Top 5 best navigators for Android. Which navigator is better to install on Android? Strengths of Navitel Navigator

If you have a smartphone or tablet with GPS and GLONASS support, it would be strange not to use it for navigation. And in order for the device to learn how to lay out routes for you, it is enough to equip it with a navigator application with maps of the area. There are quite a lot of applications of this kind, but not all of them are equally useful. We hope this article will help you choose a navigator for Android that will satisfy your needs in the most worthy way. The rating is based on the opinions of experienced drivers and travelers.

Waze

The developer positions Waze as a navigator that the Russian driving community helps develop. And, I must say, such collective support is beneficial for the application: many drivers switch to Waze from other navigators that they had previously used for years.

The program allows each traffic participant to add information to it themselves: report accidents, traffic jams, road works, traffic police ambushes, prices at gas stations and other things that may be useful to other users.

Waze features and functionality

Drivers value Waze for its up-to-date information, laconic interface, stable operation and, of course, free use. A big plus is that the program does not lose routes when Internet access is lost and automatically stops accessing GPS if not used during stops. This reduces the rate at which the battery drains.

Among the shortcomings of Waze, some users included the lack of a 3D mode and not always working correctly voice search.

Yandex.Navigator

Another free application that travelers have ranked among the top navigators for mobile devices. Contains very detailed and detailed information useful for both drivers and pedestrians who are in unfamiliar areas in Russia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Moldova and even Turkey (note to tourists).

Features of Yandex.Navigator

• Construction of up to three route options to a given object, taking into account traffic jams and other road events.
• Warning about toll roads and ferry crossings.
• Displays the number of kilometers left to travel to the final destination, as well as the remaining time until arrival.
• Voice accompaniment of the trip with notifications about maneuvers, speed limits, road events, radars and traffic police crews, etc. Displaying them as symbols on the map.
• Driver warning about speeding.
• Voice control. The option is designed much better than in Waze. By activating control of the “Listen, Yandex” command, you can request a route to a desired point or search for an object on the map.
• Reporting information about traffic events to the program, including by voice.
• Storing the history of trips and routes.
• Search for parking lots (all - only in Moscow within the Third Ring Road; in other places of the capital and some large cities - St. Petersburg, Kazan, Kyiv, Minsk, Nizhny Novgorod, etc., separate large parking lots are displayed).

The best thing that, according to users, Yandex.Navigator has is the coverage of a large territory (especially convenient for those who travel a lot in Russia and neighboring countries) and the ability to control without hands. Disadvantages: maps are not always up-to-date, especially in regions remote from the center and small towns. And also that the program takes up too much space in the device’s memory due to the inability to move cards to removable media.

Despite the fact that it is a paid application (the cost of content starts from 560 rubles), it is preferred by more than 20 million users around the world. After all, this is, in fact, the standard by which developers of other navigation programs are compared. Among its analogues, it has perhaps the largest range of functions, and there is no driver who would say that Navitel’s capabilities are not enough for him.

A short list of functions and features of Navitel

If you install Navitel from the store Google Play, he will be tied to yours account Google, not to the device. Thanks to this, you can use the program on different gadgets.

Navitel's greatest strengths, according to drivers, are rich functionality, always up-to-date information, a large selection of maps and technical support. The reasons for negative reviews are, as a rule, limitations of the 7-day trial version, local failures, minor inaccuracies on the maps - the same as with all similar programs.

Maps.me

Maps.me is a free Android navigator with open source code from Mail.Ru Group. It also works without Internet access if you download the necessary maps in advance. Designed not only for drivers: in addition to roads, Maps.me maps contain walking and cycling tourist routes in many countries around the world.

Key features of Maps.me

• Saving mobile internet traffic and battery charge. Important for those traveling by bicycle and on foot, especially where there is no cellular coverage (for example, in the forest).
• The routes are always up to date and very detailed. Maps include features that other apps don't have, as the latter are more geared toward the needs of motorists rather than pedestrians.
• On walking and cycling routes, the degrees of slope of the area are indicated - downhill or uphill.
• Users of the program, of whom there are more than 65 million worldwide, participate in the compilation of maps. And you can join their community too.
• In addition to creating routes, Maps.me helps you search for various objects on the ground. Search categories: catering outlets, hotels and hostels, ATMs, public transport stops, attractions. The search function is available both online and offline (offline).
• You can book a hotel room directly from the app (only available online through the Booking.com website).
• The program allows you to send messages to your loved ones indicating your current location. For this purpose they can be used cellular communication(SMS), social media and web messengers.

The main advantages of Maps.me, according to experienced travelers, are: free access to all functions, a large selection of maps (the latter, by the way, are well optimized for mobile devices: with the same amount of content as in other programs, they take up much less space in the gadget’s memory), as well as taking into account the needs of pedestrians and cyclists.

