Comparison of free off-line satellite navigation software

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This article contains a list with gratis (but not necessarily open source) satellite navigation (or "GPS") software for a range of devices (PC, laptop, tablet PC, mobile phone, handheld PC (Pocket PC, Palm)). Some of the free software mentioned here does not have detailed maps (or maps at all) or the ability to follow streets or type in street names (no geocoding). However, in many cases, it is also that which makes the program free (and sometimes open source[1]), avoid the need of an Internet connection,[2][3][4] and make it very lightweight (allowing use on small portable devices, including smartphones). Very basic programs like this may not be suitable for road navigation in cars, but serve their purpose for navigation while walking or trekking, and for use at sea. To determine the GPS coordinates of a destination, one can use sites such as GPScoordinates.eu and GPS visualizer.

Some software presented here is free, but maps may need to be paid for. In this instance, and in the instance that some maps (of specific countries) are not standardly available, Mobile Atlas Creator (MOBAC) can be used (e.g. on OruxMaps, Maverick, Sports Tracker, Maplorer).

Some of the software mentioned can also be run on different devices than what they are intended for. A particular case-in-point is the Android software which can often be run on laptops or PCs (running Linux, Windows or Mac OS X) as well. This can be done using emulators.

Some of the software mentioned here may run only on devices that are no longer commercially sold (such as the PalmPilot and PocketPC devices). However, these devices are often still obtainable via second-hand websites.

Navigation software[edit]

Free maps[edit]

Navigation software with free maps often uses maps from the OpenStreetMap project.

Name Company or developer Type of device[5] Operating system 3rd-party GPS-able?[6] Software with maps? Follows streets? Open source? Remarks
Aqua Map[7] GEC smartphone, tablet Android, iOS ? Yes, yes No
Google Maps Google smartphone, tablet, laptop (online), PC (online) Android, iOS ? Yes, yes No Maps can be downloaded, but they expire after 30 days,[8][9] ads
Here WeGo[10] HERE Global B.V., Netherlands smartphone, tablet, laptop (online), PC (online), Android, iOS ? yes (color maps), ? No intended for marine navigation
Magic Earth General Magic B.V. Smartphone, tablet Android, iOS ? Yes (OpenStreetMap data), yes No Free OSM maps intended for car navigation, hiking and biking
MapFactor[11] MapFactor, s.r.o., Czech Republic smartphone, tablet, laptop (online), tablet PC, car navigation Android, iOS, Windows, WinCE, Windows Phone 8.1, Windows 10 Mobile ? Yes (OpenStreetMap data), yes No Free OSM maps, optional non-free TomTom maps, ads
MAPS.ME[12] MapsWithMe GmbH smartphone Android, BlackBerry, iOS ? Yes (OpenStreetMap data),[13] yes[14] (Apache License 2.0)[13] ?
Mapy.cz Seznam.cz smartphone, tablet, laptop (online), PC (online), car navigation Android, iOS, Windows 10 Mobile ? Yes, yes No car, hiking, cycling, skiing and boating navigation with unlimited offline maps
Navmii (formerly NavFree)[15][16] Navmii smartphone, tablet, PC Android, BlackBerry, iOS ? Yes (OpenStreetMap data), yes ? ?
NaviComputer[17] ? Windows Phone Windows Mobile ? yes (?), no ? For hiking and biking
Navit[18][19] none smartphone, tablet, laptop (online), PC (online) Android, Linux, OpenMoko, Windows for PC ? Yes (OpenStreetMap and others), yes (GPLv2) Intended for road navigation
OpenCPN[20] ? laptop, PC IntelMac, Linux (Fedora, Ubuntu, CentOS),Windows XP SP3, Vista, 7, 8 ? yes (various charts and OpenStreetMap data), N/A GPL Intended for maritime navigation
OsmAnd[21] OsmAND bv smartphone, tablet Android, iOS ? Yes (OpenStreetMap data), yes (GPLv3+) Limited to 7 maps for the free Google Play version,[22] unlimited on F-Droid
Maps can be added manually via PC in program order on smartphone
OSM Scout for Sailfish OS[23] Karas Lukáš[24] smartphone Sailfish OS ? Yes (OpenStreetMap data), yes (LGPL) Unlimited offline maps loaded from within the app.
Organic Maps[25] Organic Maps[25] smartphone, tablet Android, iOS ? Yes (OpenStreetMap data), yes (Apache License 2.0)[13] Privacy-focused navigation - no location tracking and no data collection. For hiking, cycling and driving. Developed by the community as a free and open-source project.
Pure Maps[26] + OSM Scout Server[27] rinigus[28] smartphone Linux, Sailfish OS, UBports ? Yes (OpenStreetMap data), yes (GPLv3) Pure Maps acts as frontend and OSM Scout Server as backend. Unlimited offline maps loaded from within OSM Scout Server.


