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 London (Aerial View) |
Navmii UK |
Magellan RoadMate 2010 |
Icon |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
iPhone 3G / 3GS |
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) |
Current Version |
1.4.0 |
7.71.5 |
1.1 |
8.0.0.514 |
N/A |
1.1.1 |
1.2 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
9.2.30 (879) |
9.2.30 |
1.2 (656) |
1.10 |
Price (£GBP) |
£44.99 - £79.99 dependent on region / maps.
|
£29.99 - £59.99 dependent on region / maps.
|
£29.99 - £69.99 dependent on region / maps. |
£20.99 - £59.99 dependent on region / maps. |
Free |
£1.19 |
£44.99 - £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 |
£29.99 |
$79.99 |
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 |
313MB |
1.36GB |
Main Map Provider |
NavTeq |
TeleAtlas |
NavTeq |
NavTeq
(ALK Maps in USA) |
Google |
OSM / Google |
TeleAtlas |
NavTeq |
NavTeq |
TeleAtlas (NavTeq for South America) |
TeleAtlas (BLOM for Aerial Data) |
TeleAtlas |
NavTeq |
Map Version |
2008/2009 |
2009 (Sygic v7.80) |
2009.Q2 (Sep 09) |
2009 |
N/A |
N/A |
2009.Q1 (v830) |
2009 v1.3.1 |
|
TeleAtlas: 2009.06 (Sep 2009) |
|
Not published |
|
Map Regions |
British Isles
Europe
North America
Australia
Russia
Turkey
South Africa |
UK & ROI
Europe
America
Australia & New Zealand
US
Russia
SE Asia
Brazil |
Western Europe
Europe
North America
British Isles
Iberia |
United Kingdom
North America
Europe
Italy
Iberia
BeNeLux
Germany-Austria-Switzerland
France
Scandinavia |
Worldwide (offboard maps) |
Worldwide (offboard maps) |
UK & ROI
Western Europe
US & Canada
Australia
New Zealand |
U.S. East
U.S. West
Canada
CA, TX, NY NJ,
WI IL,
FL PR,
MI IN |
UK & Ireland |
UK / France / Germany + Austria / Scandinavia / Italy / Greece / Malaysia / Hong Kong + Macao / Canada / Poland+Czech Republic + Slovakia / Hungary + Austria + Croatia / Portugal / Australia / Morroco / Brazil / Colombia / Chile / Iberia / Argentina / Turkey / Venezuala / Benelux / Spain/ Emirates / Saudi Arabie / Hungary / Egypt / Russia / South Africa |
London |
UK + ROI |
USA + Puerto Rico + Canada |
Map Updates |
Unknown |
Updated November 2009 |
Free quarterly |
Unknown |
Whenever Google update! |
OSM - daily updates |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Free for the first 12 months |
Unknown |
|
Navigon |
|
iGO My Way |
Co-Pilot |
Maps |
Roadee |
TomTom |
G-Map USA |
G-Map UK |
NDrive |
NDrive London (Aerial View) |
Navmii UK |
Magellan RoadMate 2010 |
|
|
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|
|
Spoken Directions |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Yes |
Yes |
Text to Speech (TTS) |
Yes |
Limited to road numbers.