The application has, perhaps, only one significant drawback. Because maps are created by users, the data often contains errors. In addition, some maps are better designed than others. This again comes down to user engagement: where people are more active, the maps are more detailed and accurate. And vice versa.

Google maps, transport and navigation

is another free and widely available Android navigation app. Used and supported by perhaps the world's most impressive user community. Helps you navigate unfamiliar terrain and plan a route for travel in almost any locality on the globe.

Features of Google.Maps

• Quickly build routes taking into account the situation on the road. If obstacles appear - traffic jams, accidents, etc., the route is automatically rebuilt. Automatic selection of the least congested lane.
• Dynamic POI.
• The ability to quickly obtain information about objects of interest in the area, for example, catering outlets. Information about the latter may include user ratings, interior photos, reviews, opening hours, prices, menus, etc.
• Possibility to leave reviews about the places visited.
• Always up-to-date information on public transport routes.
• Unique feature: displays the interior layouts of large public buildings: shopping centers, train stations, airports and stadiums, which helps visitors not get lost in them.
• Description of more than 100 million objects around the world, as well as more than 220 regions and countries.

Travelers value Google maps primarily for its simplicity, accessibility and convenience. And many people called the strange experiments of the developers, such as the integration of the Pac-Man game into the program, as shortcomings, or rather, excesses, which only distracts the driver while driving and does not carry anything useful.

GPS navigation on a smartphone is one of the most popular functions for modern people. After all, it is so important to be mobile and have up-to-date access to data about your location. Not only when exploring a foreign city, but also if you need to find some street in your own, traveling or following some route for work purposes, it is important to get to the required place as quickly as possible.

But how to find the best navigator for Android? After all, there are a huge number of such navigators. And there is simply no time to test each one. That is why we carefully analyzed this software and especially for you we compiled the top navigators for Android in 2018-2019, which will help to significantly optimize traffic on pedestrian and automobile routes.

#10 – MapFactor

This program is free and can be used on phones and tablets on the Android platform. Since the cards are installed directly into the gadget’s memory (optionally on an SD card), it is quite possible to use them without an Internet connection, which is very convenient. Maps are updated periodically. As a rule, this happens once a month.

The functionality of the application allows you to plan your route in advance, choosing the most best option from the list of those offered to choose from. What is noteworthy is that if you exceed the speed limit, a characteristic sound warning appears. In addition, this free program fully satisfies the demand for full-fledged satellite navigation.

Important features of this program are:

• Drawing up a route plan;
• Intuitive navigation in various languages;
• Color schemes (day and night);
• You can add your own routes and places;
• Rotate the map in the direction of your movement;
• Permanent updates and periodic map improvements;
• Work in 2D and 3D display format.

#9 – SYGIC

The SYGIC program has a worthy place in the category of the best navigators for Android. This is a modern application that integrates 3D offline maps from TomTom. The functionality allows you to find your way even in a completely unfamiliar place. Since the developer is trying to be among the leaders, an innovative option is provided to give commands by voice. The main purpose of such an application is to help motorists. Using the functionality of the program, it is easy to control the situation on the road, create your route almost instantly, without wasting time on traffic jams.

• Ability to work offline without an active connection to the World Wide Web;
• Projection (navigation recommendations can be projected onto the windshield of a car, this is the highlight of the program);
• Search for the most successful route among the many offered to choose from;
• Driver warnings about speed limits, sharp turns, cameras that monitor traffic;
• Maps are constantly updated;
• Built-in information about attractions.

No. 8 – OsmAnd

The program will be a good assistant for tourists, drivers, and those who are in a foreign city on a business trip. It is implemented in two versions - paid and free. Unfortunately, the functionality free version substantially cropped. For example, it is limited in loading maps and does not provide support for local Wikipedia. The paid version can also be used while away active connection to the Internet. Access to the network is only required to download the program, maps, and then you can use the navigator offline.

Features of the program are:

• Availability of free and paid versions;
• Switching to night and day mode;
• Possibility of use without an Internet connection;
• Availability useful functions– changing the text size, the “show horizontal lines” option, “rendering style”, etc.

No. 7 – Navigator Seven Roads

If you need high-quality navigation in Russia, this option is quite suitable. What are its advantages and features? IN Play Market about 15 thousand users rated this navigator 4.2 points, which is quite good. The program itself is easy to use, its interface is very comfortable and intuitive.

The main features of the application are:

• Ability to use maps offline: download once and use;
• You can search for an object by name, not just by address;
• Choosing the most convenient and shortest route;
• Voice prompts;
• Saving routes;
• Customizing the program to suit your requirements.

