pedestrians, including the ability to reveal shortcuts, underground walkways, and urban details such as benches, bins, hydrants, fountains, and stairs. The app also displays street numbers, enhancing its utility for urban navigation.
Offline Functionality and Privacy Concerns
Maps.me operates fully offline once area maps are downloaded, leveraging data from OpenStreetMap and user contributions to ensure high accuracy. However, privacy concerns have arisen due to aggressive upselling, past cryptocurrency ventures, and data collection practices. Users have the right to access, correct, or request deletion of their personal data and can adjust advertising preferences.
Subscription and Alternatives
A Pro subscription, priced at €3.29 per month, removes the ten-download limit imposed on free users. For those seeking a similar experience without subscriptions or data harvesting, Organic Maps offers a near-identical alternative.
