“I’ve been using Google Maps for years, since before Apple released its own map apps. When Apple Maps was first released, I found it very hard to read; there wasn’t enough contrast between roads and backgrounds, and texts were tiny,” Kirk McElhearn writes for Kirkville. “That’s improved a bit since the initial release, but not much.”
“Every now and then I try out Apple Maps, when looking for a certain location or a specific type of business. I tried again recently, to see if Apple had improved things with the releases of iOS 11 and macOS High Sierra,” McElhearn writes. “Here’s an example. There are three pubs near me… Google Maps knows about all three pubs; Apple Maps only knows about one (and not the best one, at least for food).”
“This is what I find for anything I search. Look for restaurants, gas stations, any type of business, and you won’t find as many locations in Apple Maps as in Google Maps,” McElhearn writes. “Some people in the US have told me that it is very complete over there, but others here in the UK have confirmed that they have similar problems.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: It’s all about the dataset. In the UK, Googles is clearly more complete.
i hate to say this but Google maps work better in UK, France, Belgium, Germany & Ireland, Majorca (Spain) in my personal experience
Snoop dog, you ain’t been outside the border of your US town in your life. Let alone Majorca, Ireland….etc
Thank you for your enlightened comments. And you know this exactly how Paul??
Please leave troll.
How do you know that? So Stupid, made me laugh
I love Apple Maps and never had any problems with it. With iOS 11 it now also has land guidance! A feature I’ve been begging for since I first put away my old GPS unit in favor of Maps on the iPhone back in 2011. The data in the U.S. is pretty good now, and I’ve even noticed it quickly adapting to new construction. The feedback for stores that have changed or closed is very responsive and quick to update. Honestly anything is better than the privacy invasion of Google.
Totally agree about goog’s invasion of privacy. I don’t trust it with anything! For years, I’ve tried to avoid all things goog, very hard to do, e.g., youtube. But I do my best to avoid it.
Funny, but every time I see a bowl of food coming, I see an iPhone with it. Works in my yard every time.
Sought to confirm the location of a Chicago area loading dock recently using Google and Apple Maps satellite imagery; hands down Apple Maps was superior.
Newer image, superior vantage.
Apple Maps has been slow to catch up. I personally find now that when I send corrections or mark a new site that it is updated very quickly. And I even get an acknowledgement via email when it’s done. This seems to be pretty good crowd-sourcing.
Have to agree. Recently sent in the location of a life guard tower (happens to be where my kid’s school trains) and within a week it was added and had an email from apple thanking me.
Google does the same. My brother has hundreds of map corrections to his credit …
I use Apple Maps. I figure my usage helps make it better, through telemetry.
Also, I believe in the notions: For better or worse, through thick or thin, etc.
I have never felt the need to jump into Google Maps for anything.
In my opinion, Apple Maps is superior to Google maps, especially with the clarity of the displayed information, but for a number of years I have been making posts on here saying pretty well what Kirk McElhearn is saying about how poor the database is for users in the UK.
If I specify where I want to go by means of a postcode ( Zip Code ), Apple Maps is excellent and finds a really good route according to the current traffic conditions and displays the directions clearly and without unnecessary distractions, but where it falls down is when I ask it to search for a named place. The database needs to be massively better suited to the task.
One particular annoyance is that it doesn’t seem to take into account where you are when you search for somewhere. I was in Germany and my ( German ) wife asked me how long it would take to drive via Hanover. Apple Maps assumed I must want Hanover in Virginia, rather than the famous city that has been an important German city for a thousand years. It also lists Hanovers in NH, MA, ME and PA, but appears to be completely unaware of the original Hanover with it’s half million population. I’ve repeated this test with two iPads, two iPhones and a Mac and it has failed every time.
This isn’t an isolated example, I’ve previously mentioned how a search for Loch Ness ( the place reputed to have the monster ) came up with businesses using that name in America, but didn’t list the actual lake. Similarly there is a town in the east of England called Eye. It now appears on the list of suggestions, but didn’t used to and the list mostly contains eye hospitals in America, which are still listed above the place that’s really called Eye.
Regrettably I have to find a workaround. I use DDG to get the postcode of the place I want to go and then paste it’s postcode into Apple Maps. It shouldn’t be necessary to do that , but the database in Apple Maps is hopelessly centred on the USA.
