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Ask HN: What are some alternatives to Google maps?

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Re: Ask HN: What are some alternatives to Google maps?

#42
post #25

I made a site for Google alternatives this week called https://nomoregoogle.com . The only real alternatives for Google Maps as a consumer are: - https://wego.here.com/ - https://openstreetmap.org/ Alternatives for Google Maps embedded in your app are: - https://mapbox.com/ - https://leafletjs.com/ - https://www.nextzen.org/ - https://www.mapcat.com/

Thanks for making this, looks neat. Quick observation, my votes dont seem to stick. (Most likely I am doing something wrong). How do I vote correctly?

Sorry that’s a bug with vote processing because I received some vote spammers, fixing now!

Re: Ask HN: What are some alternatives to Google maps?

#43
I think people vastly underestimate the utility of Google's ability to do search queries for things completely unrelated to directions. There are plenty of great alternatives for mapping software, but ranking and actual search (without having to be exact) for the kind of restaurant/cafe/business you are looking for in a vague area around you is not something I've seen any good alternatives for.

Re: Ask HN: What are some alternatives to Google maps?

#44

I made a site for Google alternatives this week called https://nomoregoogle.com . The only real alternatives for Google Maps as a consumer are: - https://wego.here.com/ - https://openstreetmap.org/ Alternatives for Google Maps embedded in your app are: - https://mapbox.com/ - https://leafletjs.com/ - https://www.nextzen.org/ - https://www.mapcat.com/

Thank you for https://wego.here.com/ <3. I use their Android app, had no idea they had a web app to. And incidentally loads like 100x quicker than Google Maps.

Re: Ask HN: What are some alternatives to Google maps?

#45
post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks for making this, looks neat. Quick observation, my votes dont seem to stick. (Most likely I am doing something wrong). How do I vote correctly?

Sorry that’s a bug with vote processing because I received some vote spammers, fixing now!

Fixed!

Re: Ask HN: What are some alternatives to Google maps?

#46
post #43

I think people vastly underestimate the utility of Google's ability to do search queries for things completely unrelated to directions. There are plenty of great alternatives for mapping software, but ranking and actual search (without having to be exact) for the kind of restaurant/cafe/business you are looking for in a vague area around you is not something I've seen any good alternatives for.

That's the problem with a lot of Google stuff. You may be concerned about privacy issues but things like Google maps and search are just really, really good. Hard to replace them without loss of functionality.

Re: Ask HN: What are some alternatives to Google maps?

#47

I made a site for Google alternatives this week called https://nomoregoogle.com . The only real alternatives for Google Maps as a consumer are: - https://wego.here.com/ - https://openstreetmap.org/ Alternatives for Google Maps embedded in your app are: - https://mapbox.com/ - https://leafletjs.com/ - https://www.nextzen.org/ - https://www.mapcat.com/

Apple recently launched MapKitJS: https://developer.apple.com/maps/mapkitjs/

Re: Ask HN: What are some alternatives to Google maps?

#48

I made a site for Google alternatives this week called https://nomoregoogle.com . The only real alternatives for Google Maps as a consumer are: - https://wego.here.com/ - https://openstreetmap.org/ Alternatives for Google Maps embedded in your app are: - https://mapbox.com/ - https://leafletjs.com/ - https://www.nextzen.org/ - https://www.mapcat.com/

There are lots more OSM-based alternatives for particular use cases. For example, for a mobile app, try OsmAnd or maps.me. There are also 'niche' apps such as MapOut, which is an outdoor-focused iOS mapping app with gorgeous cartography. Or for bike routing, try https://cycle.travel/map (disclaimer - my site), Komoot, CycleStreets or many others. OSM is historically very strong on walking and cycling, while being les…

I have recently started using a MapTiler which has a great features for a reasonable prices. And also as an osm-based alternative i have to say it has really nice UX. https://www.maptiler.com

Re: Ask HN: What are some alternatives to Google maps?

#49

From a user-perspective definitely Waze. It provides a great voice assistant and live updates from other users. Other Waze users are on-screen and you can chat to them. Other users can report roadblocks, broken down cars, traffic jams, slow-downs and even accidents long before any radio station finds out about them. It has places you can go to which are more accurate than that of Google Maps. Plus, it also shows you…

I used Waze just yesterday, after a couple of years of only using Apple Maps, and was kinda surprised about how weird it was.

The map detail is quite low. It doesn't understand U-turns (turn left, then turn left), it doesn't give lane guidance.

The "watch out" warnings are quite useful though, I suppose.

Re: Ask HN: What are some alternatives to Google maps?

#50

I made a site for Google alternatives this week called https://nomoregoogle.com . The only real alternatives for Google Maps as a consumer are: - https://wego.here.com/ - https://openstreetmap.org/ Alternatives for Google Maps embedded in your app are: - https://mapbox.com/ - https://leafletjs.com/ - https://www.nextzen.org/ - https://www.mapcat.com/

In the UK at least, Bing Maps is also excellent; it provides free access to Ordnance Survey 1:25000 and 1:50000 mapping, which is top quality. The OS maps are orthorectified for the Bing projection, so route plans line up properly.
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