No. 6 – Offline navigator OsmAnd for Android

A very worthy option for high-quality navigation that captivates simple interface and a whole package of convenient options.

Among the features of the program, the following deserve attention:

• Possibility of use without a connection to the World Wide Web.
• Smart routing functionality.
• In case of deviation from the previously specified route, it can be recalculated.
• Determining the time remaining before arriving at your destination.
• Ability to track movement on the map and zoom objects.
• Voice prompts.

No. 5 – Navitel GPS & Maps

The program attracts with its very accurate navigation even in offline mode, detailed high-quality maps of 64 countries and other useful functionality.

Main features this application:

• Ability to work on almost all phone models, even the weakest ones;
• Accuracy, speed and a whole set of the most accurate and up-to-date maps for many cities in the world;
• Work in the absence of an active Internet connection;
• Convenient navigation;
• Informative cards.

#4 – Waze

Free program for fast and easy-to-use navigation. The program is available not only on the Android platform, but also on almost all other operating systems, which makes it especially convenient.

The features of this application are:

• Ability to monitor traffic conditions online;
• Laying out the most optimal and shortest routes;
• Providing information about the location of radars.

No. 3 – 2GIS

High quality modern program for comfortable navigation, with a pleasant interface that is convenient enough for daily use.

The main features of this application are the following:

• Selection of the most successful route option, taking into account the current traffic situation;
• You can calculate the time it will take to achieve the final goal;
• Displays information about the distance between objects;
• The ability to automatically change the route, taking into account open bridges, traffic jams, blocked streets, etc.;
• Warning about speeding and presence of traffic police cameras;
• Building a route bypassing toll roads;
• Availability of night mode;
• Possibility to work offline, but in this case you will not be able to use the option to build a route, taking into account the current traffic congestion.

#2 – Google Maps Navigation

This application is an indispensable assistant on the road. It has truly powerful functionality that will delight you with its comfort and ease of use. Using such a program, you will spend a minimum of time on the road even during the busiest times. You can easily find a cafe, restaurant or gas station along the road, or find your way around a completely unfamiliar city.

The important features of this application are the following:

• GPR navigation support;
• Information about traffic jams, public transport;
• Automatic route restructuring, taking into account the current situation on the road;
• In addition, such an application will tell you in advance which lane is best to choose for exiting or turning;
• Use offline, without an active Internet connection;
• You can plan your route by car, on foot or by public transport;
• The application database includes data and maps of 220 countries, descriptions of over 100 million places.

No. 1 – Yandex Navigator

The main features of this program are:

• Ability to plan a route taking into account traffic jams;
• Voice prompts, including in the background;
• Reflection of traffic events and even house plans;
• Demonstration of the current speed, distance to the target and the expected time it will take for the route;
• Option to search nearby for necessary facilities, such as restaurants, cinemas, gas stations;
• Work online and offline;
• Constant traffic updates in real time;
• Travel history;
• Reflection of data on permitted free and paid parking spaces;
• Hints that a parking space has become available;
• Adding your own comments to places or routes;
• Markings on maps – information about road accidents and road repairs;
• Satellite view.

For the modern user, there are many high-quality navigators to choose from. The functionality of each program is different, but each of them is able to satisfy basic needs when moving around a large city or an unfamiliar place. Which navigator is better to install on Android - the decision is up to you.

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GPS navigation is one of the most popular features on a smartphone. When exploring a city by car or bicycle, it is essential to follow the best route. Navigators will help you optimize auto and pedestrian routes and get to the desired coordinates faster.

We compared popular, top mobile navigators. Main criteria: ease of use, functionality and price (free) of the navigator. At the end of the review, we will summarize: which navigator is the best.

Participants:

Over time, the review will be updated with new GPS programs. If, in your opinion, there are more interesting navigators for Android, leave your comments at the end of the article, through the contact form. Thank you!

Google Maps for Android - standard Android navigator

Considering Google Maps a year ago, we noted: some navigator functions have not been finalized or optimized. By 2019, the situation had improved markedly – ​​especially in terms of user experience. However, we note some of the rough edges of Google Maps.

The function of downloading offline maps appeared relatively recently. It allows you to plot routes and navigate on the map without an Internet connection. Due to the fact that offline maps are not yet a fully tested function, not everything is so smooth with it. However, like other Android navigators.

The inconvenience is that you cannot download maps for large regions of Ukraine, Russia, Belarus and other CIS countries. Only selected offline maps of large cities or regions are available. When driving outside the city limits, it is difficult for a motorist to do without online synchronization.

Disadvantages of Google Maps

1) The choice of locations and attractions in Google Maps is quite poor: to get full information about hotels, restaurants, shops, schools, etc. available nearby - you have to use third-party applets (Foursquare, TripAdvisor, Yandex.City).

