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Maps · head to head

SW Maps vs Sygic GPS Navigation

SW Maps logo

SW Maps

Maps

Free Android GIS data collector that pairs with external RTK GNSS receivers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Sygic GPS Navigation logo

Sygic GPS Navigation

Maps

Premium navigation app offering high-quality 3D offline maps from TomTom

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: SW Maps android only. There is no iOS version and no sign of one, which rules it out for organisations that issue iPhones and iPads to field staff.; Sygic GPS Navigation offline map downloads limited by area size, requiring multiple selections for larger countries
  • They diverge on capability: SW Maps covers Custom feature layers, Sygic GPS Navigation covers Core Functionality.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which SW Maps and Sygic GPS Navigation actually diverge.

Attributes where SW Maps and Sygic GPS Navigation differ
AttributeSW MapsSygic GPS Navigation
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feeUnknown
PlatformsAndroidiOS, Android, Apple Watch
FoundedUnknown2004

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 SW Maps

  • Custom feature layers
  • External GNSS support
  • Offline basemaps
  • Geospatial PDF layers
  • Vector import
  • Photo and media capture
  • Export formats
  • NTRIP client

Only in Sygic GPS Navigation

  • Core Functionality
  • User Interface

What people use each for

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

SW Maps

  • An NGO or municipal utility mapping water points, pipe networks or road assets on a budget that cannot absorb per-user GIS subscriptionsnot Sygic GPS Navigation
  • A survey team pairing a low-cost RTK receiver with Android tablets to collect centimetre-accurate attributed features without buying field software seatsnot Sygic GPS Navigation
  • A university field course teaching GNSS data collection where every student needs the tool on their own devicenot Sygic GPS Navigation
  • A consultant doing a one-off asset inventory who needs shapefile or GeoPackage output and does not want to start an annual subscription for a three-week jobnot Sygic GPS Navigation

Sygic GPS Navigation

  • Turn-by-turn car navigation with offline maps (no data connection needed)not SW Maps
  • Real-time traffic rerouting and speed camera/limit warningsnot SW Maps
  • Motorcycle-specific navigation (twisty roads, elevation tracking)not SW Maps
  • CarPlay-integrated in-dash navigationnot SW Maps
  • Trip planning with POI search, parking and fuel price infonot SW Maps

Where each one falls short

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

SW Maps

  • Android only. There is no iOS version and no sign of one, which rules it out for organisations that issue iPhones and iPads to field staff.
  • There is no back end: no user management, no central project sync, no audit trail. Data lives on the device until someone exports it, and a lost tablet is lost data.
  • No commercial support contract exists, so an organisation with a compliance requirement for vendor support cannot use it for regulated work regardless of technical fit.
  • It is maintained by a small consultancy as a side product of its own project work, so the roadmap follows Softwel’s needs and a feature you depend on may never be prioritised.
  • Form logic is basic compared with dedicated survey platforms: no meaningful skip logic, validation or multi-user assignment, so complex questionnaires quickly outgrow it.

Sygic GPS Navigation

  • Offline map downloads limited by area size, requiring multiple selections for larger countries
  • Occasional inaccuracies in POIs and speed limit data in less-updated regions
  • Battery consumption increases significantly with AR navigation and dashcam features enabled
  • Limited free features; most functionality requires Premium+ subscription

Pricing, plan by plan

SW Maps

Free
  • SW MapsFree
    • All features included
    • External RTK GNSS support
    • Unlimited layers and exports

Sygic GPS Navigation

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Sygic GPS Navigation review.

Which should you pick?

Choose SW Maps if

  • You need custom feature layers.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Android.
  • You also want external gnss support.
SW Maps review

Choose Sygic GPS Navigation if

  • You need core functionality.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Apple Watch.
  • You also want user interface.
Sygic GPS Navigation review

Questions people ask

Is SW Maps or Sygic GPS Navigation better?
Neither clearly leads. SW Maps starts at Free and Sygic GPS Navigation at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, SW Maps or Sygic GPS Navigation?
SW Maps starts at Free and Sygic GPS Navigation at Free.
Does SW Maps or Sygic GPS Navigation run on more platforms?
SW Maps runs on Android. Sygic GPS Navigation runs on iOS, Android, Apple Watch.
Can I use SW Maps for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is SW Maps best used for?
SW Maps is most often used for an ngo or municipal utility mapping water points, pipe networks or road assets on a budget that cannot absorb per-user gis subscriptions, a survey team pairing a low-cost rtk receiver with android tablets to collect centimetre-accurate attributed features without buying field software seats, a university field course teaching gnss data collection where every student needs the tool on their own device, a consultant doing a one-off asset inventory who needs shapefile or geopackage output and does not want to start an annual subscription for a three-week job. Of those, an ngo or municipal utility mapping water points, pipe networks or road assets on a budget that cannot absorb per-user gis subscriptions and a survey team pairing a low-cost rtk receiver with android tablets to collect centimetre-accurate attributed features without buying field software seats are not what Sygic GPS Navigation is typically brought in for.
What can SW Maps do that Sygic GPS Navigation cannot?
SW Maps covers Custom feature layers, External GNSS support, Offline basemaps, Geospatial PDF layers. Sygic GPS Navigation covers Core Functionality, User Interface.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

SW Maps: Is SW Maps really free?

Yes. It is free with no advertising and no paid tier. There is no subscription and no feature paywall.

Sygic GPS Navigation: Does Sygic work without internet?

Yes. Sygic Premium+ includes offline 3D maps with monthly updates, allowing navigation in areas without cellular coverage.

Source
SW Maps: Does it support RTK receivers?

Yes, over Bluetooth or USB serial, with NTRIP correction support, antenna height and per-point fix quality recording.

Sygic GPS Navigation: What is the cost of Sygic Premium+ subscription?

Sygic Premium+ costs €29.99 per year or €13.99 for three months. Premium lifetime licenses are no longer available.

Source
SW Maps: Is there an iOS version?

No. Android only.

Sygic GPS Navigation: Does Sygic work with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto?

Yes. Sygic integrates with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, including specialized versions for trucks, caravans, and motorcycles.

Source
SW Maps: Who maintains it?

Softwel, an engineering consultancy in Kathmandu, Nepal, which built it for its own infrastructure projects.

Sygic GPS Navigation: What maps and regions does Sygic support?

Sygic covers navigation globally with particular focus on Europe. Users must download offline maps by region, with size limitations that may require multiple downloads for larger countries.

Source
SW Maps: Can we get support?

Not contractually. There is no commercial support agreement, which is the main reason organisations with compliance obligations choose a paid alternative.

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