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Apple Maps vs Google Maps

Apple Maps logo

Apple Maps

Maps

Web mapping and navigation application developed by Apple Inc

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Google Maps logo

Google Maps

Maps

Consumer navigation and local search app, distinct from the paid Google Maps Platform developer API

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Google Maps has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Apple Maps live traffic updates, public transit info, and satellite view all require an active internet connection, offline mode (iOS 17+) is limited to pre-downloaded areas for driving, walking, cycling, and transit directions; Google Maps location history (Timeline) is stored to the Google account unless disabled, and many users are unaware of how much of their movement is retained by default.
  • They diverge on capability: Apple Maps covers Core Functionality, Google Maps covers Turn-by-turn navigation.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Apple Maps and Google Maps actually diverge.

Attributes where Apple Maps and Google Maps differ
AttributeApple MapsGoogle Maps
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelfreemiumFree consumer app, funded by Google's advertising business
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsiOS, macOS, WebiOS, Android, Web
Founded2012Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Maps).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Apple Maps

  • Core Functionality
  • User Interface

Only in Google Maps

  • Turn-by-turn navigation
  • Local search
  • Offline maps
  • Street View
  • Timeline location history
  • Live transit and incident reporting

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Apple Maps

  • Turn-by-turn driving, walking, and cycling navigationnot Google Maps
  • Public transit directions with real-time schedules (subways, buses, trains, ferries)not Google Maps
  • Offline turn-by-turn directions for pre-downloaded areas (iOS 17+)not Google Maps
  • Augmented-reality immersive walking directions in supported citiesnot Google Maps
  • Saving custom hiking/walking routes, including U.S. national park hikes, for offline accessnot Google Maps

Google Maps

  • Getting turn-by-turn driving or transit directions to a destinationnot Apple Maps
  • Searching for and comparing nearby restaurants, shops or services with reviewsnot Apple Maps
  • Downloading an offline map before travelling somewhere with unreliable data coveragenot Apple Maps
  • Checking real time traffic conditions before or during a drivenot Apple Maps

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Apple Maps

  • Live traffic updates, public transit info, and satellite view all require an active internet connection, offline mode (iOS 17+) is limited to pre-downloaded areas for driving, walking, cycling, and transit directions
  • Apple Maps for the web is only in public beta, not a full-featured release
  • Feature depth (e.g. immersive walking AR directions, detailed transit) is strongest on newer iPhones/iOS versions, leaving older devices with a reduced experience

Google Maps

  • Location history (Timeline) is stored to the Google account unless disabled, and many users are unaware of how much of their movement is retained by default.
  • Local business rankings and prominent ads mix paid placement with organic results, so top results are not purely a relevance ranking.
  • Offline maps expire after a period and must be manually refreshed, which can catch travellers out if they rely on an old download without checking it.
  • Public transit data quality varies significantly by city and country, and is considerably weaker or absent in many smaller or lower-income regions.
  • It is a different product from Google Maps Platform, the paid developer API, and businesses evaluating navigation for their own app need to compare that API's pricing separately rather than assuming free consumer access extends to embedding.

Pricing, plan by plan

Apple Maps

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Apple Maps review.

Google Maps

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited navigation and local search
    • Offline maps included
    • No subscription tier for the consumer app

Which should you pick?

Choose Apple Maps if

  • You need core functionality.
  • You work on iOS, macOS, Web.
  • You also want user interface.
Apple Maps review

Choose Google Maps if

  • You need turn-by-turn navigation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want local search.
Google Maps review

Questions people ask

Is Apple Maps or Google Maps better?
Neither clearly leads. Apple Maps starts at On request and Google Maps at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Apple Maps or Google Maps?
Google Maps has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Apple Maps and Free for Google Maps.
Does Apple Maps or Google Maps run on more platforms?
Apple Maps runs on iOS, macOS, Web. Google Maps runs on iOS, Android, Web.
Can I use Google Maps for free?
Yes. Google Maps has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Apple Maps starts at On request.
What is Apple Maps best used for?
Apple Maps is most often used for turn-by-turn driving, walking, and cycling navigation, public transit directions with real-time schedules (subways, buses, trains, ferries), offline turn-by-turn directions for pre-downloaded areas (ios 17+), augmented-reality immersive walking directions in supported cities. Of those, turn-by-turn driving, walking, and cycling navigation and public transit directions with real-time schedules (subways, buses, trains, ferries) are not what Google Maps is typically brought in for.
What can Apple Maps do that Google Maps cannot?
Apple Maps covers Core Functionality, User Interface. Google Maps covers Turn-by-turn navigation, Local search, Offline maps, Street View.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Apple Maps: Is there a cost to integrate Apple Maps into my app?

The Apple Maps pricing page does not disclose whether MapKit or MapKit JS integration is free or paid. You would need to consult Apple's developer documentation for current pricing and licensing terms.

Source
Google Maps: Is Google Maps free?

Yes, the consumer app is free with no subscription for navigation, local search or offline maps.

Apple Maps: What are the usage limits for Apple Maps integration?

The pricing page does not specify any rate limits, monthly minimums, or usage caps for MapKit or MapKit JS. This information is available in Apple's developer documentation.

Source
Google Maps: Is this the same as Google Maps Platform?

No, Google Maps Platform is a separate, metered API product sold to developers embedding map functionality into their own apps and websites, with its own usage-based pricing.

Apple Maps: Are there different pricing tiers for MapKit and MapKit JS?

The Apple Maps page mentions MapKit for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS apps, and MapKit JS for websites, but does not provide pricing details or tier information for either option.

Source
Google Maps: Does Google Maps track my location history?

It can, through the optional Timeline feature, which is on by default in some configurations and can be reviewed or disabled in Google account settings.

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