How to Find the Right GPS App for Your Phone
Looking to replace that dated in-car GPS device with a navigation app you can use on your cell phone? Here's everything you need to know to pick the right one.
These days, nearly all cell phones on the market now include some sort of GPS capability. That's a remarkable change. Just a few years ago, standalone GPS devices, which you stick on your windshield with a suction cup, were in the spotlight. These devices were a boon for anyone sick of getting lost, using paper maps, or printing out MapQuest directions, all of which were driving distractions and potential safety risks.
Now cell phones can do the same thing for most consumers, with a few caveats.
As recently as a few years ago, it was still commonplace to find apps that lacked basic abilities such as text-to-speech, which pronounces street and exit names instead of just saying, "turn left in half a mile." Today, all of the major iPhone apps (including , , , and ) have virtual feature parity not just with each other, but with standalone GPS devices as well. All include lifetime map and real-time traffic updates, as well as ever-expanding POI (point-of-interest) databases.
Some smartphones even come with free navigation apps. That means no up-front price, no monthly fees, and no map, POI, or database update costs. The most obvious free app is , which runs on Android smartphones such as the and the . The crowd-sourced app is also gaining traction, especially on the iPhone.
Don't have a smartphone? Don't worry; the latest versions of and AT&T's TeleNav GPS Navigator for non-smartphones are quite good. These two apps include real-time traffic, speed limit signs, local events and movie showtimes, gas prices, and always-updated maps. We've tested both of these apps extensively when reviewing phones over the past several years. Both do the job very well, although those monthly fees can certainly pile up. (Tip: Some carriers offer a $2.99 option that enables the app for 24 hours, which may make more sense for you if you only need it occasionally.)
Phone Nav Drawbacks
The downsides are few, but important. Most cell phone GPS apps are smart enough to switch to an incoming call automatically, and to resume navigation once the call is finished. But you'll lose the ability to hear directions during the call.
In addition—and this is purely from anecdotal evidence, although I have lots—cell phone GPS chips still aren't quite as sensitive as the ones in standalone GPS devices. Having reviewed dozens of phones and GPS apps, I've found cell phones are prone to lose track of their current positions on occasion. I rarely see that happen with the many GPS devices I test, although it still does.
Two unrelated issues compound the problem. Some apps, such as Google Maps Navigation, VZ Navigator, and AT&T Navigator, still rely on cellular data to download route maps during navigation, in addition to using GPS for satellite positioning. That reduces accuracy in areas with poor wireless coverage. And many folks don't buy a separate windshield or dashboard mount, instead leaving the cell phone in a cupholder or on a seat where it has trouble picking up a GPS signal.
Device manufacturers could make that process easier. Few phones come with the necessary windshield mount, bracket, and suction cup. A basic mount runs about $15. TomTom and Magellan each sell deluxe $129 products that include more accurate GPS radios, hands-free speakerphones, power cords, and other niceties. But $129 can also buy any of several good low-end GPS devices, and you still have to budget separately for the app.
Despite those minor caveats, cell phone GPS apps are here to stay. Most industry analysts consider standalone GPS a declining market, one that could eventually disappear entirely in favor of cell phones. We believe there will always be a market for larger, infotainment-style navigation systems for the car. And with street prices hovering around the $100 mark even for models with text-to-speech and updated maps, a standalone unit is practically an impulse buy now. But for people who don't want to shell out for—or carry—another gadget, your cell phone is finally good enough to drive with.
Still not convinced? Sticking with a standalone portable navigation device? Be sure to check out for shopping tips, and for the latest top-rated products.
For more, read and our full review of .