Comparison of free off-line satellite navigation software

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article contains a list with gratis (but not necessarily open source) satellite navigation (or "GPS") software for a range of devices (PC, laptop, tablet PC, mobile phone, handheld PC (Pocket PC, Palm)). Some of the free software mentioned here does not have detailed maps (or maps at all) or the ability to follow streets or type in street names (no geocoding). However, in many cases, it is also that which makes the program free (and sometimes open source[1]), avoid the need of an Internet connection,[2][3][4] and make it very lightweight (allowing use on small portable devices, including smartphones). Very basic programs like this may not be suitable for road navigation in cars, but serve their purpose for navigation while walking or trekking, and for use at sea. To determine the GPS coordinates of a destination, one can use sites such as GPScoordinates.eu and GPS visualizer.

Some software presented here is free, but maps may need to be paid for. In this instance, and in the instance that some maps (of specific countries) are not standardly available, Mobile Atlas Creator (MOBAC) can be used (e.g. on OruxMaps, Maverick, Sports Tracker, Maplorer).

Some of the software mentioned can also be run on different devices than what they are intended for. A particular case-in-point is the Android software which can often be run on laptops or PCs (running Linux, Windows or Mac OS X) as well. This can be done using emulators.

Some of the software mentioned here may run only on devices that are no longer commercially sold (such as the PalmPilot and PocketPC devices). However, these devices are often still obtainable via second-hand websites.

Navigation software[]

Free maps[]

Navigation software with free maps often uses maps from the OpenStreetMap project.

Name Company or developer Type of device[5] Operating system 3rd-party GPS-able?[6] Software with maps? Follows streets? Open source? Remarks
[7] GEC smartphone, tablet Android, iOS ? Yes, yes No
Google Maps Google smartphone, tablet Android, iOS ? Yes, yes No Maps can be downloaded, but they expire after 30 days,[8][9] ads
Here WeGo[10] HERE Global B.V., Netherlands tablet, smartphone, Laptop (online), PC (online), iOS, Android ? yes (color maps), ? No intended for marine navigation
Magic Earth General Magic B.V. Smartphone, tablet Android, iOS ? Yes (OpenStreetMap data), yes No Free OSM maps intended for car navigation, hiking and biking
[11] MapFactor, s.r.o., Czech Republic Tablet PC, smartphone, car navigation, PC, etc. Android, Windows, Windows Mobile, iOS, WinCE ? Yes (OpenStreetMap data), yes No Free OSM maps, optional non-free TomTom maps, ads
MAPS.ME[12] MapsWithMe GmbH smartphone Android, iOS, BlackBerry ? Yes (OpenStreetMap data),[13] yes[14] (Apache License 2.0)[13] ?
[15][16] Navmii Tablet PC Android ? Yes (OpenStreetMap data), yes ? ?
[17] ? Windows Phone Windows Mobile ? yes (?), no ? For hiking and biking
Navit[18][19] none Laptop, PC, tablet PC, smartphone Windows for PC, Linux, Android, OpenMoko ? Yes (OpenStreetMap and others), yes (GPL 2) Intended for road navigation
OpenCPN[20] ? Laptop, PC Windows XP SP3, Vista, 7, 8, IntelMac, Linux (Fedora, Ubuntu, CentOS) ? yes (various charts and OpenStreetMap data), N/A GPL Intended for maritime navigation
OsmAnd[21] OsmAND bv Tablet PC, smartphone Android, iOS ? Yes (OpenStreetMap data), yes (GPLv3+) Limited to 7 maps for the free Google Play version,[22] unlimited on F-Droid
Maps can be added manually via PC in program order on smartphone
[23] Karas Lukáš[24] smartphone Sailfish OS ? Yes (OpenStreetMap data), yes (LGPL) Unlimited offline maps loaded from within the app.
[25] ? Tablet PC, smartphone Android, iOS ? Yes (OpenStreetMap data), yes (Apache License 2.0) ?
[26] + [27] rinigus[28] smartphone Sailfish OS, UBports, Linux ? Yes (OpenStreetMap data), yes (GPL3) Pure Maps acts as frontend and OSM Scout Server as backend. Unlimited offline maps loaded from within OSM Scout Server.