Non-free maps[edit]

Name Company Type of device[5] Operating system 3rd-party GPS-able?[6] Software with maps? Follows streets? Open-source? Remarks
Aqua Map[7] GEC Smartphone, tablet Android, iOS ? Yes, yes No
i-Boating[29] i-Boating Tablet, PC, Smartphone Android, Embedded Linux & BlackBerry, iOS, Mac OS, Windows Yes Yes No Marine Navigation Software, free program, but maps need to be paid for
HandMap[30][31] ? handheld PC (Palm) Palm OS ? yes (color maps, basic), ? ? May be a free program, but maps need to be paid for (hence called "shareware" at Tucows) ?
Navionics Boating App[32] Navionics smartphone, tablet Android, iOS ? yes (OpenStreetMap data), ? ? Intended for marine navigation, free program, but maps need to be paid for
SailPalm[33] ? handheld PC (Palm) Palm OS ? yes (black and white maps), ? ? Free program, but maps need to be paid for (hence called "shareware" at Tucows), intended for marine navigation (sailing)

Other satellite navigation software[edit]

Name Company Type of device[5] Operating system 3rd-party GPS-able?[6] Software with maps? Follows streets? Open-source? Remarks
FieldNote[34] Mobile Computing handheld PC (pocket PC) Windows CE ? no, ? ? mainly intended to mark specific points without a map, not intended for actual navigation
GPSLogger[35] Open Project

Basic Air Data

Tablet, PC, Smartphone

and any android enabled device

Android Yes, no specific hardware No GPLv3[36] Free and no ads. Exports in common formats and via email[37]
osmdroid[38] osmdroid.org Tablet, PC, Smartphone

and any android enabled device

Android Yes, no specific hardware yes (?), no Apache[39] may not allow actual navigation from point-to-point, only showing the current position on a map

Miscellaneous / unsorted software[edit]

Name Company Type of device[5] Operating system 3rd-party GPS-able?[6] Software with maps? Follows streets? Open-source? Remarks
Maverick[40][41] ? Tablet PC Android ? yes (OpenStreetMap data), ? No ?
gvSIG Mini[42][43] Prodevelop Tablet PC Android ? yes (OpenStreetMap data), ? GPL ?
OpenSatNav[44] Kieran Fleming et al. Tablet PC Android, OpenMoko ? yes (OpenStreetMap data), ? ? ?
Minimap[45] ? Tablet PC Android ? yes (OpenStreetMap data), ? ? ?
MapDroyd[46] CloudMade Deutschland GmbH Tablet PC Android ? yes (OpenStreetMap data), ? ? ?
OruxMaps[47] ? Tablet PC Android ? yes (OpenStreetMap data), ? No ?
AlpineQuest Off-Road Explorer[48] Psyberia Tablet, PC, Smartphone