2) No data on road accidents; You cannot add points with car accidents yourself, which would be quite useful for notifying other drivers.

3) In comparison with Yandex Navigator, there is no warning about speed control, there are no alternative voice assistants.

Advantages of Google Maps

However, Google Maps also has many positive aspects.

Yandex Navigator: navigator with voice control

Interface mobile version Yandex Navigator is well structured and clear. When driving a car along a route, it displays information about the approximate time remaining to the destination and the distance to the final point. If you need to stop at a service station, gas station or car wash along the way, you can specify an additional point on the Yandex Navigator map - and the route will be optimally recalculated taking into account the intermediate point. You can turn the traffic and directions layer on and off by pressing a single button with a yellow traffic light.

The exclusive features of the navigator include the night GPS mode for Android, where the map is displayed in dark colors, without distracting the driver’s attention when driving late and prevents the eyes from getting too tired when looking at objects. By the way, the range of searchable POI objects is really impressive. Along with the already familiar restaurants, ATMs and cinemas, you can use layers to display nearby communication points, post offices, salons and many other interesting places.

Another nice feature is voice control from your phone. Similar to Google Maps, you can search for the necessary objects on the map, request addresses on the map.

As for the program's offline operation, you can download GPS maps for Android for major settlements in Ukraine, Russia and Belarus. By turning on Yandex Navigator offline, you can view them, but plotting routes and searching for local attractions on the map is only possible if you have a network connection.

Thus, Yandex Navigator for Android leaves the most pleasant impression. The product claims to be the best free gps navigator and for Android in 2019.

Navitel: a well-designed GPS navigator for Android

Navitel Navigator is a GPS program from a leading developer in the field of navigation and digital map creation. To purchase the cards themselves, you will have to fork out a small amount, but if you wish, you can download them for free on torrents or file hosting sites (for example, on the pda forum).

Strengths of Navitel Navigator

1) Map display options: switch between 2D and 3D modes, which will be especially useful in some situations.

2) User-friendly interface. The lion's share of branded chips is available in the top line for quick access. Choosing between night and day skins

4) Switching between satellites: under any weather conditions, the map with POI is always available.

Note. Not long ago we did something for Android, where we listed in detail all the advantages and individual “features”.

Navitel Navigator: GPS routes on the screen

5) Convenient control. When navigating along a route, managing the map is quite intuitive and simple: there is a zoom function, rotation of the map according to movement, and the ability to switch between preset profiles for any type of transport.

6) Information content. The movement is visually accompanied by information about the speed of the object, the remaining time to reach the destination, the distance of the nearest turn and audio support. In general, the navigation is well thought out and intuitive.

Well-thought-out functional parts and high-quality design turn a mobile Navitel application as the main candidate in the nomination " Best gps navigator for Android.

Waze - an informative GPS navigator for Android

Waze (Free) – free navigator for Android with opensource code.

Benefits of Waze

1) The social features integrated into Waze greatly improve your driving experience. Waze users report problems on the road - be it repairs, accidents, traffic jams, traffic police posts, cameras and other “troubles”. Accordingly, other drivers are already aware of the changes. In addition to reviews, the application collects information from its own database on the server.

2) The map with routes is informative. Waze uses proven OSM maps. They are highly detailed and accurate.

3) Waze automatically reroutes if your phone crashes, the app crashes, or anything else that might interrupt your navigation. Standard Google Maps doesn't do this. Likewise, Waze makes it easy to view your route or map when needed and always returns to Automotive mode.

OsmAnd: navigation for Android in offline mode

Let's list the strengths of the OsmAnd navigator.

Pros of OsmAnd

1) Autonomy. OsmAnd is, first of all, a good offline navigator. Suitable for those who prefer to download maps to their gadget once and no longer connect to the Internet while in offline mode.

2) Cards. For navigation in OsmAnd, raster and vector maps of Open Street Maps are used, compiled by users of the service. They allow you to filter POI objects (attractions, museums, theaters, pharmacies, etc.) and select a profile for the corresponding vehicle. The travel route can be optimized taking into account the shortest distance, avoiding toll roads, dirt roads, ferries, and highways.

OsmAnd is one of the best navigators for Android

3) Customizable maps. You can add objects yourself, create or edit maps. Thanks to the support of plugins, the functionality of OsmAnd is significantly expanded: for example, you can activate the OsMo live monitoring system with tracking of other gadgets using the service; add to groups; download sea and ski maps; calculate optimal distances between specified points using GPX; impose contour lines and layers of relief, which will certainly be appreciated by tourists and athletes).

4) Additional functions. All standard features for GPS navigators are also present: voice control, assistant, screen reorientation, profile switching.

