this post was submitted on 23 Jun 2025
53 points (100.0% liked)

Asklemmy

48953 readers
349 users here now

A loosely moderated place to ask open-ended questions

Search asklemmy πŸ”

If your post meets the following criteria, it's welcome here!

  1. Open-ended question
  2. Not offensive: at this point, we do not have the bandwidth to moderate overtly political discussions. Assume best intent and be excellent to each other.
  3. Not regarding using or support for Lemmy: context, see the list of support communities and tools for finding communities below
  4. Not ad nauseam inducing: please make sure it is a question that would be new to most members
  5. An actual topic of discussion

Looking for support?

Looking for a community?

~Icon~ ~by~ ~@Double_A@discuss.tchncs.de~

founded 6 years ago
MODERATORS
 

I use OSM and Organic Maps, but I have difficulty searching by address or business. I end up using my computer, finding the location, matching it to the map in the app, and favoriting it. Am I doing this the dumb way? Is there an alternative FOSS navigation app which has this functionality?

top 27 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] AgentRocket@feddit.org 2 points 23 hours ago

For motorcycle riding i use calimoto. It has an option to find the most curvy route to your destination. It also works offline, which is great when riding in remote areas with poor cell coverage or foreign countries with expensive roaming conditions.

Also it can track your journey and show elevation, acceleration, speed and lean angle.

Unfortunately it's subscription based now, but i was licky enough to buy it before that, so i basically got lifetime premium account.

One more downside is the shitty search function. even with the exact address copy pasted it almost never finds the location.

[–] r0ertel@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I use OSMAnd+. The searching is the biggest problem, so I will contribute to StreetComplete in an effort to improve the areas in which I travel.

When I do need a location that isn't found in OSM, I'll grab the coords from LatLong.net and copy/paste them into OSM. When I get to the destination, I'll pop open street complete and fill in details in the hopes that next time will be better.

[–] wuphysics87@lemmy.ml 2 points 14 hours ago

I really wish this was built in!

[–] ThunderLegend@sh.itjust.works 1 points 22 hours ago

I use Waze because I had issues with organic maps with routes changed and almost did not get to my appointment in time. I still have it to use when I don't have to be somewhere in time. I also contribute to open street map when I walk on order to improve the navigation in the future

[–] Akasazh@feddit.nl 1 points 1 day ago

I'm Using the Dutch app Here we Go, works pretty good!

[–] Undaunted@feddit.org 15 points 1 day ago (2 children)

First there is a fork of Organic Maps, which is called CoMaps. If I understood it correctly, the development on Organic Maps nearly halted for some reason regarding the company that owns it. CoMaps now wants to pick it up again.

Also for navigation I use Magic Earth. It uses OSM data but is not FOSS itself, which is unfortunate. But it offers traffic data which is crucial for good arrival time estimation or avoiding traffic jams.

[–] nfreak@lemmy.ml 8 points 1 day ago

Same two here. CoMaps for general use, Magic Earth for navigation. Hopefully a true FOSS alternative comes along at some point.

[–] Pherenike@lemmy.ml 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Yeah I'd recommend Magic Earth as well, I use it practically every day. I tried many other apps and it's annoying that this one isn't FOSS but I needed something that actually works

[–] peterg@piefed.social 3 points 1 day ago

doesn't seem to work with Android Auto, which is the primary way I use it.

[–] psycotica0@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 day ago

There's an app I've never used but heard of: https://adresilo.com/

I think the way it works is that it queries Google's API for locations, proxies through them, but it can't show them on a map due to Terms of Service, but it can provide links that will then open in any map app of your choice.

The app is open source, but the DB is obviously Google. So it's trying to blur that line of providing Open Source functionality, and using Open Source maps, with the practicality of "Google has all the stuff" UX problem.

At least I think...