and any android enabled device

Android ? yes (?), ? No Since 2010.
AndNav 2[49] ? Tablet PC, Android ? yes (?), ? ? ?
Big Planet Tracks[50] ? Tablet PC, Android ? yes (?), ? ? ?
Sports Tracker[51] Sports Tracking Technologies Tablet PC Android, ? yes (?), no No Does not allow navigation to specific points, only tracking
RMaps[52][53] ? tablet PC Android ? yes (?), ? ? may not provide actual navigation, only marking of GPS points, and the current position
AFTrack[54] ? Tablet PC, handheld PC (Symbian) Android, Symbian OS series 60 ? yes (?), ? ? ?
CacheBox[55] ? Tablet PC, PC, handheld PC (pocket PC) Android, Windows Mobile, Windows for PC ? yes (?), ? ? initially intended for geocaching
Mapopolis[56] ? Handheld PC (Palm) Palm OS ? yes (black and white maps), ? ? only has maps for USA
Magellan Nav Companion[57] ? handheld PC (Palm) Palm OS ? yes (OpenStreetMap data), ? ? ?
TZGPS[58] ? handheld PC (Palm) Palm OS ? yes (OpenStreetMap data), ? ? ?
Trax[59][60] Luke Klein-Berndt handheld PC (Palm) Palm OS ? ? (?), ? ? ?
SoaringPilot[61] ? handheld PC (Palm, some PocketPC/WinCE devices) Palm OS ? yes (OpenStreetMap data), ? ? Originally intended for use in sailplanes
CotoGPS[62] ? handheld PC (Palm) Palm OS ? ? (?), ? ? Originally intended for geocaching
GpsPilot[63] ? handheld PC (Symbian One) Symbian ? no (?), ? ? ?
Maplorer[64] ? handheld PC (pocket PC) Windows CE, Mobile ? yes (?), ? ? ?
OSMtracker[65] ? handheld PC (pocket PC), smartphone Android, Windows Mobile ? yes (?), ? GPLv3 ?
gpsVP[66] ? handheld PC, certain smartphones Windows Mobile 5,6, 2003 ? yes (OpenStreetMap data), ? ? ?
CacheWolf[67] ? Laptop, PC Windows, Mac OS X, Linux ? yes (?), ? ? ?
Glopus[68] ? Laptop, PC, handheld PC (Pocket PC) Windows, ? ? yes (?), ? ? ?
TrekBuddy[69][70] ? PC, laptop, handheld PC (Palm, Symbian, BlackBerry), Windows Phone Android,Symbian, Palm OS, SE proprietary OS, Windows Mobile, Windows XP, Vista, ? yes (?), ? ? Runs on Java, hence cross-platform
gvSIG 2.0[71] ? PC, laptop, Windows XP, Vista, Linux, OS X ? yes (?), ? ? cross-platform; originally intended as a GIS; however can be fitted with GPS receiver and has support for it[72] and also allows to easily download maps from any location from an online database as OpenStreetMap, and many others[73][74]
LuckyGPS[75] ? Laptop, PC, smartphone Windows, Linux, OpenMoko ? yes (?), ? ? ?
Mumpot[76] ? Laptop, PC, smartphone Linux, OpenMoko, GPE ? yes (?), ? ? ?
Pyroute[77] Ojw Laptop, PC, smartphone Windows XP, Linux, OpenMoko ? yes (?), ? ? ?
TangoGPS[78] Marcus Bauer Laptop, PC, smartphone Linux, OpenMoko ? yes (?), ? ? ?
FoxtrotGPS[79] ? Laptop, PC Linux, OpenMoko ? yes (?), ? ? based on TangoGPS, actively being developed, especially adapted for use with touch screens
Rana[80] Ojw smartphone OpenMoko, Neo Freerunner ? yes (?), ? ? runs on Python, so possibly cross-platform
BikeAtor[81][82] ? smartphone (OpenMoko, Symbian), tablet PC Android, OpenMoko, Symbian ? yes (?), ? ? ?
Osmarender[83] ? laptop, PC , Linux, OS X, Windows ? yes (OpenStreetMap data), ? ? Not intuitive
Mobile Trail Explorer[84] ? smartphone, ? Symbian, multiple OSs ? yes (?), ? ? Runs on Java, so a cross-platform GPS navigation software
Open Citymap[85] ? smartphone (Qt) Windows CE, OpenMoko ? yes (?), ? ? ?
Mappero ? Nokia N810 Maemo[86] ? yes (OpenStreetMap data), ? ? ?
NaviPOWM[87] ? handheld PC, Laptop, PC Windows for PC, Windows Mobile 5/6/2003 SE, Linux ? yes (OpenStreetMap data), ? ? ?
GPSS Robin Lovelock Laptop or Pocket PC Windows for PC, Windows Mobile ? yes (can import) No Since 1995. www.gpss.co.uk
NaVisu ? Laptop, PC Linux, OS X, Windows ? yes (OpenStreetMap data), ? ? Developed for marine applications, not intuitive, built around NASA WorldWind
Cetus GPS[88] Cetus software embedded system (Garmin) OS 5 ? yes (?), ? ? ?
GPS interpreter[89] Marcel Durieux, Christian Tavernier[90][89] Embedded system (purpose-build PCB)[91] ? ? yes, ? ? ?
Andrew Holme's GPS software Andrew Holme[92] Embedded system (several custom PCB's + Raspberry Pi)[93] Raspbian Linux ? ?, ? ? ?
AdvRider WD[94] Adi Barda Android Android ? yes (can import) No Since 2013.
TheGOAT[95] ? Tablet PC Android ? yes (OpenStreetMap data), ? No ?