Somebody at Apple must surely be smart enough to work out that if there are several places that sound identical, the nearest one ought to be presented near the top of the list. Alternatively, the real places should take precedence over small businesses thousands of miles away using that name as part of their trading name. If I’m after driving instructions, it’s a pretty safe bet that I’m looking for somewhere on the same continent that I’m making the enquiry from.
Apple maps, while improved, is no match for Google Maps particularly the 3D rotation and wonderful street views.
You make an excellent indictment how it cannot figure out Hanover based on your location. Just terrible and Google has that function down pat.
If anyone says AM is better just amounts to wishful thinking and loyal fanboy devotion. I wish it was the reverse …
Because, click bait?
Apple maps never fail me. whereas Google maps is that creepy Eric Schmidt guy looking over my shoulder. Ugh, gives me a chill every time I see someone using Gmail or Google maps or anything else from Google. Ill never use anything google intentionally.
Right on, Paul, me too.
Privacy issues. Companies who want to be listed must enroll their company info with Apple. You can go to: mapsconnect.apple.com to put your company on the map. Apple uses TomTom for their general map needs.
Which is the way it shown be.
What are you saying? If they allowed it, what use would a company listing be without the company info? And do you think a company doesn’t want their info out there!!!? WTF!
That does’t explain why entire cities are not listed.
I use Apple Maps and also a TomTom. The two databases are not the same and I find that can each produce unexpected results and they don’t necessarily produce the same results.
I use a TomTom SatNav as well as Apple Maps because the TomTom gives warnings of speed cameras and also displays my true driving speed ( which is important if you drive into a country using kilometres rather than the miles that your car displays ), furthermore the TomTom doesn’t suddenly change it’s screen at a critical moment if an incoming call or alert is received. However Apple Maps is much better for showing an overview of where I’m going and what sort of traffic conditions to expect. While my TomTom will offer to route around traffic jams that crop up during the trip, Apple Maps often give me a better way of avoiding that area altogether.
I love Apple Maps new lane guidance and speed limit display, very cool. I use Apple maps all the time.
But when I travel (and only when I travel), I use google maps. Offline maps are really handy. It even stores businesses with the data. One other nice thing about Google maps is that you don’t have to start turn by turn directions mode to get the information. The next turns and such are just little notifications letting you know what’s going on, while still just looking at a map with a potential route selected.
Speed limit display is very useful. It should be a default on all car navigation system map displays. My European rental cars had this year ago. It is an excellent idea anywhere. But maybe especially in the US where road speeds can change multiple times in relatively short distances (which I’ve always thought is crazy).
When I’m driving in the US or Canada, I always bring my TomTom with world maps. Obviously it’s good for finding my way around, but it’s invaluable for alerting me to speed limits and speed traps. Speed trap alerts are illegal in some countries, but very useful when you’re driving a hired car in unfamiliar areas.
Unfortunately up here in Canada, at least the city I live in Apple maps is not that great. There are a few new streets around my area and Goog maps has them where’s they don’t show up in Apple maps. I would rather use Apple maps but the delay in new routes sucks.
Apple Maps is my go to, but I often compare with Waze(Amazing amount of bugs, in Canada at least) and google Maps.
I find Apple Maps easier to read, and it generally gives the best directions. I like that with Google you cant plan your own itinerary(for scenic routes etc).
Google maps has NEVER been accurate for me! I’ve gotten lost, missed many basketball games, and turn by turn navigation has been wrong numerous times!
Apple maps, despite the bad rep people give it, has always been accurate for me. I’ve never had a problem with it.
Apple maps, for me, has usually updated to reflect any changes in the road within a month or two, such as a new round-about. Google maps took 2 years!
It’s impossible to make a blanket statement over which of either of these map apps is better. It’s like cell phone carriers, the quality is dependent on your location and use profile. Use whichever you like. But don’t tell me yours is better simply because it shows the Pub you happen to favor.
again load of shite article – I was able to use apple maps and find the pubs (all 3 just like google) he talked about in a sec – worked and looks much better than google maps.
Apple Maps still sucks in much of the USA as they buy apparently weak assed data from Tom Tom that seemingly just mails it in.
