Organic Maps is presented as an alternative that offers greater privacy and offline map navigation to dethrone Google Maps. Let's see How does this app work and what are the differences with Google Maps?.
What is Organic Maps?
Organic Maps is an offline map app for travelers, tourists, hikers and cyclists that works under the principles of the project: to be independent, community-supported and open source.
This app is available on Android and iOS and works under the open mapping data of OpenStreetMap. Furthermore, the developers are practically the same team that created MapsWithMe in 2011.
Stands out for allow you to use all its features without having an active internet connection, so you can use this map navigator without problems due to low coverage in transit areas between cities or while hiking in the countryside. It is undoubtedly an excellent option to guide you without having to be connected to the internet.
It is worth mentioning that this app is being financed through donations and by the provider Mythical Beasts.
Where to download Organic Maps
You can download the app directly to your Android mobile from the following link.
What are the differences between Organic Maps and Google Maps?
When choosing a map application on Android phones, the most common thing is to install Google Maps and use this app. But Google Maps, despite being an excellent option to navigate maps and help you from community reviews, requires an internet connection and many permissions on our mobile. Therefore, if you want to have an option with more privacy, I recommend Organic Maps. Let's see what big differences there are between both apps.
Google Maps uses data collected by Google, while Organic Maps is based on open mapping data from OpenStreetMap. This means that This app may offer more detailed information in certain areas and features that may not be available on Google Maps.
As I said, in the Google Maps app an active internet connection is required to load maps and data in real time. Meanwhile, for his part, Organic Maps allows downloading of maps for offline use. This makes the OpenStreetMap-based app more suitable for users who frequently travel in areas without internet network coverage.
And something that is very important for many users, Organic Maps does not collect personal data for advertising purposes. This is one of the main reasons to choose Organic Maps, to the detriment of Google Maps, which does take and sell your data in order to carry out personalized advertising.
These are the big differences between both applications. In summary, Organic Maps offers greater user data privacy and allows offline map navigationWhile Google offers more features in exchange for taking and selling your data.
You can also collaborate with the project
Before I told you that it is a community-based project and as such it allows users to access its beta to test the new features of the app and check its possible defects.
To access the beta program all you have to do is access the Organic Maps website and at the bottom, where it says "Community" you can download the betas and other tools to test the app in beta mode.
Given the growth of this app, I have a question about whether Will this app manage to dethrone the Google application or will we continue to see how Google Maps continues to dominate for many years?