Across the launch of iOS 26 in late 2025, I wrote a bit suggesting that I used to be tempted to change to Apple Maps full-time, at the least for driving. I’ve usually most well-liked Google Maps since I began utilizing smartphones. Actually, I would like some type of navigation app in my automotive — I am not a kind of individuals who develops instinctive familiarity with a metropolis. I go to the fitness center 3 times per week, however I could not repeat the instructions I exploit to get there if my life relied on it.
After that article was printed, I discovered myself drifting again to Google, solely often utilizing Apple on a whim or if there was a really particular benefit. I have been utilizing Apple’s software program slightly extra typically just lately, and I’ve come to a conclusion — I am just about glued to Google Maps in the long run except Apple makes a few main additions. A few of you may be capable of guess what these are.
How do Apple Maps and Google Maps stack up for day by day driving?
A surprisingly shut race
The excellent news is that Apple Maps has come a good distance since its disastrous 2012 debut, which I keep in mind reporting on on the time. The overriding flaw was its map protection. Apple not solely had far much less of it than Google, however in lowered element. In some situations, areas had been outright mislabeled. Australian officers needed to rescue drivers who had been being steered right into a harmful part of the Outback.
If you wish to drive round city, Apple and Google are largely on par now. Google does maintain an edge in worldwide protection, however right here in North America, the 2 platforms may as nicely be interchangeable relating to getting from A to B. I’ve had no issues for years. In reality, Apple appears to be catching up with Google relating to 3D rendering for cities — even my present residence, Edmonton, is fairly completely coated, whereas for a whilst you may solely depend on 3D within the largest city facilities, and never even then generally.
Personally, there are two causes I’d choose Apple Maps, the primary being an addition in iOS 26: Most well-liked Routes. This makes use of native, on-device monitoring to determine which route you usually take to a given vacation spot, and begins suggesting that one over purely calculated choices (that are nonetheless current). That is helpful as a result of as any veteran driver can inform you, what appears good on paper may be horrible in observe, like being requested to cross two lanes of rush-hour site visitors to get right into a parking zone.
The opposite is Apple Watch integration. Whenever you begin navigating someplace in CarPlay, Apple Maps seems in your watch as nicely, and triggers vibrating alerts every time a flip is arising. That makes it unimaginable to overlook voice instructions, and may preserve you alert on lengthy roadtrips. Once I get out of my automotive, my parking spot is marked robotically, simply as in Google Maps — however as a result of the Apple Watch has entry to options Google would not, I can immediately see that highlighted within the Apple Watch Extremely’s Waypoint face.
Really, there’s a third cause, often. That is Siri’s extra verbose flip instructions. Whereas Google Maps may say one thing like “In 100 ft, flip left onto Guadalupe Avenue,” Apple’s app may use “On the subsequent set of lights, flip left onto Guadalupe Avenue.” It is an acknowledgment that in the actual world, individuals do not navigate by distance, they navigate by landmarks.
The place Apple Maps nonetheless falls quick
It is time to meet us the place we stay
For me, the principle concern holding it again is its ecosystem. Which may sound unusual on condition that I simply talked about Apple Watch and CarPlay integration, however the one gadgets which have full-featured variations of Apple Maps are iPhones, iPads, and Macs, solely considered one of which you’ll in all probability drive with.
Which may not sound like an enormous deal in case you’re an Apple fan, however it has broad implications. There is not any Android app in anyway — so in case you ever dare to change platforms, you must reconstruct all of your bookmarks in Google Maps, Waze, or one thing else. Merely having the liberty to hold bookmarks anyplace is a robust incentive to select Google, regardless of how a lot you want iPhones.
Maybe extra importantly, Apple’s net interface is a pale shadow of Google’s. You may search for enterprise particulars, get instructions, and entry a number of curated guides, however that is it. You may’t bookmark something, which makes planning journeys tough, by no means thoughts making an attempt to recollect the place issues are or relive outdated recollections. There is not any option to filter for classes like pharmacies, ATMs, or public transit, and certainly there are solely three route sorts obtainable: driving, strolling, or biking.
Typically, the information that Apple does present for companies is subpar. In a take a look at, I seemed up one of many many Torchy’s Tacos areas in Austin. Apple Maps contains issues like pictures, an internet hyperlink, and a few “good to know” highlights, however not the menu, exercise patterns, or common pricing (in precise foreign money) obtainable from the Google Maps itemizing. There are sometimes related deficiencies for different location sorts, and Apple’s ground-level Look Round view simply is not supplied for most of the addresses Google Avenue View covers.
All of this net content material issues as a result of for many people, navigation apps aren’t nearly a commute or a one-day roadtrip — they’re about planning multi-day holidays and work journeys, and even scouting out a brand new residence. My spouse and I’ve moved repeatedly since 2014, and each time, we have used Google’s net interface as considered one of our main instruments to reply questions, resembling entry to gyms, colleges, and groceries. That type of analysis is way simpler to do and share utilizing a pc than it’s on any cell system, particularly in a multi-platform family.
Is there any probability of Apple Maps successful the battle?
Presumably, possibly, however do not maintain your breath
It is robust to say. Apple is engaged on enhancements, little question. The Maps web site continues to be in beta, so presumably, there are upgrades ready within the wings. And the corporate at all times introduces new options in its annual OS updates, that are previewed in in June, and roll out within the September-October timeframe.
Its focus is on different areas — most notably well being and health, robotics, sprucing up its uncared for sensible residence efforts, and rehabilitating Apple Intelligence.
The actual query is how dedicated Apple is. A decade in the past, there was incentive to cut back its dependence on Google, and lay the foundations for the Apple Automobile. Now, although, Apple is pleased to pay Google if it has to, and the Apple Automobile mission is useless, the closest factor to it being CarPlay Extremely. Its focus is on different areas — most notably well being and health, robotics, sprucing up its uncared for sensible residence efforts, and rehabilitating Apple Intelligence and Siri by incorporating Google Gemini.
I doubt 2026 would be the 12 months we get Android or higher net variations of Apple Maps. There’s some potential elsewhere, although, if Apple can give you intelligent methods of exploiting Apple Intelligence. Or if navigation turns into very important to its upcoming sensible glasses — individuals are going to anticipate real-time overlays in the event that they’re strolling round city, or looking for a practice or bus station (gasp).
