# Google Maps vs MapFactor Navigator

The clearest difference is update cadence: Google Maps at every 6 days against MapFactor Navigator's every 6 weeks. Google Maps also leads on ratings volume (7.4M vs 831) and chart position (#1 vs unranked). MapFactor Navigator's advantage is review sentiment (57% vs 44%) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.0). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Google Maps sells 22 in-app purchases, starting at $0.89 per month and MapFactor Navigator sells 26 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Google Maps against 4.7 for MapFactor Navigator. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Google Maps has 7.4M ratings behind it against 831, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 44% of Google Maps's written reviews are positive against 57% of MapFactor Navigator's.

Google Maps ships an update every 6 days, MapFactor Navigator every 6 weeks. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Google Maps | MapFactor Navigator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (7.4M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/google-maps/id585027354/reviews) | [4.7 (831 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mapfactor-navigator-gps-maps/id1249314050/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **7.4M** | 831 |
| Positive reviews | 43.5% of reviews | **57.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 days** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#1** | — |
| Size | 469 MB | 100 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Google](https://appshunter.io/developer/281956209) | [MapFactor](https://appshunter.io/developer/1249314049) |

## What reviewers say

### Google Maps

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/google-maps/id585027354)

**Currently charting:** #1 Top Free · Navigation, #19 Top Free (US App Store)

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:** Apple Watch app, iMessage stickers

**In-app purchases (22)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 30 GB | $0.89 | per month |
| 30 GB | $0.89 | per month |
| 100 GB | $1.99 | per month |
| 100 GB | $1.99 | per month |
| 200 GB | $2.99 | per month |
| 200 GB | $2.99 | per month |
| Google AI Plus (400 GB) | $4.99 | per month |
| Google AI Plus (2 TB) | $9.99 | per month |
| Google AI Plus (2 TB) | $9.99 | per month |
| Google AI Pro (5 TB) | $19.99 | per month |
| 100 GB | $19.99 | per year |
| 100 GB | $19.99 | per year |
| 100 GB | $19.99 | per year |
| Google AI Pro (2 TB) | $19.99 | per month |
| 200 GB | $29.99 | per year |
| 200 GB | $29.99 | per year |
| 200 GB | $29.99 | per year |
| 10 TB | $49.99 | per month |
| 2 TB | $99.99 | per year |
| 20 TB | $99.99 | per month |
| 2 TB | $99.99 | per year |
| Google AI Ultra (30 TB) | $249.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

- 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


### MapFactor Navigator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mapfactor-navigator-gps-maps/id1249314050)

Navigate over 200 countries offline with turn-by-turn voice guidance, speed limit alerts, and camera warnings. Plan door-to-door routes for various transport modes and customize your navigation experience with favorite places and route avoidance.

**Highlights:** Offline maps for 200+ countries, Turn-by-turn voice navigation, Speed limit and camera warnings, Door-to-door route planning, Multiple routing modes (car, bus, bike), Points of Interest (POI), 2D/3D map display

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (26)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium: Remote Commands | $0.99 | per year |
| America | $1.99 | per month |
| Premium: Head-Up Display | $2.99 | per year |
| Premium: No Ads | $2.99 | per year |
| America | $3.49 | per 3 months |
| Searching Online: 1 Year | $3.49 | per year |
| Premium: Alternative Routes | $4.99 | per year |
| Premium: Mega Pack | $6.99 | per year |
| America | $8.49 | per year |
| Latin America | $12.99 | per year |
| Middle East | $12.99 | per year |
| North America & Mexico | $12.99 | per year |
| South Asia | $12.99 | per year |
| Europe | $12.99 | per year |
| North and East Asia | $12.99 | per year |
| TomTom Africa | $12.99 | per year |
| Truck: North America & Mexico | $34.99 | per year |
| Truck: South Asia | $34.99 | per year |
| Truck: North and East Asia | $34.99 | per year |
| Truck: Latin America | $34.99 | per year |
| Donate | $0.99 | one-time |
| Donate | $2.99 | one-time |
| Premium: Remove Ads | $2.99 | one-time |
| All Premium Features | $6.99 | one-time |
| North America and Mexico | $20.99 | one-time |
| North America and Mexico | $25.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Colorful app
- 🚀 Great offline navigation
- 🚀 Excellent mapping and GPS
- 👍 Good app overall
- 👍 Reliable and flawless system

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Doesn't let you open GPX files
- 🐛 Clunky and slow on iPhone
- 🐛 Unintelligible instructions
- 🐛 Archaic address search
- 🐛 Can't save addresses or favorites

**Reported bugs**

- Doesn't work after map download
- Can't set home address properly
- Doesn't recognize many addresses
- Continuous map download loop
- Doesn't allow entry of street numbers

**Requested features**

- Ability to export/import favorites
- Larger house numbers on maps
- Show all favorites on the map
- Prefill favorite name when editing
- Better voice navigation and street announcements


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Google Maps free?

Google Maps is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is MapFactor Navigator free?

MapFactor Navigator is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Google Maps or MapFactor Navigator?

Google Maps and MapFactor Navigator are both rated 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store, from 7.4M and 831 ratings respectively.

### Do Google Maps or MapFactor Navigator have ads?

Both Google Maps and MapFactor Navigator show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Google Maps or MapFactor Navigator?

Google Maps ships an update every 6 days, and MapFactor Navigator every 6 weeks. Most recently, Google Maps was updated on September 24, 2026 and MapFactor Navigator on September 24, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*