Comparison chart by Matthew Morley (MaFt), Mike Alder, Darren Griffin & Mike Barrett
When OS3.0 was released for the iPhone earlier in the year Turn by Turn Navigation apps were finally allowed by Apple's sometimes very restrictive rules. Since then, a steady stream of navigation apps have been appearing in the AppStore but with no demo's or 'lite' versions it is rather difficult for users to make decisions about which to buy. In an aid to help iPhone users in their quest PocketGPSWorld.com have put together this comparison chart highlighting the main features of each app that is currently available. As new apps are released we aim to keep this as up to date as possible.
- This is a 'live' document, regularly updated with the latest information and updates.
- The table shows the features of the latest/current version of the app. If you seem to have features missing on your iPhone then make sure you have the latest update from the AppStore.
|
Navigon |
Sygic Mobile Maps 2009 |
iGO My Way |
Co-Pilot |
Maps |
Roadee |
TomTom |
G-Map USA |
G-Map UK |
NDrive |
NDrive 'City' (Aerial View) |
Navmii |
Magellan RoadMate 2010 |
Nav4D |
Sygic Aura |
Skobbler |
Icon |
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iPhone 3G / 3GS / 4 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
iPod Touch / iPhone Classic |
Yes (with appropriate GPS accessory) |
No |
No |
No |
Yes (no GPS for location) |
No |
Yes (with car kit) |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes (with G-Fi GPS Unit) |
Yes (with car kit) |
No |
Yes (with appropriate GPS accessory) |
|
Current Version |
1.6 |
8.1.6 |
1.2.3 |
8.0.0.820 |
N/A |
1.2 |
1.4 |
2.1 |
1.0.1 |
10.1.12 |
9.2.30 |
1.3 |
1.2 |
1.3.5 |
1.16 |
2.1.1 |
Price (£GBP) |
£44.99 - £79.99 dependent on region / maps.
|
£23.99 - £59.99 dependent on region / maps.
|
£29.99 - £54.99 dependent on region / maps. |
£17.99 - £49.99 dependent on region / maps. |
Free |
£1.19 |
£29.99 - £79.99 dependent on region / maps. |
$19.99 - $34.99 dependent on region / maps. |
£39.99 |
£22.99 - £59.99 dependent on region / maps. |
£5.99 |
£19.99 (UK)
£7.49 (US State) |
$79.99 |
£14.49 - £34.99 dependent on region / maps. |
£22.99 - £42.99 dependent on region / maps. |
Free |
App Size |
Regional: 100 - 360MB
Continent: 1.4 - 1.7GB |
Regional: 160 - 260MB
Continent: 1.4 - 1.8GB |
Continent: 212MB - 1.4GB |
Regional: 160 - 400MB
Continent: 1.1 - 1.7GB |
N/A |
6.0MB |
Regional: 90 - 240MB
Continent: 1.2 - 1.4GB |
State: 98 - 160MB
Region: 820 - 850MB |
261MB |
Regional: 65 - 480MB
Continent: 1.5 - 2.0GB |
1.38GB |
100MB - 313MB |
1.36GB |
60mb - 400mb |
170mb - 1.5gb |
2.3mb |
Main Map Provider |
NavTeq |
TeleAtlas |
NavTeq |
NavTeq
(ALK Maps in USA) |
Various (Google Maps) |
Open Street Map / Google |
TeleAtlas |
NavTeq |
NavTeq |
TeleAtlas (NavTeq for South America) |
TeleAtlas (BLOM for Aerial Data) |
TeleAtlas |
NavTeq |
NavTeq |
TeleAtlas |
Open Street Map |
Map Version |
© 2009 / 2010 |
2009.05 1/2
(Sygic v7.80) |
2009.Q4 |
2009 |
N/A |
N/A |
v850 |
2009 v1.3.1 |
|
TeleAtlas: 2009.12 |
|
Not published |
|
Not published |
2009.05 1/2
(Sygic v7.80) |
N/A |
Map Type |
Onboard
(see AppStore for available regions) |
Onboard
(see AppStore for available regions)
|
Onboard
(see AppStore for available regions) |
Onboard
(see AppStore for available regions) |
Offboard
(worldwide maps) with some caching |
Offboard
(worldwide maps) |
Onboard
(see AppStore for available regions) |
Onboard
(see AppStore for available regions) |
Onboard
(see AppStore for available regions) |
Onboard
(see AppStore for available regions) |
Onboard
(see AppStore for available regions) |
Onboard
(see AppStore for available regions) |
Onboard
(see AppStore for available regions) |
Onboard
(see AppStore for available regions) |
Onboard
(see AppStore for available regions) |
Offboard
(worldwide maps) |
Map Updates |
Updated July 2010 |
Updated November 2009 |
Free quarterly |
Unknown |
Whenever Google update! |
OSM - daily updates |
Updated March and June 2010 |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Free for the first 12 months |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