Maps.me

Maps.me is a GPS navigator, popular in Russia, the USA and Germany. Characterized by high accuracy and autonomy of cards.

Strengths of Maps.me

1) The accuracy and detail of maps is perhaps the most important thing, regardless of the type of transport. This navigator will be of interest to travelers and pedestrians, since the map displays the smallest details - trails, benches, names of objects.

2) Additional layers. Maps.me displays vector maps, through layers you can also display traffic jams and .

3) Lots of settings. In the maps.me settings you can change units of measurement, scaling, view your movement history, etc. There are navigation settings, in particular, you can configure auto zoom, voice instructions, and enable the display of speed cameras.

4) Switching navigation modes. The choice is car, pedestrian, public transport, taxi and bicycle.

5) Autonomy. Offline maps downloaded from mobile device, take up little space, yet work fully, as if the Internet were present. It is clear that realtime functions will not be available, but for a pedestrian or cyclist information about traffic jams is not as important as for motorists.

Disadvantages of Maps.me

1) Limited navigation for motorists. It’s difficult to call Maps.me a perfect car navigator. At a minimum, travel routes are not always lined up correctly, not to mention the fact that the navigator does not offer alternative options.

2) There are errors. Since the maps are developed by the community, the data is not always up to date, especially for remote places and villages.

3) Quite inconvenient map display mode. Maps look very dry, scaling may not work.

Which navigator is the best as of 2019?

Each of the Android navigators, in some aspects (functions, maps) is better than its competitors and is good in its own way. Which navigator is right for you depends on your preferences and beliefs. We hope that we helped you choose the right application and it will remain on your phone.

Yandex Navigator It is absolutely free and has excellent functionality. It wins the category "Best navigator for Android with support for Yandex Maps."

Navitel Navigator created and supported by the most famous company, so the quality of products and technical support are at their best - both for Android OS and other mobile devices.

Navigation app Waze- certainly attracts with its openness and free cards. However, like any developing product, this navigator is not perfect. We hope the growing community will have a positive impact on the quality of the application. As of 2019, alas, Waze maps are inferior in information content to the same Navitel or Google Maps.

Regarding OsmAnd, then this offline navigator for Android will serve perfectly in conditions where it is impossible to connect mobile device to the network and works using open technologies.

Google Maps- navigator with function voice control. The good thing is that it is available out of the box (that is, it is initially included in Android). Google Maps suitable for inexperienced travelers and drivers, they can be called one of the best offline navigators.

Maps.me will appeal to avid travelers and walkers. The navigator will delight you with detailed maps adapted for walking. We would recommend alternatives to motorists - Google Maps or Yandex Navigator.

We reviewed the best navigators for Android smartphones and tablets. Choose the best option that suits all your needs.

Yandex Navigator - great program for both motorists and pedestrians. Like Yandex Maps, stands out from its competitors with its attractive interface and rich functionality. Both applications display the highest quality and realistic view of the map from the satellite. You will be able to explore in detail the places of interest to you in the city. The software is most useful when traveling in the CIS countries.

Google Maps- a unique tool for travelers that will help not only plan a route, but also get acquainted in detail with all the attractions located nearby. The 3D Photo Tours tool, created for three-dimensional viewing of images anywhere in the world, deserves special attention. The user will also be able to read reviews of various establishments nearby, which will definitely be useful when choosing hotels and restaurants.

CityGuide And Waze will become good choice for drivers on long trips. Utilities are capable of notifying about traffic police posts and CCTV cameras in real time. Like Navitel, these programs have the option of determining traffic congestion on the roads, so they can plot a route to avoid traffic jams.

Among analogues CityGuide It features an integrated RosYama database, which provides the owner of the gadget with all the information about the condition of roads in the Russian Federation. Vaze includes a good speedometer with the ability fine tuning voice notifications at the slightest speed limit. Navitel known for its ability to quickly build alternative routes and uninterrupted offline operation.

If you are interested free application for Android with a good route building system for all types of transport and a search function for various establishments and attractions, choose MAPS.ME. Cyclists will find many benefits in the program TomTom GPS.

OsmAnd- good software that works without the Internet. Provides detailed data about public transport stops and routes, and can measure the distance you have traveled. GPS Sygic is notable for the presence of a Dashcam video recorder, you can record what is happening on the road. Thanks to the SOS option, the utility allows you to make emergency calls police or ambulance.

Solutions such as TourMap, CoPilot GPS, Navigon, Route 66 Navigate were not included in the rating. Each of them had their own shortcomings. This is mainly due to poorly detailed maps, a small number useful information on the screen, heavy load on the processor and battery, lack of support for GPS-GLONASS and other nuances.

