# Google Maps vs RTA Smart Drive

Google Maps and RTA Smart Drive both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 85% of RTA Smart Drive's written reviews are positive against 44% of Google Maps's. RTA Smart Drive also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 34) and ads (none vs shown). Google Maps's advantage is update cadence (every 6 days vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (7.4M vs 2.9K). On price, rating, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Google Maps sells 22 in-app purchases, starting at $0.89 per month. RTA Smart Drive asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Google Maps against 4.6 for RTA Smart Drive. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Google Maps has 7.4M ratings behind it against 2.9K, 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 85% of RTA Smart Drive's.

Google Maps ships an update every 6 days, RTA Smart Drive every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Google Maps | RTA Smart Drive |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (7.4M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/google-maps/id585027354/reviews)** | [4.6 (2.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rta-smart-drive/id926094022/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **7.4M** | 2.9K |
| Positive reviews | 43.5% of reviews | **84.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 days** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#1** | — |
| Size | 469 MB | 57 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Google](https://appshunter.io/developer/281956209) | [TRANSPORT HI TECH CONSULTANTS](https://appshunter.io/developer/926094021) |

## What reviewers say

### Google Maps

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

**Currently charting:** #1 Top Free · Navigation, #25 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


### RTA Smart Drive

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rta-smart-drive/id926094022)

Navigate offline with turn-by-turn directions, automatic rerouting, and speed limit alerts. Access live traffic information, points of interest, and public transport locations. Supports multiple languages and route planning.

**Highlights:** Offline navigation, Turn-by-turn voice/visual instructions, Automatic rerouting, Speed limit alerts, Live traffic information, Points of Interest (POI) display, 2D/3D map modes

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Accurate navigation
- 🔒 Works offline
- 👍 Easy to use
- 👍 Helpful for visitors
- 👍 Reliable

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Outdated maps
- 🐛 Inaccurate directions
- 🐛 Crashes and freezes
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 🤔 Confusing voice instructions

**Reported bugs**

- Incorrect route suggestions
- Fails to avoid tolls
- Doesn't recognize new roads

**Requested features**

- Update maps regularly
- Add traffic and accident alerts
- Improve search functionality
- Implement CarPlay support
- Add option to save favorite destinations


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Google Maps free?

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

### Is RTA Smart Drive free?

RTA Smart Drive is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Google Maps or RTA Smart Drive?

Google Maps is rated higher. Google Maps averages 4.7 out of 5 from 7.4M ratings, while RTA Smart Drive averages 4.6 from 2.9K ratings.

### Do Google Maps or RTA Smart Drive have ads?

Google Maps shows ads; RTA Smart Drive does not.

### Which is updated more often, Google Maps or RTA Smart Drive?

Google Maps ships an update every 6 days, and RTA Smart Drive every 3 months. Most recently, Google Maps was updated on September 25, 2026 and RTA Smart Drive on September 23, 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.*