OSM - daily updates |
|
Navigon |
|
iGO My Way |
Co-Pilot |
Maps |
Roadee |
TomTom |
G-Map USA |
G-Map UK |
NDrive |
NDrive London (Aerial View) |
Navmii |
Magellan RoadMate 2010 |
Nav4D |
Sygic Aura |
Skobbler |
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Spoken Directions |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Text to Speech (TTS) |
Yes |
Limited to road numbers. |
Yes |
Yes (£2.99 in-app purchase (lifetime))
FREE in USA version ? |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
No |
|
Limited to 'A' and 'M' road numbers. |
Yes |
|
Limited to road numbers. |
No |
Mute / Pause / Lower Music for directions and alerts |
Yes (2 modes: AudioBook (fades to pause), Music (lowers volume but keeps playing) |
Yes
Lowers volume during speech |
Yes
Pauses music for directions |
Yes
Lowers volume during speech |
N/A |
Yes
Pauses then restarts |
Yes
Lowers volume during speech |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes
Lowers volume during speech |
|
Yes
Pauses then restarts Yes
Pauses then restarts Yes
Pauses then restarts
Yes
Pauses then restarts |
Yes
Pauses then restarts Yes
Pauses then restarts Yes
Yes
Pauses then restarts |
Yes
Pauses then restarts Yes
Pauses then restarts
Yes
Pauses then restarts |
Yes
Lowers volume during speech |
Yes
Pauses then retarts |
2D View |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
3D View |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes (adjust viewing angle from 2D to get 3D) |
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Turn by Turn List |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
|
|
Yes (Road Book) |
|
Yes |
|
Yes (strangely called 'Book') |
Yes |
No |
3D Landmarks |
No
but 3D Terrain available as in-app purchase |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
|
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Points of Interest (POI) |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes (Google Search) |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Call POI |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
No |
Yes |
Yes (but misses the '0' from area code) |
Yes |
No |
Show Road Speed |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes (only if speeding) |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
|
Yes |
|
Yes(only if speeding) |
|
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Overspeed Warning |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes (visual only) |
No |
|
Yes |
|
Yes (visual only) |
Yes (only when navigating) |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Road Sign Display |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes (reality view for some highways) |
|
No |
|
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
Custom POI |
No |
Yes (if jailbroken) |
No |
Yes (if jailbroken) |
No |
No |
Yes (if jailbroken) |
No |
|
No |
|
|
|
No |
|
No |
Custom POI Alerts |
No |
Yes (if jailbroken) |
No |
NoNo |
No |
No |
No |
No |
|
No |
|
|
|
No |
|
No |
Speed Cameras |
Yes |
Yes (SCDB) |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes(fixed only) |
No |
Coming Soon |
Yes |
|
Yes(UK Uses PGPSW Database) |
|
No |
Yes (SCDB) |
No |
User can install PGPSW Speed Cameras |
No |
Yes (if jailbroken) |
No |
Unsure at moment - seems to change between releases (needs to be jailbroken) |
No |
No |
Yes (if jailbroken) No warnings |
No |
|
No |
|
N/A |
|
No |
|
No |
Add / Remove Favourites |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
'Home' only |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
7-Digit Postcode Search (UK) |
Yes (In-App purchase: £1.19) |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No (limited to OSM functions) |
Yes |
N/A |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Yes |
N/A |
No |
Yes |
No (limited to OSM functions)No (limited to OSM functions) |
Live Search |
Yes (Google) |
No |
No |
Yes (Google) |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
|
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
QWERTY Keyboard |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Navigate to Contact |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Itinerary / Waypoints |