If you were looking for a car navigator for your car, and not mobile phone and consider exclusively individual devices, modern manufacturers offer a wide variety of models, including top-end devices HD Drive Route, Lexand SA5, Garmin Drive 61 rus lmt, Digma Alldrive, etc. We did not consider such systems not only because of the significant segmentation of their firmware by operating systems (Windows Phone, Android, Linux) and their obvious disadvantages. The purpose of the review was to help you choose a navigator for your mobile phone.

By the way, many of the applications reviewed are also released for iOS devices (iPad, iPhone). The only difference is that good offline Navigation on iPhones is usually paid. In addition, the operating system already contains a built-in online service, which is suitable for both walking and traveling by car. If Apple maps do not suit you, you can download Voice Assistant Google with its signature navigation.

Here is the final part of the “series” about popular car navigation applications for Android. In it, we tried to summarize all the information from five previously published reviews of individual applications and give a final assessment. In order not to burden the reader, we will try to do this in the most concise and clear form using tables, providing them with relatively small comments.

Why did you choose these particular applications? The main criteria were popularity and the presence of a large number positive feedback, as well as ease of use. The updated Shturmann did not fit into the first two criteria a little. The “Seven Roads” application did not pass all three criteria. Google Maps as a navigator is still in beta testing. Megafon navigation is essentially the same as Progorod, but only in an online version. The iGO app has not yet officially appeared in the Android version. Therefore, there are only five participants.

Prices and popularity

Putting ourselves in the buyer’s shoes, let’s start by looking at price tags and studying information about how popular a particular product has gained among users.

* if you purchase a key on the developer’s website. The price is for the application itself with unlimited access to maps.
** rental of foreign cards.
*** for Europe the service is paid - from 12 euros per year.

So, the most expensive product is Sygic. It is aimed at European consumers, so the price tag is quite appropriate. In addition, you will have to pay separately for traffic jams and advanced information about cameras, but this all applies only to Europe. Network services do not work in Russia.

The prices of Navitel and Progorod seem to be the most adequate. However, Navitel has a very strict policy regarding reinstallation. Transferring the application to another smartphone will most likely not work at all.

Against the backdrop of all these restrictions, Yandex looks like a king. However, the application has a number of significant limitations, thereby leaving good chances for others.

Feature Set Comparison

The developers of most of the presented applications try to attract users with various additional functions, for example, the weather, photos on a map, articles from encyclopedias, social network tagging, displaying the location of friends, and even augmented reality.

We have summarized the entire core set of functions of all five applications in one table:

* only for European countries for a fee

This table is for self-study. Here everyone must answer the question for themselves whether this or that program has a minimum sufficient set of functions. For example, some people definitely need to work with tracks, while others need to install free OSM maps. Some applications also have extraordinary abilities. For example, displaying on a map photos of places taken by Panoramio users (from Sygic), or an augmented reality mode (Progorod), as well as speech recognition and voice commands(Yandex.Navigator).

The applications also have major flaws. Thus, Sygic does not have a function for displaying traffic (traffic jams), and Yandex.Navigator will not work fully in the absence of an Internet connection.

Interface

Since each of us has our own ideas about beauty, we will not talk much about which program’s interface is more beautiful. Our eyes found the “picture” of Navitel Navigator, Progorod and Yandex more pleasant. But this does not mean that the other two programs have any problems with “ appearance" They're all good. These just stand out a little from the general background.

But if you step back from looking at the “pictures,” then completely different properties of interfaces come to the fore - practicality and information content. The first of them is when you always feel at ease. All you need is a quick glance at the screen to get as much information as you need. A not very good example of practicality is the interface of the same Navitel - a clutter fine lines and small parts makes it difficult to read information while driving. Practicality also includes ease of working with the menu and search.

By information content we mean displaying various related information on the screen, such as the speed limit in a given area, information about cameras, etc. The presence of all kinds of tips and additional information in the POI database.

So, below we will provide screenshots of the interfaces of all programs with a short list of the main advantages and disadvantages. This time we will use a smartphone with a small screen resolution of 480x800, which is regulated by almost all software developers in today's test.

Let's start with the vertical map display option, which is the most natural for smartphones and more practical for navigation. Next to the usual map view we will place a 3D version.

