A few days ago, I got an email from Google Maps. My stats for 2022. How many kilometers I drove or walked, which places I visited for the first time or frequently, or which countries I was in during 2022.
At first glance, it’s a cool statistic that reminds you of the past year and brings back great memories. But the next moment, you realize just how precisely Google tracks you when you use Google Maps. Google remembers my travels better than I do. That’s why I also use the timeline to figure out my days at the office and working from home for my tax return.
Alternative to Google Maps
OpenStreetMap - the Wikipedia of map services
Data privacy is a recurring theme for me, and when it comes to navigation, I’ve also looked for data-saving alternatives. To be honest, there aren’t many. The apps from all major navigation providers analyze data, supposedly to improve their service. Google is naturally better at linking this with other data, but often also at navigation.
In the end, one major project caught my eye: OpenStreetMap, or OSM for short. OSM is a map service that relies on user input, basically practicing crowdmapping. Anyone can make changes to the maps or add details. The data, at least within Europe, is surprisingly comprehensive. Not only is the course of roads and paths documented, but also their type and condition. In addition, there are bus stops, pedestrian crossings, shops, and so on. What doesn’t OSM offer? 3D views, satellite images, or Street View. Presumably either for data protection reasons or due to costs.
Over the past few weeks, I have extensively tested the OSM-based navigation app OsmAnd in Germany, as well as in Switzerland and England. With the number of maps I needed, the paid subscription was unavoidable. Only with it can you download maps for several countries instead of just a few areas. The downloads aren’t exactly small either, at least if you decide to get half of Europe right away. But oh well, in return, you have access to the data even when there’s no internet.
But let’s get to the most important function: navigation. The address search is a bit more tedious than what I’m used to from Google. OsmAnd always searches from the current position, so you should enter the city first, then the street. Google Maps is much more intelligent in this regard. Afterwards, however, you notice that OsmAnd runs entirely on the device. The route calculation takes a while. For short distances, it’s a few seconds up to ten seconds. The longer the route, the longer the calculation takes. From Frankfurt to Calais, it was almost unusable. I started the calculation when we left, and after 20 minutes, OsmAnd still hadn’t found a route. After 25 minutes, the route was finally there - from my starting position. OsmAnd then noticed this and recalculated a route from the current position, which again took forever. So long, in fact, that we were always many kilometers further along by the time the route was ready. Maybe I should have calculated the route in advance at my leisure, but that’s not very flexible.
And as great as the user data is, it’s not used effectively. If I type “IKEA” into Google Maps, the app shows me all the IKEAs in the area, clearly laid out on the map. OsmAnd also finds the IKEAs, and everything else with IKEA in the name. Despite the “Show on map” option, the map remains empty for me. Without a precise address, OsmAnd is barely usable for me.
But okay, you’ve entered an address and the calculation is complete, so how is the actual navigation? I’m a bit torn here. I like the detailed view of the surroundings and the clear color scheme. It’s more colorful than Google Maps, but great for me. The routes, however, are not quite optimal. If there’s a separate exit lane next to the highway, it likes to guide you onto it, only to have you drive it to the very end and back onto the highway. Rerouting for traffic jams or factoring traffic into the travel time? No chance. And there’s one thing I miss terribly: a tilted view. OsmAnd only ever shows the map from a top-down perspective. Especially on unfamiliar roads, I rely on the route’s layout to gauge how I need to drive. The tilted view in Google Maps is much better for that.
Data for Features
Is Google Maps worth giving up my data for?
It’s a tough decision. In some aspects, especially the details and the general presentation, I like OsmAnd better than Google Maps. But starting a navigation is awful, and the navigation itself isn’t optimal. And this is where OsmAnd could gladly use user data to measure traffic - that can surely be done anonymously.
Now for the crux of the matter: Since I use an Android smartphone with Google services, Google gets my location anyway. By default, OsmAnd even relies on Google Play Services for location determination. Therefore, I’m sticking with Google Maps for now, as it’s much more convenient for everyday use, considering my data ends up with Google anyway. In the end, the location history is also a pretty useful feature.
However, I am aware that my location data can reveal a lot about me if someone were to look at it manually. Workplace, favorite places, absences—all of it can be identified. That is currently the price of convenience. Maybe I’ll get an iPhone soon, and then I’ll look at the options there.