Yes |
Yes |
One single via |
Yes |
No |
No |
One single via |
Yes |
|
Yes |
|
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
Avoid Roads / Detour |
Yes |
Yes
Detour |
No |
Yes
Avoid Roads |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Yes |
|
No |
|
|
Yes
Detour |
No |
|
Navigon |
|
iGO My Way |
Co-Pilot |
Maps |
Roadee |
TomTom |
G-Map USA |
G-Map UK |
NDrive |
NDrive London (Aerial View) |
Navmii |
Magellan RoadMate 2010 |
Nav4D |
Sygic Aura |
Skobbler |
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Vehicle Types (for routing) |
(5)
Car / Motorbike Lorry / Bicycle / Pedestrian |
(3)
Car / Pedestrian / Bicycle |
(6)
Car / Pedestrian / Bicycle / Emergency / Bus / Taxi |
(5)
Automobile / RV (Motor Home) / Motorbike / Bicycle / Walking |
(3)
Car / Transit / Walking |
(3)
Car / Bicycle / By foot |
(3)
Car / Walking / Bicycle |
(2)
Car / Truck |
|
None |
|
None |
(2)
Car / Pedestrian |
(3)
Car / Pedestrian / Truck |
(2)
Car / Pedestrian |
None |
Route Types |
(4)
Fast / Optimum / Short / Scenic |
(5)
Fastest / Economic / Shortest / Pedestrian / Bicycle |
(4)
Fast / Short / Economical / Easy |
User Definable |
None |
(2)
Fastest / Shortest |
(6)
Fastest /
Shortest /
Avoid / Motorway / Walking /
Bicycle / Limited Speed |
(2)
Fastest / Shortest |
|
(4)
Shortest / Fastest / Adventure / Pedestrian |
|
(2)
Fastest /
Shortest |
(2)
Fastest /
Shortest |
(3)
Fastest / Cheapest / Shortest |
(3)
Fastest / Shortest / Economic |
(2)
Fastest / Shortest |
Route Options |
Motorways / Toll Roads / Ferries / Resident Only Streets
|
Toll roads / Avoid U-Turns |
Unpaved Roads / Ferries / Per Use Toll / Period Charge / Motorways |
Tolls / Ferries / Scenic / Congestion Zones |
(3)
Car
Bus
Pedestrian |
None |
(5)
Toll Road
Ferry Crossing
HOV Lanes
Unpaved roads
IQ Routes (on/ off) |
(6 Avoid Options)
U-Turn
Toll Roads
Highway
Carpool Lane
Ferry Route
Unpaved Road |
|
Tolls / Traffic |
|
Warn if Toll Road |
Most Use of Highways / Least Use of Highways |
Motorways / Tolls |
Toll Roads |
None |
Traffic |
Yes (In-App purchase £14.99 [continent] or £6.99 [region] for lifetime) |
No |
No |
Yes (£19.99 in-app purchase (12months) with fuel) |
Yes |
No |
Yes
(£1.19/day, £4.99/mth, £11.99/qtr, £22.99/yr)
|
Yes (in-app purchase) |
No |
Yes |
|
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Live Fuel Prices |
No |
No |
No |
Yes (£19.99 in-app purchase (12months) with traffic) |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
|
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Configurable Map Colours |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Yes |
|
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Night Mode |
Yes (Auto) |
Yes (Auto) |
Yes (Auto) |
Yes(Auto) |
No |
Yes (Manual) |
Yes (Auto) |
Yes |
|
Yes (Auto) |
|
Yes (Manual) |
Yes (Auto) |
Yes (Auto) |
Yes (Auto) |
Yes (Auto) |
Configurable Pointer |
No |
No |
Yes
(but only day/night available for menu and map) |
No |
No |
No, but can change route highlight colour |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
|
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
3G - Relaunch Remembers Destination |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Yes |
|
|
Yes |
Yes |
iOS4 - FastApp Switching |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
|
|
No |
|
|
|
|
No |
No |
iOS4 - Background Directions |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes (with option for 'pop up' message) |
N/A |
No |
Yes |
|
|
No |
|
|
|
|
No |
No |
Auto Portrait / Landscape |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No Landscape View |
Yes (but not during routing) |
Yes |
No Landscape View
Coming soon |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
iPhone Gestures (i.e. does it FEEL like an iPhone app) |
Yes |
Yes
(sort of...) |
Yes |
Some |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Uses iPhone UI for everything except map |
|
Yes |
|
Yes |
Yes |
Some |
Yes
(sort of...) |
Yes |
iPod Control |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
|
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
Other Features |
Email current location / destination.