Navitel Navigator 8.5

Progorod 2.0

Sygic 13.4

CityGuide 7.8

Yandex.Navigator 1.5

This is the junction of the Warsaw Highway and the Moscow Ring Road. Alas, the picture is static, and its perception while moving, when the scale of the map is constantly changing depending on the speed and upcoming events (turns), is radically different from what you will get simply by contemplating these two sets of screenshots. In addition, in 3D mode a lot depends on the tilt angle, which is adjustable in all programs. The developers have made it so that from one angle the map is beautiful and practical, but from another it is inconvenient to use, because the detail, perspective, etc. change. A similar remark can be made about scale. Therefore, we will give a verbal comment, but first we will post another portion of screenshots taken in navigation mode:

Navitel Navigator 8.5

Progorod 2.0

Sygic 13.4

CityGuide 7.8

Yandex.Navigator 1.5

Navitel Navigator

The picture deserves all the praise, but it is extremely impractical. The accumulation of a mass of small lines and contours makes it difficult to perceive the route line on the screen, which is slightly thicker than the road itself, but with busy traffic jams is in no way different from it in color. Camera icons, signs and other details are barely visible on the screen.

Progorod

The “Picture” is a little similar to Navitel, but there are fewer small details, and the route line is much easier to read than in the previous case. There are two complaints: the status panel takes up a lot of space on the screen and chaos reigns on it, as well as the graphics and all the control buttons are too small.

Sygic

In the screenshots, the interface is unimpressive, but from the point of view of ease of reading information while driving, it deserves the highest rating. There is one significant drawback - house numbers are not displayed in navigation mode. They only appear if you try to scroll the map in one of the directions, which will switch it to viewing mode.

CityGuide

The map interface is quite good in practical terms. It may not be as beautiful, but it is quite comfortable.

Yandex.Navigator

Trying to find fault with the Yandex.Navigator interface did not work out well. He is very practical. The only issue is that users of platforms with screens with a high pixel density per inch complain about small buttons and other elements in the menu. For some reason, these UI elements did not fully comply with Google's developer guidelines, and programmers were working with absolute units of element sizes instead of relative DP and SP.

Well, for those who for some reason prefer the horizontal position of the map, we will post another set of screenshots.

Navitel Navigator 8.5

Progorod 2.0

Sygic 13.4

CityGuide 7.8

Yandex.Navigator 1.5

Cards

Unfortunately, most developers do not provide detailed information about their cards, since they may not look so brilliant compared to competitors.

We tried to collect as much information as possible and summarize it in one table. Pay attention to the line “Map online” - this is your chance to independently evaluate the quality of coverage. True, it also does not entirely accurately reflect the situation. Navitel and Progorod do not have the latest release online, but Yandex’s maps in the app and online are strikingly different in places, which sometimes causes confusion.

*data from Foursquare are also used as POIs
** volume indicated full map Moscow
*** The map of Russia is updated almost every month, but changes in it each time concern a couple of separate areas. If we take, for example, the map of Moscow, it is updated twice a year.
**** Ukraine, Belarus and Türkiye are mentioned. There is no longer a word about Turkey in the company video, and only Ukraine appears on Google Play. However, in the list of maps for download you can find, for example, a map of Almaty.

According to the results of the 2010 census, the number of settlements in Russia was just over 153 thousand and about 20 thousand of them do not have a permanent population. Where did Yandex get 170 thousand from then? Firstly, nesting. A specific settlement always belongs to other territorial units. Secondly, the census does not take into account all types of settlements. Railway stations, winter huts, etc. may fall out of it.

So, our leaders, apparently, are Navitel and Yandex. The volume of cards is an indirect indicator. In Yandex.Navigator it has such unimaginable values ​​because these maps contain a huge number of raster images.

As for the details, this issue is complex and requires a lot of time to study. For our own understanding, we took several settlements and looked at how things stand with this issue.

The leaders were Navitel, Progorod and Cityguide. Moreover, the maps of Progorod in almost all settlements from the table have buildings not only with corresponding contours, but also with height. Although CityGuide is good (OSM maps are used), you will have to search for maps of the regions you need in a large list and download them separately, which is not very convenient. For some reason, you can’t download the entire map of Russia at once. In addition, the Kamchatka Territory was not on the list.

Yandex.Navigator surprised me a little, and this considering the fact that the online browser map is beyond praise. At the same time, it is very funny that in the same Bogoroditsk you can indicate the exact address, it will be marked with a marker on the map and the route to it will be built. But the "last mile" will not be displayed correctly.

Well, Sygic doesn’t like small towns the most. He knows them only by hearsay.

The issue of map relevance is also important. Here we were guided by the map of Moscow, noting the presence of new well-known roads, overpasses and interchanges, opened during the summer-autumn period of 2013. Progorod, Cityguide and Yandex had no problems with this. Navitel had all the interchanges and overpasses we were looking for, but for some reason there was no U-turn under the overpass at the intersection of Yaroslavskoe Highway and Malyginsky Proezd. But Sygic's map is at least a year old. We did not find any of the required road objects on it.

Our selection by cards: Navitel, Progorod and Cityguide.