Non-free maps[]

Name Company Type of device[5] Operating system 3rd-party GPS-able?[6] Software with maps? Follows streets? Open-source? Remarks
[29] GEC Smartphone, Tablet Android, iOS ? Yes, yes No
[30] i-Boating Tablet, PC, Smartphone iOS, Android, Windows, Mac OS, Embedded Linux & BlackBerry Yes Yes No Marine Navigation Software, free program, but maps need to be paid for
[31][32] ? handheld PC (Palm) Palm OS ? yes (color maps, basic), ? ? May be a free program, but maps need to be paid for (hence called "shareware" at Tucows) ?
Navionics Boating App[33] Navionics smartphone, tablet iOS, Android ? yes (OpenStreetMap data), ? ? Intended for marine navigation, free program, but maps need to be paid for
[34] ? handheld PC (Palm) Palm OS ? yes (black and white maps), ? ? Free program, but maps need to be paid for (hence called "shareware" at Tucows), intended for marine navigation (sailing)
[35][36] ? Tablet PC iOS, Android ?paipa yes (OpenStreetMap data), ? No Program is free and can be used without limitations online, offline maps need to be paid for after the first free one

Other satellite navigation software[]

Name Company Type of device[5] Operating system 3rd-party GPS-able?[6] Software with maps? Follows streets? Open-source? Remarks
[37] Mobile Computing handheld PC (pocket PC) Windows CE ? no, ? ? mainly intended to mark specific points without a map, not intended for actual navigation
GPSLogger[38] Open Project

Basic Air Data

Tablet, PC, Smartphone

and any android enabled device

Android Yes, no specific hardware No GPLv3[39] Free and no ads. Exports in common formats and via email[40]
[41] osmdroid.org Tablet, PC, Smartphone

and any android enabled device

Android Yes, no specific hardware yes (?), no Apache[42] may not allow actual navigation from point-to-point, only showing the current position on a map

Miscellaneous / unsorted software[]

