Comparison

MapQuest GPS Navigation & Maps vs Google Maps

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

MapQuest GPS Navigation & Maps

Navigate the United States and Canada with turn-by-turn voice directions for walking and driving. Avoid traffic with real-time updates, find nearby points of interest, and plan routes to save time and money.

Highlights
  • Turn-by-turn voice navigation
  • Real-time traffic updates
  • Points of interest search
  • Route planning and options
  • Hands-free driving with CarPlay
  • Gas station price comparison
Read full description

Get where you need to go with the MapQuest turn-by-turn GPS Navigation app. Whether it’s using voice navigation for walking or driving directions or exploring points of interests on the map, MapQuest has the tools you need to navigate the United States and Canada. Map and Navigation Features: • Hands-free driving directions with Apple CarPlay Connectivity • Up-to-date satellite imagery • Turn-by-turn voice navigation for walking and driving directions • Real-time traffic updates to help you find alternate ways to your destination • Routes designed to help save you time, gas and money • A speedometer so you compare your current speed to the speed limit along your route • Favorites so you can store locations, like your home and work addresses, for quick-and-easy maps and directions • Route choices so you have more suggestions to get where you need to go faster • Route options that help you avoid things like highways and toll roads • Multipoint routes so you can include more than just one stop • Planning: create routes starting from somewhere other than your current location Do More than Get Directions: • Search and explore nearby points of interest like restaurants, bars, gas stations and hotels, with our layers bar • Find great hotel deals and book them directly from within the MapQuest: Maps & GPS Navigation app • Feed your inner foodie and discover new places to eat: browse menus, make reservations and order food through OpenTable and GrubHub points of interest • Save money by comparing prices of nearby gas stations • View local weather so you can plan ahead Please Note: Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life. Terms of Use: https://system1.com/terms

About

Google Maps

Navigate your world with real-time traffic, turn-by-turn directions for driving, walking, cycling, and public transport. Discover millions of businesses and places with photos and reviews. Plan trips with Street View, Immersive View, and offline maps.

Highlights
  • Real-time GPS navigation
  • Live traffic data
  • Public transport updates
  • Business and place discovery
  • Street View and Immersive View
  • Offline maps
  • User reviews and photos
Features
Read full description

Explore and navigate the world with confidence using Google Maps. Find the best routes with live traffic data and real-time GPS navigation for driving, walking, cycling, and public transport. Discover over 250 million businesses and places - from restaurants and shops to everyday essentials – with photos, reviews, and helpful information. Navigate the world, the way you want: • Get to where you need to go with fuel-efficient route options • Find the best route with real-time, turn-by-turn voice, and on screen navigation • Save time with automatic rerouting based on live traffic, incidents, and road closures • Catch the bus, train, and ride-share effortlessly, with real-time updates • Find bike or scooter rentals to get around more easily Plan trips and experiences effortlessly: • Preview an area before you go (e.g. parking, entrances) with Street View • Use Immersive View to experience what landmarks, parks and routes look like, and even check the weather so you can be ready in advance • Create custom lists of your favorite saved places and share with others • Order delivery and takeout, make reservations, and book hotels • Don't get lost with offline maps in an area with bad signal • Search for local places and things to do, and decide based on user reviews and photos Discover and explore like a local: • Explore with confidence knowing 500 million users contribute and keep the map up to date each year • Avoid the crowds by seeing how busy a place is before you get there • Use Lens in Maps to see walking directions overlaid on the real world • Filter restaurants by cuisine, hours, price, rating and more • Ask questions about a place, from dishes to parking, and get quick answers Some features not available in all countries or cities Navigation isn't intended to be used by oversized or emergency vehicles

Screenshots

MapQuest GPS Navigation & Maps4 screens
Google Maps4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Google Maps at 7.4M against MapQuest GPS Navigation & Maps's 29K. Google Maps also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.4) and chart position (#1 vs #18). MapQuest GPS Navigation & Maps's advantage is review sentiment (52% vs 44%). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. MapQuest GPS Navigation & Maps sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Google Maps sells 22 in-app purchases, starting at $0.89 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Google Maps holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Google Maps has 7.4M ratings behind it against 29K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 52% of MapQuest GPS Navigation & Maps's written reviews are positive against 44% of Google Maps's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MapQuest GPS Navigation & Maps ships an update every 9 days, Google Maps every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
MapQuest GPS Navigation & Maps versus Google Maps: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMapQuest GPS Navigation & MapsGoogle Maps
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (29K ratings)4.7 (7.4M ratings) — better
Positive reviews52.2% of reviews — better43.5% of reviews
Number of ratings29K7.4M — better
Update frequencyEvery 9 daysEvery 6 days — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#18#1 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS15.1 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size316 MB469 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMapQuest Holdings LLCGoogle