Routes and navigation

All applications build quite adequate routes. And this is the most important thing. Navitel has some minor glitches. We described one of them in detail, but there is no reason to panic here. But it’s definitely worth reducing the sensitivity to traffic jams in its settings for residents of megacities.

To save the reader time, we will collect information on routes and navigation into one table.

It will be most convenient to travel with Progorod, Cityguide and Navitel. Sygic, despite its very practical interface, works only in offline mode: no traffic jams or DPOI. In addition, his logic of behavior when the driver leaves the route is far from civilized. But there are no less problems with Yandex: it will not warn you about speeding, it will only tell you about the camera when you drive past it, and without a connection to the Internet, search and route planning will not work in the application! But before starting navigation, it will prompt the user alternative options routes that you can view on the map and select the most suitable one. Progorod can do this too, although it uses a slightly different logic. We really liked both of these features.

Our choice: Progorod and CityGuide. With some stretch - Navitel and Yandex.

Tests

We ran a series of tests to show how fast these apps would run on different mobile platforms. In a separate table we have summarized the results obtained on two systems, the main characteristics of which are as follows:

Both platforms are budget, but the tablet has a 4-core SoC, while the smartphone has a single-core SoC, but with a more modern architecture. Will there be any significant difference between them? In the table, smartphone and tablet data are separated by two vertical bars.

* the dash indicates the time of laying two routes: from the south of Moscow to the city of Olenegorsk in the Murmansk region; the second route is to Vladivostok.
** already two seconds after loading you see your approximate position on the map, determined by signals base stations and their coordinates. And after another 20-30 seconds the device “clings” to the satellites.
***routes are calculated on a remote server, and construction time depends on the quality of communication at a particular time. In GPRS or EDGE coverage area it may take a minute or more, but with good connection - 2-3 seconds.
**** The first digit indicates the traffic volume in the case of a pre-loaded full map of the region. The second digit indicates an empty card cache.

So, the main problem with application performance is the inability to use all available computing cores of the SoC. And although multithreading is declared by almost all developers, in practice on a 4-core system this results in one core being loaded at 100%, the second at 30%, and the other two cooling down. The only exception is Yandex. The application not only has low system resource requirements, but also active work on four cores it can show a total load of 60-70%, which indicates that someone is still able to create multi-threaded applications (benchmark developers do not count).

If we talk about the smoothness and comfort of working with the map, then Yandex, Cityguide and Sygic behave quite well, which cannot be said about Navitel and Progorod. Scrolling the map and scaling occurs with noticeable jerks, slowdowns and jerks. Moreover, if your smartphone has a resolution of 1280 pixels or more, the situation will worsen regardless of the type of SoC installed in the system.

Our choice: Yandex, CityGuide and, probably, Sygic. The latter takes a very long time to build routes, but otherwise is very smart.

Application Features

Since the competition is great, developers try to add a few highlights to their creation, and it would be a shame not to mention them.

Navitel Navigator

Progorod

Here we will only note the augmented reality mode, which will work quite well on those devices that have an orientation sensor.

Perhaps it will come in handy when traveling by car.

Sygic

Sygic tries to attract users with all sorts of useful and interesting little things: universal search, photos on the map from Panoramio, POIs from Foursquare, articles from Wikipedia (if they have a link to coordinates), a sidebar and a trip computer. All details in the corresponding .

CityGuide

Nothing unusual.

Yandex.Navigator

The main trump card is a universal search with a speech recognition system and voice commands, which works quite well.

Results

So, the most mentions marked “our choice” went to CityGuide and Progorod. Navitel, Yandex.Navigator and Sygic are lagging behind. But if we evaluate applications by their main functions (the quality of maps and the navigation process), then the following three leaders emerge before us: Progorod, CityGuide and Navitel. The cheapest of them is Progorod. The most expensive is CityGuide. And Navitel will receive the title of the most unfriendly due to the impossibility of transferring the application to other smartphones.

If you live in one of the Russian megacities, your region has reliable and high-quality cellular communications, you are not afraid of speed cameras and prefer not to spend extra money, then you can use Yandex.Navigator. It's free. Moreover, it works quickly and has a practical interface.

Sygic can be useful when traveling abroad. However, it will not be cheap at all. In this regard, Navitel is many times more attractive, but it will not contain information about traffic. Just like Sygic in Russia.

P.S. It's better to see once than to hear a hundred times. Therefore, we encourage you to try out the apps you like and draw your own conclusions. But at the same time, it is important not to forget that all navigation programs, without exception, after they are removed through the application manager, leave almost all of their files in internal memory phone forever, “freezing” hundreds of useful megabytes. Don’t forget to delete them manually later, based on the names of the folders on the drive. Oh, Android, Android...