There is a bridge on US 79 over the White River that has been open for over a year and has an approach running through a FWS Sanctuary that only appeared on Apple Maps recently, and still not correctly. It still shows the old bridge- closed and scheduled for demolition- as the primary route and open. This despite repeated reports form numerous people.
If Apple paid attention to their GPS data they would have seen a constant stream of cars and trucks driving through what they marked as a roadless area at highway speeds. Apparently Apple is just mailing it in as well.
Apparently Apple would rather you go over this bridge- now closed- instead of the new state of the art one.
Apple Maps is useless for me in Eastern Europe. At this point I don’t think Apple will ever catch up to Google as long as they are in business.
Is there some reason people are afraid to try the other half dozen mapping apps?
Mapquest
WeGo Here
Michelin
Ulmon
Etc
None of these are creepy as Google and all have some advantages over Apple Maps.
Perhaps it’s an American thing assuming that everything must be bipolar.
I predominately use Apple Maps. Mostly for aesthetic reasons. It just seems easy to read.
Google I avoid as much as possible simply because… well, Google.
From my experience with using both in two widely separated areas of the U.S., they both have inaccurate/out-of-date issues at the strict map view and the satellite image view.
I’ve tried other map apps, but have found them to have issues. Buggy, hard to use due to obtuse interface iconography, take too long to map routes, etc.
Google has one thing I really, really like… street view. I use Apple Maps to find out where I’m going to, then use Google street view to see what I looking for will look like when I get there.
The one feature I really, really want is multi-point routing. This would be very helpful on regular in-town shopping trips and especially so on out of town trips, vacations, etc. One of the other map apps has it, but it was impossible to get it to work.
Up-voted for the multi-point routing request.
It would also be good to be able to tweak a route on Apple Maps by dragging part of the route to either include, or avoid certain places.
I understand the knock against Google playing Big Bother and tracking you. Guess what, nothing to hide and I don’t give a rat’s arse.
To compare I use both map apps everytime when on the road. Consistently Google has more information and easier to read app, sorry Apple …
Totally sucks anywhere outside USA. Or at least in Australia (home),NZ, UK, Ireland, France, Italy, Spain, Malaysia, Singapore.. I love the look of Apple Maps but Google maps is far superior in most locations I have visited.
“I love the look of Apple Maps but Google maps is far superior in most locations I have visited.”
I have Apple maps and Google maps side by side on my present location and the same level of zoom.
Some takeaways:
AM light beige background does not make the roads stand out like GM.
GM has about twice the number of street names in much larger legible type.
GM has more business locations in the same zoom view.
As I zoom out both apps do a terrible job of legible secondary roads.
As to your second point I could not agree more. The sheer number of locations and accuracy based on your GPS is no contest.
And something none of the Apple fanboys dare to mention: Google maps STREET VIEW.
Try this: In Google maps search for Ugly Oyster Drafthaus in Reading, PA.
Enable street view, navigate around and point at the front door. On your iPhone clicking the forward arrow you can walk into this fine Irish establishment and waltz around the bar and restaurant.
Simply, AWESOME! …
Yes, Google Maps Street View is ideal for vicariously experiencing the ambience of the Irish Pub which I smile at, yet it has also proved useful to stalkers. Perhaps that is why Apple are leery of implementing a similar system, given their commitment to user privacy.
That would be a dumb, overly cautious mistake I expect ONLY from a liberal snowflake.
Statistics have consistently shown that the majority of robberies and rapes are committed by people in the same block
or neighborhood that either know you or your movements.
Street view is nothing more than a computer view frozen in time made years ago, subject to change and carries no personal information as to the front facing facades.
Much like driving down the street or strolling by outside just made easier on our gadgets. No difference except the street view has been known to be inaccurate at times to new construction, knocking down neighborhoods for a new mall, business closings — et al.
BTW the inside of the Irish bar UOD is authentic imported piece by piece from Ireland … 🍻
My comment was meant to be drily amusing, Mister Serious.
Guilty as charge., Herself.
Need to lighten up on Cook driving Apple farther left.
Well, maybe not today … 😉
Apple Maps is “too zoomed in” I want to be pulled back a bit more, Sometimes I only see the first turn when Google maps sees the second turn in the same place. Who the heck wants only seeing 1 block in front when you are going 50 miles an hour.