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Maps · head to head

MAPS.ME vs NexTraq

MAPS.ME logo

MAPS.ME

Maps

Free, offline maps application based on OpenStreetMap data

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite
NexTraq logo

NexTraq

Fleet Management

US small-fleet telematics now absorbed into Michelin Connected Fleet

From
On request
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only MAPS.ME has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: MAPS.ME mobile-only - no web or desktop navigation client; NexTraq the NexTraq brand has been absorbed into Michelin Connected Fleet, so the product name, the account team and eventually the platform underneath you are all subject to a consolidation plan you have no say in.
  • They diverge on capability: MAPS.ME covers Core Functionality, NexTraq covers Vehicle tracking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which MAPS.ME and NexTraq actually diverge.

Attributes where MAPS.ME and NexTraq differ
AttributeMAPS.MENexTraq
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelUnknownquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsiOS, AndroidWeb, iOS, Android
CategoryMapsFleet Management
Founded2011Unknown

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

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 MAPS.ME

  • Core Functionality
  • User Interface

Only in NexTraq

  • Vehicle tracking
  • Hours of service
  • Fuel and idling reporting
  • Maintenance scheduling
  • Job dispatch
  • Driver scorecards

What people use each for

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

MAPS.ME

  • Downloading offline maps for travel without connectivitynot NexTraq
  • Turn-by-turn driving, walking, and cycling navigation without datanot NexTraq
  • Finding points of interest and hiking trailsnot NexTraq
  • Following built-in travel guidesnot NexTraq
  • Hotel booking via Booking.com integrationnot NexTraq

NexTraq

  • A North American trades or field service fleet that wants tracking, dispatch and ELD compliance from one mid-market vendornot MAPS.ME
  • An operator already buying Michelin tyres and fleet services that can negotiate telematics into a wider commercial agreementnot MAPS.ME
  • A fleet replacing an ageing tracking system that values an owner with a large corporate balance sheet over a venture-funded challengernot MAPS.ME
  • A distribution business needing straightforward fuel and idling reporting to justify a driver behaviour programmenot MAPS.ME

Where each one falls short

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

MAPS.ME

  • Mobile-only - no web or desktop navigation client
  • Free tier limits offline map downloads and shows monetization prompts
  • No native Windows, macOS, or Linux app
  • Map data comes from the OpenStreetMap community rather than a commercial map provider

NexTraq

  • The NexTraq brand has been absorbed into Michelin Connected Fleet, so the product name, the account team and eventually the platform underneath you are all subject to a consolidation plan you have no say in.
  • Michelin is merging three separately engineered telematics products, which historically means feature freezes on the older platforms and a migration that existing customers pay for in disruption rather than cash.
  • The feature set is mid-market and unexceptional, so it rarely wins a technical evaluation against Geotab or Samsara on capability alone.
  • Contracts bundle hardware into multi-year terms, so a fleet that shrinks or is acquired continues paying for devices, and early exit triggers hardware recovery costs.
  • The integration ecosystem is small and the API is not a selling point, so connecting telematics data to job costing or payroll usually means custom work or scheduled file exports.

Pricing, plan by plan

MAPS.ME

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the MAPS.ME review.

NexTraq

On request
  • NexTraq$undefined/year
    • Per vehicle subscription with hardware bundled into the term
    • Multi-year agreements are standard
    • ELD and dispatch modules priced as tiers

Which should you pick?

Choose MAPS.ME if

  • You need core functionality.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android.
  • You also want user interface.
MAPS.ME review

Choose NexTraq if

  • You need vehicle tracking.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want hours of service.
NexTraq review

Questions people ask

Is MAPS.ME or NexTraq better?
Neither clearly leads. MAPS.ME starts at Free and NexTraq at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, MAPS.ME or NexTraq?
MAPS.ME has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for MAPS.ME and On request for NexTraq.
Does MAPS.ME or NexTraq run on more platforms?
MAPS.ME runs on iOS, Android. NexTraq runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use MAPS.ME for free?
Yes. MAPS.ME has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. NexTraq starts at On request.
What is MAPS.ME best used for?
MAPS.ME is most often used for downloading offline maps for travel without connectivity, turn-by-turn driving, walking, and cycling navigation without data, finding points of interest and hiking trails, following built-in travel guides. Of those, downloading offline maps for travel without connectivity and turn-by-turn driving, walking, and cycling navigation without data are not what NexTraq is typically brought in for.
What can MAPS.ME do that NexTraq cannot?
MAPS.ME covers Core Functionality, User Interface. NexTraq covers Vehicle tracking, Hours of service, Fuel and idling reporting, Maintenance scheduling.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

MAPS.ME: Is MAPS.ME free to download and use?

MAPS.ME is available as a free download for both iOS via App Store and Android via Google Play. No pricing information is published on the MAPS.ME website, suggesting a free service model.

Source
NexTraq: Is NexTraq still a separate company?

No. Michelin bought it in 2017 and has folded it into Michelin Connected Fleet, together with Masternaut in Europe and Sascar in Brazil.

MAPS.ME: What features are included in MAPS.ME?

MAPS.ME is marketed as 'not just an app but a friend in all your adventures.' Full feature details require downloading the app from App Store or Google Play. Specific limitations or premium features are not disclosed on the website.

Source
NexTraq: Will my NexTraq system be migrated to a different platform?

Assume so, eventually. Ask directly what the migration timetable is, what happens to historical data, and who bears the cost of re-fitting or re-configuring devices.

MAPS.ME: How does MAPS.ME make money if the app is free?

MAPS.ME does not publish pricing or monetization details on its website. The app is available free on both iOS and Android platforms, but the business model for generating revenue is not disclosed publicly.

Source
NexTraq: Does buying Michelin tyres get me a better telematics price?

It is worth testing. The commercial logic of the acquisition is bundling vehicle services, and that is where discounting is most likely to be available.

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