Looking for an android sat nav app.

I want one which minimises the data usage, l am sure that some use more data than others.

Paid for CoPilot would suit https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...eumaj&hl=en_GB

Sygic is also a paid for option. It uses TomTom maps and rthese can be downloaded to your device for offline (no data required) use.

Free sat nav app options are "Waze" and also Nokia "HERE" which also allows you to download per country maps to your device for offline use.

Waze needs data.

Navmiii is free and offline too OP.

Looks good. Do you know where they get their speed camera data from and if it's up to date?

The satnav that uses the least data would probably be NavFree/NavWii, given that it downloads the maps to your device using wifi and doesn't actually use any data in regular use.

I've used Mapquest navigator for sometime now and its been excellent.
You can download the maps and use offline. no data usage if you prefer.
You can also purchase tomtom maps if you feel you must, but the openstreet maps that most free ones use now are excellent and regularly updated.

Their support forum is great and they let you beta test too.

http://forum.mapfactor.com/categories/navigator-free

https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...gator&hl=en_GB

Sorry, no.

I've installed Navmii (otherwise known as NavFree ) on my iPad mini. Now I need to find instructions on how to use it! It's not intuitive, and there's no help file that I can find.

Google maps will work off line, you won't get traffic updates, turn by turn or live re-routing but it will still does basic navigation. Its data usage really is minimal, I use it for around 5 or 6 hours a week just commuting and barely use a few MB.

Here is also good, with a nice interface, people say it has the best map coverage worldwide
Had navmii, but mapquest is better for those openstreet maps
Find the smartphone ones much better and easier to use than the installed car ones

The second link takes me to a page about MapFactor; is that the same thing?

The info says
Does this mean I can't use it if my phone doesn't have an SD card?

The second link is where you install it from - Google Play ( The location for most apps)

All you need is enough memory on your phone, phones have built in memory and sometimes you can push in an additional memory card if needed.

The map data takes up a fair amount of space, but you'll have the option of which maps to download. Obviously just down the UK map if you're not travelling abroad.


I have 'Mapfactor' and 'Here' installed on my phone and I've downloaded only the UK maps for both, they both receive good reviews.

My Nexus4 has a folder called sdcard but has no card. I assume this is a mechanism to let the app 'think' it is installing it in the correct area.
My CoPilot app takes up about 400MB in this folder.

It is indeed Google Play, and the app shown is MapFactor. Is that the same as MapQuest?

tealady : thanks. I seem to recall my Moto G showed sdcard as an activity using the battery, when I was getting very heavy battery use. I don't know whether there was a connection, but it never appeared before or since.

You'll find using your phone as satnav will be one of the biggest battery drains there is. If you are using it in the car then you'll probably want it plugged into the charger

c4rv: thanks, I didn't know I could charge it on the move. Presumably an adaptor into the lighter socket?

OsmAnd works like a charm on my 7inch android tablet.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...smand&hl=en_GB

It is free, and also 10 map regions are free, I.e. Scotland, north east England etc.

It works totally offline, with map regions downloaded when you are WiFi connected.

Still say that you should look at google maps. I find it miles ahead [lol] of even the paid apps. Undoubtedly the most accurate maps, simple to use interface, POI integrated with google search so you can search on just about anything including company names or phone numbers, contacts list, etc. It presents common routes based on day and time. Voice recognition is super accurate. It integrates with your desktop searches so if you plan a route in chrome on your PC, it appears on your phone. Gives you lane information and of course street view. You can select driving, walking or cycling. Cycling is cleaver because it knows about cycle routes and elevation so you can plan routes that are longer but flatter. Did I mention it has full public transport integration for buses, train and tube timetables. Plus there are plenty of add-ons e.g. speedometer, camera database. Could go on.

Yes it really needs a data connection but data usage is very small as maps can be caches before you set out. And with data connection you get free accurate live traffic and traffic based re-routing. As I mentioned, I use it for a whole month and it uses 20mb to 30mb

Did I mention it does all this for free ?

Yes, got a twin USB power adaptor for £3 from amazon and then use any USB lead.

If you are using it in the car then get a windscreen or dashboard mount. I use something like this one, though I fold the bottom bit as it gets in the way of the power cable on my nexus 4. My car has Bluetooth so turn by turn instructions come out of the car speakers and it can use the built mic. It also support A2DP so I can stream music off my phone inc reading MP3 tag info. And MAP so it can read messages if I really want it to,

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Racksoy-Wind...7040158&sr=8-2

Osmand is extremely good for a free app - but -
Updates to the downloaded maps count towards your 10 regions
It has a less than intuitive interface
And a horrible USAnian female voice, that doesn't seem changeable!
However - I do use it (mainly for cycling) - because it has the ability, again non-intuitively, to navigate round downloaded GPX tracks. This is something I've not found in other free sat-nav android apps yet.

I tried "directions" in Google Maps a couple of weeks ago, when I was a passenger. I must have been doing something wrong, because I got none of the above. The car symbol trailed behind where we were, and only reached junctions after we'd been through them.


I've never seen those, with the USB sockets, before. I'll probably buy one, even if "just in case" for mobile phones.

Not direct but you import GPX into google apps,

https://productforums.google.com/for...ps/3jj2ZGZuCn4

Be interesting to know which handset you are using. Might struggle on low powered handsets maybe.

I've have a large number of friends, family and myself using Google maps on a variety of hardware and have always found it to be spot on as long as you have a decent GPS signal.

Here you go,

http://www.amazon.co.uk/NoveltyThund...7136315&sr=8-4