Customer experience

MapQuest GPS Navigation & Maps

All ratings28,951 ratings
Positive83.9%
Neutral4.2%
Negative11.9%
Written reviews1,204 reviews
Positive52.2%
Neutral11.0%
Negative36.8%

Google Maps

All ratings7,375,894 ratings
Positive92.1%
Neutral2.7%
Negative5.3%
Written reviews8,919 reviews
Positive43.5%
Neutral6.2%
Negative50.3%

User reviews

MapQuest GPS Navigation & Maps

From 29K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Accurate and reliable
  • 👍 Functional and easy to use
  • 🚀 Quick and efficient
  • 👍 Correctly labeled geographic areas
  • 👍 Provides multiple route options

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional glitches and bugs
  • 🐛 Inaccurate or incomplete map data
  • 🐛 Slow or delayed voice guidance
  • 🐛 Difficulty searching for locations
  • 🐛 Suboptimal routing suggestions

Google Maps

From 7.4M App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Accurate navigation
  • 👍 Helpful for travel and exploration
  • 💡 Useful for delivery drivers
  • 👍 Reliable traffic information

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy and unreliable directions
  • 🔄 Constant rerouting without user consent
  • 🗺️ Inaccurate or outdated maps
  • 🚧 Dangerous routing suggestions
  • 🤔 Confusing interface changes

Bugs and requests

MapQuest GPS Navigation & Maps

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Crashes or freezes
  • Incorrect destination information
  • Routing issues in construction areas
  • Difficulty switching between multiple stops

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add public transportation options
  • Improve search functionality
  • Provide more detailed map data
  • Add EV charging station information
  • Allow saving of planned routes

Google Maps

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Inability to save/access favorite locations
  • Frequent crashes or freezes
  • Incorrect address/location detection
  • Voice navigation issues

Requested features

5 requests
  • Option to avoid tolls or specify vehicle type
  • Ability to manually edit/update maps
  • Better integration with public transit
  • Improved offline functionality
  • More customization options for routes

In-app purchases

3 purchases

MapQuest GPS Navigation & Maps

Subscriptions3
  • Ad-Free$1.991 Month
  • Ad-Free$4.991 Month
  • MapQuest Ad-Free Annual$39.991 Year
22 purchases

Google Maps

Subscriptions22
  • 30 GB$0.891 Month
  • 30 GB1 Month trial3 variants$0.891 Month
  • 100 GB2 variants$1.991 Month
Show 19 more
  • 100 GB1 Month trial2 variants$1.991 Month
  • 200 GB1 Month trial2 variants$2.991 Month
  • 200 GB2 variants$2.991 Month
  • Google AI Plus (400 GB)2 variants$4.991 Month
  • Google AI Plus (2 TB)2 variants$9.991 Month
  • Google AI Plus (2 TB)1 Month trial2 variants$9.991 Month
  • Google AI Pro (5 TB)$19.991 Month
  • 100 GB1 Year trial$19.991 Year
  • 100 GB1 Month trial$19.991 Year
  • 100 GB$19.991 Year
  • Google AI Pro (2 TB)$19.991 Month
  • 200 GB1 Year trial$29.991 Year
  • 200 GB1 Month trial$29.991 Year
  • 200 GB$29.991 Year
  • 10 TB$49.991 Month
  • 2 TB1 Month trial$99.991 Year
  • 20 TB$99.991 Month
  • 2 TB1 Year trial$99.991 Year
  • Google AI Ultra (30 TB)2 variants$249.991 Month

Questions

Is MapQuest GPS Navigation & Maps free?
MapQuest GPS Navigation & Maps is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Google Maps free?
Google Maps is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, MapQuest GPS Navigation & Maps or Google Maps?
Google Maps is rated higher. MapQuest GPS Navigation & Maps averages 4.4 out of 5 from 29K ratings, while Google Maps averages 4.7 from 7.4M ratings.
Do MapQuest GPS Navigation & Maps or Google Maps have ads?
Both MapQuest GPS Navigation & Maps and Google Maps show ads.
Which is updated more often, MapQuest GPS Navigation & Maps or Google Maps?
MapQuest GPS Navigation & Maps ships an update every 9 days, and Google Maps every 6 days. Most recently, MapQuest GPS Navigation & Maps was updated on September 25, 2026 and Google Maps on September 24, 2026.
Which is more popular, MapQuest GPS Navigation & Maps or Google Maps?
MapQuest GPS Navigation & Maps currently peaks at #18 in the App Store charts, and Google Maps at #1. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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