[arethuza]

I use Google Maps, Apple maps, Bing maps and OpenStreetMap

Some comments:

- Apple maps were pretty awful when they first came out but now seem good enough (and I generally use them for walking directions in cities)

- Google StreetView is great - satellite view where we are in the UK is about 12 years old so useful for a historical view

- Apple and Bing satellite views are good, much more up to date that Google's and often better quality

- Bing in the UK has Ordnance Survey maps down to 1:25,000 which is awesome

- OpenStreetMap often has details (particularly footpaths) that no other map has

Edit: Was impressed with the speed that Google had the new Queensferry Crossing bridge on their maps - neither Bing or Apple have this on their maps yet. OpenStreetMap does, of course!

Edit2: Use my cars built in sat-nav, mainly because of the ergonomics (big buttons) and multiple displays.

[amelius]

Do they all support an offline mode, where specific maps can be downloaded in advance?

[bruceboughton]

I recently tried to use Google Maps offline mode while abroad. I had a local SIM but limited coverage and limited data allowance. I also had created some saved maps via Google My Maps with pins of points of interest. It exposed a lot of bugs in the app. Off the top of my head:

- Without coverage, the offline maps work well and show the pins from my saved maps. Search also worked well.

- As soon as I came back into coverage or wifi, it would close the saved maps and then not load them again if the connection was poor.

- Also, if there is a connection, it constantly tries to load address/photos/reviews for your pins and refuses to show the name you've given them. Not much use in a national park.

- When online with a poor connection, search doesn't work and doesn't fall back to the offline maps.

- When routing, you can't add a via point when offline as it refuses to use the offline search index.

- Disabling mobile data usage for the app just caused chaos.

All in all, it was a maddening experience. It's a classic case of Google offering more features, but with less polish. I used to use other pinning apps for holiday planning, but they've all shut down or stopped working properly (Pindrop, Rego). I was hoping the increased integration between Google Maps and Google My Maps would solve the issue but unfortunately it's very buggy right now.

Of course, Apple doesn't really have offline maps so, although I use Apple Maps as my main maps app, they score poorly here. Of course, this fits with their traditional approach of no feature is better than a badly implemented feature.

[Piskvorrr]

Not all with the same capability. Try OSMAnd - it allows you to download a country/state/city map in advance, and then displays and routes offline from that (it's an offline-first app, but can fall back to online maps). Uses OpenStreetMap, so check coverage beforehand, but unless in the literal middle of nowhere, it tends to exceed Google's.

[arethuza]

I'm very old school when it comes to offline mode - if I'm going somewhere where I need a map (e.g. up a mountain) I'll either buy the relevant OS waterproof map, or print out a map and carry it in a waterproof case and use with a compass.

Edit: I don't know if anyone has died in the Scottish mountains because their smartphone battery ran out but I've certainly been in plenty situations where if I didn't have some kind of navigational aid I'd have been in serious trouble!

[Piskvorrr]

Commendable. A map that doesn't need batteries is the best map.