Not Google Maps, not Waze: here are 5 navigation app alternatives for Android Auto

Navigation apps have become an important part of our lives. Whether we’re passing through our own city or going on a road trip, navigation apps not only help us determine the best route, but can also display traffic information and highlight businesses such as gas stations and restaurants, electric vehicle charging stations, and highway rest areas. Although Google Maps and Waze are two of the most popular navigation apps among Android Auto users, they are not the only navigation apps available on the Google Play Store. There are several reputable free Google Maps alternatives, as well as paid offerings with premium features.

These apps either attempt to fix problems users have with Google Maps, such as Google’s data collection and privacy issues, or include additional features. There are also options that offer an ad-free experience or use completely different map data than Google Maps or Waze. We have selected some of the navigation apps that you can consider using with Android Auto in your car. Here we make our recommendations based on user feedback on the Google Play Store and our own coverage of different mapping apps.

TomTom may not sell all of its hardware models in the United States, but the company still offers a pretty decent maps and navigation app that includes support for Android Auto. What’s even better is that the app is free. It offers turn-by-turn navigation, real-time traffic information and details of speed restrictions right on your screen. You can also download maps offline to run the app seamlessly even when you don’t have access to a data connection.

Additionally, Android users benefit from a navigation option designed for electric vehicles (EVs), which includes information on the nearest charging stations and much more. You can even configure your EV profile to get more accurate results. The app also has a distraction-free, ad-free interface that makes it easy to view your routes and other map details. Most importantly, it doesn’t track your data and respects your privacy.

Android users have a favorable opinion of the app, giving it a rating of 4.3 out of 5. Some said they liked the level of detail in the maps and the clean interface. On the downside, some users mention that they sometimes get inaccurate data, especially with businesses, and that performance is slow.

Sygic GPS Navigation is a feature-rich alternative to Google Maps that not only includes essentials like turn-by-turn navigation, walking directions and points of interest (POIs), but also offline navigation, live traffic alerts and speed camera information. You also get lane assistance, information about traffic incidents on your route, fuel prices, and much more. However, its free version is quite limited and only provides access to maps. For everything else, including Android Auto support, you’ll need the Premium+ subscription, which costs $12 for three months or $20 per year. Sygic also offers a motorcycle mode as an add-on for a winding route and a glove-friendly user interface. This mode will cost you $50 (one-time purchase).

Google Play users have given the app a decent rating of 4.1 out of five and like its detailed offline maps and user-friendly interface. However, some users express concerns about the quality of voice navigation prompts, excessive battery drain, and constant upselling.

OsmAnd offers comprehensive maps and tons of control over your overall browsing experience. All the essentials are there, including the ability to download maps, turn-by-turn voice navigation, lane guidance and speed limits. However, Android Auto support is a paid feature, available with a Maps+ or OsmAnd Pro subscription, which also adds several other useful features. The annual Maps+ subscription costs $15, or you can get it as a one-time purchase for $70. OsmAnd Pro subscription costs $6 per month or $40 per year. You can also download the OsmAnd+ app for $70 and access Android Auto support. If you want to test the app in your car before spending money, a 10-day trial for Android Auto support is available in the free version of the app.

OsmAnd sets itself apart from other navigation apps with its support for custom map layers, contour lines, satellite overlays, and topographic maps. It is also ideal for rural navigation, dirt roads or off-road driving. Google Play Store users have given the app a 4.5 out of five stars. They highlight the application’s support for importing GPX (GPS Exchange Format) files from other sources and the availability of many features. However, some users note the steep learning curve and the need to get a paid subscription for some of the essential features, like downloading more than seven maps or accessing Android Auto.

If you own a motorcycle equipped with an Android Auto compatible display unit, Calimoto could be a very good option for you. It’s a navigation app designed for motorcyclists and is full of exciting and useful scenic routes that you don’t usually find as easily on Google Maps or Waze. You can use it to avoid the boring highway and take back roads or other less traveled paths to make your ride a little more enjoyable. After all, riding is often less about reaching the destination and more about the journey.

Calimoto offers turn-by-turn navigation with voice directions and can also tell you about points of interest on your route, including gas stations, restaurants, and even famous biker hangouts. The app also supports offline maps and navigation, ensuring that you won’t be stuck in a remote area. Although you can plan your trips or import routes from other apps and view POIs for free, you will need a premium subscription to access the rest of the features, including maps and offline navigation. Membership starts at $13 per week or $80 for a year. There is also a 14-day trial to evaluate the app.

Calimoto has received generally positive feedback from Android users on the Google Play Store, with an average rating of 4.3 out of five. Users find it easy to plan routes, love its interface, and appreciate the inclusion of color-coded speed limits for roads. However, some find it a bit expensive and note the outdated data for closed roads.

Years before Google Maps came along, MapQuest launched the world’s first online map and navigation feature in 1996. For nearly a decade after that, it was the go-to mapping app for many. However, the rise of smartphones and the popularity of Google Maps led to an erosion of MapQuest’s market share. However, MapQuest is back and introduced a proper app in March 2026. It went viral later that year after refusing to rename Lake Ontario to Lake America, following President Trump’s executive order, and even dethroned Google Maps as the top travel app. It also didn’t wait and quickly supported Android Auto. As a result, MapQuest is another navigation app that you can consider as an alternative to Google Maps and Waze.

The MapQuest app offers maps and navigation information for the United States and Canada, including satellite imagery, turn-by-turn voice directions, walking directions, real-time traffic updates, and optimized driving directions. You also have a speedometer to compare your speed with the speed limit, favorites and support for multi-point routes. Plus, it can display points of interest and local weather, and there’s even a Wear OS version of the app.

MapQuest has a solid rating of 4.6 out of five on the Google Play Store. Keep in mind, however, that this rating could have been influenced by some recent decisions by MapQuest. That said, users like the Android Auto support and the many voice options for directions. However, as you might expect, the relatively new support for Android Auto means you’ll have to deal with a few rough edges, including latency issues and a heavily zoomed perspective. The company also calls it a beta release. However, many of these issues may be fixed soon as MapQuest works to improve the experience.

Although Google Maps and Waze dominate the mapping and navigation landscape on Android Auto, there is a decent selection of alternatives in the Google Play Store. When reviewing these choices, we first focused on apps that are confirmed to work on Android Auto, as well as offering turn-by-turn navigation assistance, either completely free or with the help of a paid add-on.

With this feature set established, we focused on mapping apps that received generally positive feedback from Android users based on reviews posted on the Play Store. Beyond the written words, we also took into account cold, hard numbers: all of our recommendations earned an average rating of at least four out of five stars on the Google Play Store.