I replaced Google Maps with a free, privacy-first alternative
Every month Google sends the author a report on online activity, and the idea that Maps might be tracking them was unwelcome. They also noticed that using Google Maps drained their Pixel 9 Pro’s battery faster than other apps, which prompted a search for alternatives and led them to CoMaps.
CoMaps is an open-source fork of Organic Maps, itself descended from MapsWithMe/Maps.me, and is available for Android and iOS. It is privacy-first: no tracking, no data collection, no ads, and the developers say they are not focused on profit. Features include offline search and route planning, voice-guided directions, access to offline Wikipedia articles and subway maps, the ability to mark and save locations, export/import to KML, KMZ and GPX, and a built-in map editor that helps improve OpenStreetMap data.
Unlike Google Maps, you download maps for specific areas, which enables offline use and prevents unused maps from taking up storage.