Name Company Type of device[5] Operating system 3rd-party GPS-able?[6] Software with maps? Follows streets? Open-source? Remarks
Maverick[43][44] ? Tablet PC Android ? yes (OpenStreetMap data), ? No ?
[45][46] Prodevelop Tablet PC Android ? yes (OpenStreetMap data), ? GPL ?
[47] Kieran Fleming et al. Tablet PC Android, OpenMoko ? yes (OpenStreetMap data), ? ? ?
Minimap[48] ? Tablet PC Android ? yes (OpenStreetMap data), ? ? ?
[49] CloudMade Deutschland GmbH Tablet PC Android ? yes (OpenStreetMap data), ? ? ?
OruxMaps[50] ? Tablet PC Android ? yes (OpenStreetMap data), ? No ?
GPS Hiking (Lite)[51] ? Tablet PC, Android ? yes (?), ? ? ?
[52] ? Tablet PC, Android ? yes (?), ? ? ?
[53] ? Tablet PC, Android ? yes (?), ? ? ?
Sports Tracker[54] Sports Tracking Technologies Tablet PC Android, ? yes (?), no No Does not allow navigation to specific points, only tracking
[55][56] ? tablet PC Android, ? yes (?), ? ? may not provide actual navigation, only marking of GPS points, and the current position
[57] ? Tablet PC, handheld PC (Symbian) Android, ? yes (?), ? ? ?
[58] ? Tablet PC, PC, handheld PC (pocket PC) Android, Windows Mobile, Windows for PC ? yes (?), ? ? initially intended for geocaching
Mapopolis[59] ? Handheld PC (Palm) Palm OS ? yes (black and white maps), ? ? only has maps for USA
[60] ? handheld PC (Palm) Palm OS ? yes (OpenStreetMap data), ? ? ?
[61] ? handheld PC (Palm) Palm OS ? yes (OpenStreetMap data), ? ? ?
Trax[62][63] Luke Klein-Berndt handheld PC (Palm) Palm OS ? ? (?), ? ? ?
[64] ? handheld PC (Palm, some PocketPC/WinCE devices) Palm OS ? yes (OpenStreetMap data), ? ? Originally intended for use in sailplanes
[65] ? handheld PC (Palm) Palm OS ? ? (?), ? ? Originally intended for geocaching
[66] ? handheld PC (Symbian One) Symbian ? no (?), ? ? ?
[67] ? handheld PC (pocket PC) Windows CE, Mobile ? yes (?), ? ? ?
[68] ? handheld PC (pocket PC), smartphone Android, Windows Mobile ? yes (?), ? GPLv3 ?
[69] ? handheld PC, certain smartphones Windows Mobile 5,6, 2003 ? yes (OpenStreetMap data), ? ? ?
[70] ? Laptop, PC Windows, Mac OS X, Linux ? yes (?), ? ? ?
[71] ? Laptop, PC, handheld PC (Pocket PC) Windows, ? ? yes (?), ? ? ?
[72][73] ? PC, laptop, handheld PC (Palm, Symbian, BlackBerry), Windows Phone Windows XP, Vista, Windows Mobile, Palm OS, Symbian ? yes (?), ? ? Runs on Java, hence cross-platform
gvSIG 2.0[74] ? PC, laptop, Windows XP, Vista, Linux, OS X ? yes (?), ? ? cross-platform; originally intended as a GIS; however can be fitted with GPS receiver and has support for it[75] and also allows to easily download maps from any location from an online database as OpenStreetMaps, and many others[76][77]
[78] ? Laptop, PC, smartphone Windows, Linux, OpenMoko ? yes (?), ? ? ?
[79] ? Laptop, PC, smartphone Linux, OpenMoko, GPE ? yes (?), ? ? ?
[80] Ojw Laptop, PC, smartphone Windows XP, Linux, OpenMoko ? yes (?), ? ? ?
[81] Marcus Bauer Laptop, PC, smartphone Linux, OpenMoko ? yes (?), ? ? ?
FoxtrotGPS[82] ? Laptop, PC Linux, OpenMoko ? yes (?), ? ? based on TangoGPS, actively being developed, especially adapted for use with touch screens
Rana[83] Ojw smartphone OpenMoko, Neo Freerunner ? yes (?), ? ? runs on Python, so possibly cross-platform
[84][85] ? smartphone (OpenMoko, Symbian), tablet PC Android, OpenMoko, Symbian ? yes (?), ? ? ?
[86] ? laptop, PC Windows, OS X, Linux ? yes (OpenStreetMap data), ? ? Not intuitive
[87] ? smartphone, ? Symbian, multiple OSs ? yes (?), ? ? Runs on Java, so a cross-platform GPS navigation software
[88] ? smartphone (Qt) Windows CE, OpenMoko ? yes (?), ? ? ?
? Nokia N810 Maemo[89] ? yes (OpenStreetMap data), ? ? ?
[90] ? handheld PC, Laptop, PC Windows for PC, Windows Mobile 5/6/2003 SE, Linux ? yes (OpenStreetMap data), ? ? ?
GPSS Robin Lovelock Laptop or Pocket PC Windows for PC, Windows Mobile ? yes (can import) No Since 1995. www.gpss.co.uk
? Laptop, PC Windows, OS X, Linux ? yes (OpenStreetMap data), ? ? Developed for marine applications, not intuitive, built around NASA WorldWind
[91] Cetus software embedded system (Garmin) ? yes (?), ? ? ?
GPS interpreter[92] Marcel Durieux, Christian Tavernier[93][92] Embedded system (purpose-build PCB)[94] ? ? yes, ? ? ?
Andrew Holme's GPS software Andrew Holme[95] Embedded system (several custom PCB's + Raspberry Pi)[96] ? ?, ? ? ?
AdvRider WD[97] Adi Barda Android Android ? yes (can import) No Since 2013.
[98] ? Tablet PC Android ? yes (OpenStreetMap data), ? No ?

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Having open-source GPS programs available for different devices also allows people to expand on this software for certain projects, like automated or semi-automated steering systems for vehicles
  2. ^ Programs like Google maps require an internet connection as the maps are not available offline, in part because this would also make the program very large in filesize
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  4. ^ Joe Levi (2013-07-22). "Here's how to take your Google Maps offline after the v7 update". Pocketnow.com. Retrieved 2017-05-03.
  5. ^ a b c d Tablet PCs have touchscreens, laptops do not
  6. ^ a b c d support of add-on GPS receiver, rather than say the embedded GPS receiver of the device the software was initially designed for
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