Full TTS coming soon. |
No |
Yes (£2.99 in-app purchase (lifetime))
FREE in USA version ? |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
|
No |
|
Limited to 'A' and 'M' road numbers. |
Yes |
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 |
No
But 'Boost' function helps |
No
But voice is audible over music |
N/A |
Yes
Pauses then restarts |
Yes
Pauses then restarts |
No |
Yes |
Yes(but restarts for split second mid sentence) |
|
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 |
2D View |
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 |
Turn by Turn List |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
|
|
|
|
Yes |
|
3D Landmarks |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
|
No |
Yes |
Points of Interest (POI) |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes (Google Search) |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Yes |
Yes |
Call POI |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
No |
Yes |
Show Road Speed |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes (only if speeding) |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
|
Yes |
|
Yes(only if speeding) |
|
Overspeed Warning |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes (visual only) |
No |
|
Yes |
|
Yes (visual only) |
Yes (only when navigating) |
Road Sign Display |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
Yes (reality view for some highways) |
|
No |
|
No |
Yes |
Custom POI |
No |
Yes (if jailbroken) |
No |
Yes (if jailbroken) |
No |
No |
Yes (if jailbroken) |
No |
|
No |
|
|
|
Custom POI Alerts |
No |
Yes (if jailbroken) |
No |
NoNo |
No |
No |
No |
No |
|
No |
|
|
|
Speed Cameras |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes(fixed only) |
No |
Coming Soon |
Yes |
|
Yes(Uses PGPSW Database) |
|
User can install PGPSW Speed Cameras |
No |
Yes (if jailbroken) |
No |
Yes (if jailbroken) |
No |
No |
Yes (if jailbroken) No warnings |
No |
|
No |
|
|
|
Add / Remove Favourites |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
'Home' only |
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 capabilities) |
Yes |
N/A |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Yes |
N/A |
Live Search |
Yes (Google) |
No |
No |
Yes (£19.99 in-app purchase (12months) with fuel & traffc) |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
|
No |
No |
QWERTY Keyboard |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes (only in landscape view) |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Yes |
Yes |
Navigate to Contact |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes but doesn't always work! |
Coming soon |
Yes |
Yes |
|
No |
Yes |
Itinerary / Waypoints |
Yes |
Yes |
One single via |
Yes |
No |
No |
One single via |
Yes |
|
Yes |
|
No |
Yes |
Avoid Roads / Detour |
Yes |
Yes
Detour |
No |
Yes
Avoid Roads |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
|
Yes |
|
No |
|
|
Navigon |
|
iGO My Way |
Co-Pilot |
Maps |
Roadee |
TomTom |
G-Map USA |
G-Map UK |
NDrive |
NDrive London (Aerial View) |
Navmii UK |
Magellan RoadMate 2010 |
|
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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 |
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 |
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 |
None |
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 |
Traffic |
Yes (In-App purchase £14.99 for Europe; other regions / countries coming soon) |
No |
No |
Yes (£19.99 in-app purchase (12months) with fuel & live search) |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
|
No |
No |
Live Fuel Prices |
No |
No |
No |
Yes (£19.99 in-app purchase (12months) with live search & traffc) |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
|
No |
No |
Configurable Map Colours |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Yes |
|
No |
No |
Night Mode |
Yes (Auto) |
Yes (Auto) |
Yes (Auto) |
Yes(Auto) |
No |
Yes (Manual) |
Yes (Manual) |
Yes |
|
Yes (Auto) |
|
Yes (Manual) |
Yes (Auto) |
Configurable Pointer |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
No, but can change route highlight colour |
No |
No |
No |
No |
|
No |
No |
Time to Launch App on 3G (3GS will be faster) |
16secs |
12secs |
35secs |
11secs |
3secs |
3secs |
10secs |
3secs |
3secs |
8secs |
|
8secs |
|
Relaunch Remembers Destination |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Yes |
|
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 |
iPhone Gestures (i.e. does it FEEL like an iPhone app) |
Yes |
Coming Soon |
Yes |
Some |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes (menu and map browse) |
Uses iPhone UI for everything except map |
|
Yes |
|
Yes |
Yes |
iPod Control |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
|
Yes |
Yes |
Other Features |
Email current location / destination.
Custom URL Scheme allows websites/3rd party apps to set destination in app.
Pedestrian Mode uses 3GS compass. |
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 compass on 3GS. |
Head-up and North-up modes.
Better TTS voces available for only 59p (in ap purchase) |
IQ Routes-II
TomTom Car kit (coming soon) |
|
|
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 |
Find my Car
Lane Assist |
Quirks / Tips |
|
To turn off the disclaimer if Jailbroken:
edit the settings.ini file in the .app bundle - showSafetyMsg
=true (change to false). |
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. |
|
Default TTS voice is a bit robotic |
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! |
|
Pros |
Best adaptation of iPhone gestures / menus |
Comprehensive 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 and constantly in development.
Cheap.
Additional TTS voices available for 59p |
Easy to use interface
IQ Routes |
Easy to use
Clear map
Superb vocal quality
Regular updates / improvements |
|
Loads of regions/maps available.
My NDrive has potential.
|
|
Fast and easy to use interface.
Very clear mapping |
|
Cons |
Lack of POI warnings.
Agree to disclaimer on every launch.
|
'Agree' to disclaimer on every launch (except after phone call).
Doesn't feel like an iPhone app (lack of gestures support) - will be added in future update. |
Long load time.
VERY memory hungry which frequently stops it launching.
|
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 TTS
No Lane Guidance
No Live services
Nav to contacts doesn't work |
No contacts integration
No speed warnings
Occasional odd routes
Lack of 'advanced' features
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) |
|
Posted by bedbug on Mon Aug 10, 2009 10:33 pm