[–] Wahots@pawb.social 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Transit (Bike/Bus/Rail) and Waze, sometimes Google maps just for more...global maps. (Eg, stuff like finding a campground on a map, or a certain bakery)

[–] JillyB@beehaw.org 2 points 23 hours ago

Same except I supplement with Gmaps. Transit is fantastic if you know your destination but Gmaps is way better at looking around for restaurants for example

[–] Dequei@sopuli.xyz 5 points 1 day ago

CoMaps, i transform Gmaps locations to OSM with GeoShare. Both in Fdroid/Droidify.

[–] Matriks404@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago

When driving - Google Maps

When commuting - Jakdojade (Polish app)

When riding my bike - Komoot

When hiking/walking - Komoot or Organic Maps

[–] Sumocat@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

Apple Maps. The integration across my iPad, iPhone, and Apple Watch is too good, and I have Shortcuts and automations to bring up directions as needed. Also, we build guides for vegan-friendly restaurants for out-of-town trips, so it’s a real stress reliever.

[–] OhVenus_Baby@lemmy.ml 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Look I know it's not Foss and I hate it with a passion. But I had to have good gps the other day. Google maps told me the police was up ahead and like 20 or so people said the police was still there 1 minutes ago. I was like damn. Now Google tells you where the police is πŸ˜‚

[–] umbrella@lemmy.ml 7 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

waze did that for years and google purchased them, they are now integrating some of its features into maps.

[–] OhVenus_Baby@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 day ago

I didn't know that. I was looking at a wyze robo vacuum. My father has one. It does a great job actually. Drives over door lips, rugs, extension cords. You name it. Only down side is you have to manually empty the container. But for 150 its worth it for light daily cleaning while everyone is out of the house.

[–] peterg@piefed.social 7 points 1 day ago

I use HereWeGo. it has traffic and decent search and POI databases. plus it has offline mode.

[–] rosco385@lemmy.wtf 1 points 1 day ago

I'm currently still using Waze. I have CoMaps installed, but it doesn't seem to be available through Android Auto.

Usually just Apple Maps but be careful when going to places outside of cities as it will choose weird paths through dirt roads that might not even be accessible by car, when there is a perfectly fine road parallel to it.

[–] nemo@piefed.social -4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I live in Chicago, which uses a grid system. Apps are unnecessary for in-town trips.

[–] victorz@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

I live in a city that resembles nothing like a grid, but I still don't need navigation because it's my home town. Of course you don't need navigation if you know the way to where you're going.

Having a grid system makes no difference anyway if you don't know the address. "Let's meet up at Starbucks!" "Oh... kay. Where's that?"

[–] nemo@piefed.social 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Fair bit of difference between a map app and a navigation app. I'll use a tool to find out where I'm going but I don't need one to tell me how to get there.

[–] victorz@lemmy.world 0 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Fair point, I suppose. Though the original commenter said that "apps" [in general] are unnecessary. That's how I interpreted it. And that they are so due to the grid system where they live. I call BS. I bet it helps, but not for someone who isn't used to it either. It wouldn't help me, as a European, because I have no experience with it.

[–] pescetarian@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

You probably live in a deep village... I always use a navigator, even for short distances, maps show where the speed limit cameras are, where the police are now (by 80%) because users set where they are now... Interchanges, highways, etc. But in general, of course, cameras (their number grows like mushrooms after rain)Now you can't go anywhere without navigation.

[–] victorz@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

You probably live in a deep village

A "deep" village? What does that mean?

There are over 130,000 people in my city, growing by about 1,000 every year. So not a huge city but not a village. πŸ˜„ Takes probably 30 minutes to drive across town with negligible traffic? Anyway...

maps show where the speed limit cameras are, where the police are now

cameras (their number grows like mushrooms after rain)Now you can't go anywhere without navigation.

Why do you need to know where speed limit cameras and police are at all times? Sounds to me like you prrrooobably shouldn't have a driver's license to begin with? Or you live in a place where police are a danger to society rather than protection. I'm willing to guess which side of the Atlantic but I'll refrain.

I can definitely travel without navigation lol. Even when visiting a bigger city with maybe half a million people. As long as I know where I'm going, it's fine. πŸ‘