Smartphone (iPhone) sat navs that DON'T use data?

JustAnotherSaver

We have a standalone sat nav but this week found ourselves in a situation where we really could've been doing with a second unit so i thought as a backup it would be handy to have a sat nav app for the iPhone (we both have iPhones, not androids) that DOESN'T use data.

I'm stressing the DOESN'T part because i've found old pages where people ask the same & those responding just come on & suggest apps that do use data so i don't want anyone to waste their time.


I have the TomTom app but this is the version before they updated it to that TomTom Go or whatever they're branding it now that gets panned in the reviews. Used to be a fantastic app but the update has absolutely ruined it big time. The problem with an old sat nav app that you don't update is that roads change so if it tells you to carry on & there's now a brick wall in front of you then you have a problem.


So yeah, best sat nav apps for iPhone that don't use data?

nicechap

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=best+offline+satnav

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DoaM

This has been done to death ... there are loads of satnav apps that will download offline maps and run without data. (With such apps the data is used for live traffic updates). Even Google Maps will let you download offline areas for navigation.

elverson

Bit confused - presumably you want whatever you're using to be up to date for new roads, one-way streets, etc?

I would just use Google Maps (with data) and not use the standalone satnav - it's generally very reliable and changes to the road network appear very quickly.

If you really don't want to use data, you can download offline maps as above over a WiFi connection.

Frozen_up_north

For general mapping, as opposed to a really useful sat nav app, I use the free app maps.me, you download just what maps you need (just a few tens of MB in some cases) and then it's off line using no data at all. There is an element of sat nav in maps.me, but it's nothing like as good as a Tom Tom as a driving guide.

The maps in maps.me are also free and in the public domain - in some places they are very detailed, for example in parts of Spain it shows individual trees, property outlines and swimming pool outlines.

BeenThroughItAll

When Google offer offline maps for Google Maps Navigation, why would anyone use anything else? It's the most up to date mapping you'll find.

JustAnotherSaver

DoaM wrote: »

This has been done to death

It probably has but when i searched earlier this morning i found a lot of old results. 2012, 2013. A lot can happen in 5 years.

TomTom ruining their app for one.

Plus there's probably a ton of threads on a ton of message boards that have been 'done to death' but they're not harming anyone

Or at least i don't think they are

Even Google Maps will let you download offline areas for navigation.

Can you not just download the whole map? Or is that too much?

elverson wrote: »

Bit confused - presumably you want whatever you're using to be up to date for new roads, one-way streets, etc?

Yes of course

I would just use Google Maps (with data) and not use the standalone satnav - it's generally very reliable and changes to the road network appear very quickly.

Thanks but i wouldn't say GM in that case since it uses data & that's what i'm looking to avoid (hence the OP).
My standalone has lifetime map updates but like i said there was a case this week where we needed an additional one where we were travelling a good bit away to an area we really had no clue about so it's just handy to know the maps are as up to date as possible.

I remember names like Waze or Vuze or whatever it was called from years ago & NavMii. Not sure if these are data users or what or whether they're any good. Just names that sprang to mind.

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

When Google offer offline maps for Google Maps Navigation, why would anyone use anything else? It's the most up to date mapping you'll find.

Do you have to download a section prior to your journey?

What if you're comfortable with the journey, know your way but you get caught out by roadworks & have to detour off where you don't have a clue? Will it still not use any data if you get caught short? (I'm only asking as i've never used Google Maps for this purpose).

nicechap wrote: »

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=best+offline+satnav

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Nearly 2 months. Wonder what brought you here this week? :cool:

Gloomendoom

I use Navmii on an iPad. No reason it shouldn’t work on an iPhone.

I don’t like relying on data as data isn’t available everywhere.

Lokolo

Google maps allows you to download particular areas, or if you want a more sophisticated version you can set your directions, then save that route offline.

AnotherJoe

I tried maps.me, but maybe it was me (ha ha) , i couldn't find an option to start a route from anywhere other than where you were right at that time.

Dr.Rock

I use Here We Go
https://www.here.com/en/products-services/consumer-app/here-wego-app
It's free and can be used offline, however if you set it up and download whichever maps you need beforehand on Wi-Fi that's obviously going to save you money.
Wouldn't say it's perfect but it's relatively up to date and because I never fully trust SatNavs I always check a road atlas beforehand to get a general idea of my preferred route.
In the vast majority of cases Here We Go gets it right.