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Having open-source GPS programs available for different devices also allows people to expand on this software for certain projects, like automated or semi-automated steering systems for vehicles
  2. ^ Programs like Google maps require an internet connection as the maps are not available offline, in part because this would also make the program very large in filesize
  3. ^ "offline - How to use GPS/Maps without an Internet connection? - Android Enthusiasts Stack Exchange". Android.stackexchange.com. Retrieved 2017-05-03.
  4. ^ Joe Levi (2013-07-22). "Here's how to take your Google Maps offline after the v7 update". Pocketnow.com. Archived from the original on 2017-06-24. Retrieved 2017-05-03.
  5. ^ a b c d Tablet PCs have touchscreens, laptops do not
  6. ^ a b c d support of add-on GPS receiver, rather than say the embedded GPS receiver of the device the software was initially designed for
  7. ^ a b "Aqua Map - App functions".
  8. ^ "How to use your Google Maps offline". Android Authority. 2017-08-21. Retrieved 2017-09-11.
  9. ^ "Google Groups". groups.google.com. Retrieved 2017-09-11.
  10. ^ "HERE WeGo App". Here.com. Retrieved 2017-05-10.
  11. ^ "MapFactor GPS Navigation Maps - Android Apps on Google Play". Play.google.com. Retrieved 2017-05-03.
  12. ^ "MAPS.ME". maps.me. Retrieved 2017-09-11.
  13. ^ a b c MAPS.ME — Offline OpenStreetMap maps for iOS and Android, MAPS.ME, 2017-09-11, retrieved 2017-09-11
  14. ^ Happy, Map (2015-06-03). "The Best Free Offline Maps for Traveling". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2017-09-11.
  15. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-04-14. Retrieved 2014-04-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. ^ "Navmii GPS World (Navfree) - Android Apps on Google Play". Play.google.com. Retrieved 2017-05-03.
  17. ^ "Home". NaviComputer. Retrieved 2017-05-03.
  18. ^ "Navit". OpenStreetMap Wiki. Retrieved 2017-05-03.
  19. ^ "Navit - Car navigation system". Navit-project.org. Retrieved 2017-05-03.
  20. ^ Team, OpenCPN. "About OpenCPN". opencpn.org. Retrieved 2017-09-11.
  21. ^ "Offline Mobile Maps and Navigation". OsmAnd. Retrieved 2017-05-03.
  22. ^ maps installation in program
  23. ^ "OSM Scout for Sailfish OS". GitHub. 28 February 2022.
  24. ^ "karry.cz". karry.cz. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
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  26. ^ "Pure Maps". GitHub. 17 April 2022.
  27. ^ "OSM Scout Server".
  28. ^ "rinigus Github". GitHub. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  29. ^ "i-Boating". Retrieved December 28, 2016.
  30. ^ "HandMap : Free Download & Streaming : Internet Archive". Archive.org. 27 November 2002. Retrieved 2017-05-03.
  31. ^ "GPS Plugin : Free Download & Streaming : Internet Archive". Archive.org. January 2002. Retrieved 2017-05-03.
  32. ^ "Navionics Boating". Navionics.com. Retrieved 2017-05-03.
  33. ^ "SailPalm : Free Download & Streaming : Internet Archive". Archive.org. 12 April 2002. Retrieved 2017-05-03.
  34. ^ "Mobile Computing in a Fieldwork Environment". Archived from the original on 2013-01-13. Retrieved 2014-04-13.
  35. ^ "Free GPSLogger for Android". www.basicairdata.eu. BasicAirData. Retrieved 2016-12-06.
  36. ^ "Source code on GitHub". GitHub. Retrieved 2016-12-06.
  37. ^ BasicAirData. "GPSLogger/apk at master · BasicAirData/GPSLogger · GitHub". Github.com. Retrieved 2017-05-03.
  38. ^ "Source code on GitHub". GitHub. Retrieved 2018-05-03.
  39. ^ "Osmdroid". GitHub. 28 January 2022.
  40. ^ "Products". Code Sector. Retrieved 2017-05-03.
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  42. ^ "gvSIG Mini Maps - Android Apps on Google Play". Play.google.com. Retrieved 2017-05-03.
  43. ^ Miguel Montesinos (2012-03-28). "Home - gvSIG Mini - Confluence". Confluence.prodevelop.es. Archived from the original on 2017-06-25. Retrieved 2017-05-03.
  44. ^ "OpenSatNav". OpenStreetMap Wiki. Retrieved 2017-05-03.
  45. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-04-15. Retrieved 2014-04-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  46. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-04-14. Retrieved 2014-04-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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  55. ^ "Downloads". Team-cachebox.de. 2013-10-16. Archived from the original on 2017-05-14. Retrieved 2017-05-03.
  56. ^ "Mapopolis : Free Download & Streaming : Internet Archive". Archive.org. 17 February 2002. Retrieved 2017-05-03.
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  58. ^ "TZGPS - a GPS Applet for PalmOS". Linas.org. Retrieved 2017-05-03.
  59. ^ "Trax Download | ZDNet". Archived from the original on 2014-04-14. Retrieved 2014-04-13.
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  61. ^ "SoarPilot - Soaring Flight Computer". Soaringpilot.org. Retrieved 2017-05-03.
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  80. ^ "Rana". Wiki.openstreetmap.org. OpenStreetMap Wiki. 2010-12-21. Retrieved 2017-05-03.
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  92. ^ "Homemade GPS Receiver". Aholme.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-05-03.
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  94. ^ "AdvRider WD - Android Apps on Google Play". Play.google.com. Retrieved 2017-05-03.
  95. ^ "TheGOAT". benpl.net. Archived from the original on 2018-06-12. Retrieved 2018-06-08.
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