Post location to Twitter / Facebook
Custom URL Scheme allows websites/3rd party apps to set destination in app.
Pedestrian Mode uses built-in compass.
Weather at destination.
Parking nearby destination. |
Customise screen layout.
Rail crossing warning.
World clock, calculator, unit convertor, country info
|
Where am I.
Help nearby.
|
Live link (buddy tracking and messaging).
Weather.
Road side assist.
Custom routing profiles.
|
Uses built-in compass. |
Head-up and North-up modes.
Better TTS voices available for only 59p (in app purchase) |
IQ Routes-II
TomTom Car kit
Share location via email etc |
|
|
Choose which POIs to display on map
Auto zoom
My NDrive - download 3rd party POIs etc from NDrive Community.
Disclaimer nag screen can be turned off. |
|
Rotate map in 2D mode
Driver safety mode
Auto-zoom at junction |
Find my Car
Lane Assist |
|
Live weather, football scores, friend tracking etc |
Submit OSM Map amend-ments |
Quirks / Tips |
|
Splash screen shows app as being called Mobile Maps 10 |
Turn off the annoying beeps on every button press at 'Settings > Sound and Warnings > Key Sounds' |
Go to 'Settings > Show more options' to all options.
Create custom routing profile for more accurate routes and times. |
Double tap location icon to activate compass |
Default TTS voice is a bit robotic.
Purchased TTS voices cause ipod to stop completely |
Can use custom Navigation voices if Jailbroken |
|
|
Custom map colour themes can be created if jailbroken (simply edit xml files). |
|
During navigation tap the top left arrow to view Driver safety mode.
Very talkative in built up areas! |
|
Tricky to use, menu system is not logical. |
|
|
Pros |
Best adaptation of iPhone gestures / menus |
Large range of maps |
Free map updates.
Has the smoothest portrait-landscape transition |
Price / value for money.
Loads of voices available. |
Integrated in iPhone software |
Uses Open Source Maps so map updates are fast.
Good support forum.
Cheap.
Additional TTS voices available for 59p |
Easy to use interface
IQ Routes
HD Traffic with a per-day option
|
Easy to use
Clear map
Superb vocal quality
Regular updates / new features |
|
Loads of regions / maps available.
My NDrive has potential.
|
|
Fast and easy to use interface.
Very clear mapping |
|
None |
Very smooth animation even on iPhone 3G. |
Free
3D view looks very good |
Cons |
Lack of POI warnings.
|
Custom keyboard feels clumsy. |
Very memory hungry - struggles to load on older models (3G) |
Default routing profile leads to poor routes and innacurate times.
Regular updates often change features and/or add new bugs. |
Very limited functions.
Offboard maps requires constant data connection.
|
Offboard maps requires constant data connection.
Still quite buggy.
Not all areas are fully mapped. |
No custom POI support other than view on map
No custom POI warnings |
No speed warnings
Occasional odd routes
Nag screen on every load
|
|
Not much content in My NDrive.
Traffic doesn't seem to work in UK (HTTP error)
|
|
No TTS
No Lane Guidance
No navigate to contacts
Lack of waypoints.
POIs not shown on map.
No POI search (only listed by proximity)
Very little in the way of updates |
|
Not user-friendly at all.
Postcode search doesn't seem to function.
Call POI doesn't work as the '0' is missed from dialling code.
Generally poor! |
Fancy features (weather, football etc) result in limited routing options.
Seems more of a social tool than a SatNav. |
Offboard maps requires constant data connection.
Still quite buggy.
Not all areas are fully mapped.Offboard maps requires constant data connection.
Still quite buggy.
Not all areas are fully mapped.Offboard maps require constant data connection.
Not all areas are fully mapped.
Lack of POIs |
Posted by bedbug on Mon Aug 10, 2009 10:33 pm
