It might have seemed like another world a few years ago, when people stopped at a gas station and picked up a paper map to travel. Today, travelers can take advantage of several automated systems that provide up-to-date itineraries. Apple Maps and Google Maps are two of the most popular. You may prefer one over the other, perhaps because Google Maps has added key features for 2026 or because you’re loyal to anything with the world-famous Apple logo.
If you use Apple Maps, you might experience some disadvantages compared to Google Maps. Some of these include the possibility of large storage, lack of detailed and integrated user reviews for restaurants and businesses, occasional selection of routes that are not always the fastest based on real-time information, inability to fully use it on a non-iOS device, and fewer benefits for international travelers.
Some may decide that the drawbacks of Apple Maps aren’t worth using. However, they may not want to use Google’s offering either. Perhaps you might decide that Waze is better than Google Maps or Apple Maps for planning driving directions, especially since Google Maps uses some of Waze’s features. (Google owns Waze.) You might even prefer to use Garmin over the other options. The standalone Garmin device means you can preserve your smartphone’s battery, while still enjoying many of the same navigation features as smartphone apps. (You can also leave the Garmin in your car.)
Apple Maps can quickly eat up your smartphone’s storage space
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Since Apple Maps is part of iOS, you might think you’re saving storage space by sticking with it instead of downloading and using Google Maps on your iOS device. After all, both use a similar amount of storage space when downloading maps offline.
However, after using it for a while, you may notice that Apple Maps takes up a lot of storage space. One user mentioned that the app took up 38GB of storage, even if it wasn’t in use. The Apple Maps app appears to have a storage issue that causes it to retrieve obscene amounts of data from storage, regardless of frequency of use.
Some users say the problem lies in the way Apple Maps uses its Documents & Data feature, which may be a bug in the app. Updating to the latest version of iOS may resolve the issue. Other users reported fixing the issue by turning off and clearing stored data for “important locations” in Apple Maps.
When looking for restaurant reviews, Apple Maps may be lacking
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If you primarily use a map app to find restaurants or other specialty retailers near your current location, you may also want it to show reviews so you can decide where to go. Apple Maps has limits on where its reviews come from. Yelp is the app’s most common option for finding reviews, and Apple Maps doesn’t often display written opinions from its own users.
Some may prefer the reviews offered by Google Maps because they display reviews left by other Google users. Even if someone leaves a review on a business’s Google profile or elsewhere in the Google “ecosystem,” it may automatically migrate to Google Maps for display.
Several Redditors say they specifically avoid Apple Maps because of its reliance on Yelp reviews. We even use Apple Maps to plan a route, but switch to Google Maps to find businesses or restaurants in the area. When looking for customer reviews, consumers generally rely more on Google than Yelp. Google reviews tend to be more numerous, and Yelp has a complex filtering process that prevents certain reviews from being visible.
Apple Maps won’t update problematic routes as quickly as Google
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If getting to your destination as quickly as possible is your main reason for using a map app, Google Maps seems to have a better record at handling real-time issues along the route, including unpredictable things like new road construction projects or accidents.
A Reddit user said Google Maps displayed information about an accident that led to a new route, while friends traveling in a separate car using Apple Maps did not receive the information in time, causing a delay. Both apps allow users to report on delays in real time during their trip.
However, because Google Maps has a larger user base than Apple Maps, the chances of Google users reporting accidents and other traffic delays in real time are higher. If you frequently travel in urban areas with heavy traffic, you may notice that Google’s real-time traffic updates ensure your trip stays on time.
You have limits on where and how you can use Apple Maps
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If you prefer to use Apple Maps, you might like that it’s built into iOS, making it easy to use on any Apple mobile device, including iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. However, if you want to try using the app on an Android device, you cannot download it as a standalone app from the Google Play Store. Meanwhile, Google Maps is available for download on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, which means you can use it on iOS or Android mobile devices.
If you want to use Apple Maps on an Android device, you’ll need to use it through a web browser, such as Safari, Edge, Chrome, or Firefox. Since you’re not using the actual Apple Maps app, you’ll have functionality limitations.
For example, if you have saved locations through your account with Apple Maps, you cannot sign in to the account and access the saved information when you run it through a browser. Since the ability to use Apple Maps in a browser has only been around for quite a short time, Apple will likely continue to add it.
International travelers may notice limited information with Apple
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Adjusting to driving outside the United States can be difficult, as you may have to drive on the left side of the road or try to read metric speed limit signs. However, using your favorite mapping app while traveling internationally can make the process more enjoyable. Google Maps tends to offer additional information about international locations, especially if you’re traveling outside of major cities, giving it an important advantage.
As an added benefit for an international traveler, Google reviews of businesses in other countries tend to be more detailed and numerous than those found on Apple Maps. You can access these reviews directly through Google Maps. If you don’t know the country or city you’re traveling to, it’s extremely helpful to have this type of additional information before visiting restaurants or sites.
If your international trip involves Canada instead of going abroad, Google Maps continues to hold an advantage by providing more and more detailed reviews of businesses and restaurants in rural areas. For this reason, if you usually use Apple Maps, you may still want to download Google Maps and have it as a backup.
