Google Maps

Maps, routes, and local places

Google Maps is a navigation and place-finding app for Android, suited to commuters, drivers, walkers, cyclists, travelers, and anyone comparing nearby businesses. Search for an address, shop, restaurant, hotel, landmark, or service, then choose a route by car, public transport, bicycle, or on foot. The app is developed by Google LLC and sits in the Travel & Local category.

Useful guidance on the move

Turn-by-turn directions help you follow a selected route, while traffic information can affect driving times and suggest a different path. Transit views bring bus and train options into the same search, making the app practical for mixed journeys. Walking guidance is especially useful in unfamiliar streets, where a map view can be easier to follow than written directions alone.

Check a destination before you go

Google Maps also works as a local discovery tool. Business listings can include opening hours, contact details, photos, ratings, reviews, menus, and busy-period information where available. Street View and panoramic imagery let you inspect many roads and entrances in advance, which can help when meeting someone, choosing between nearby places, or looking for a specific building.

• Save places and build lists for future trips or regular errands.
• Download selected map areas for navigation when a data connection is limited.
• Use map layers and search filters to narrow down transport, businesses, and points of interest.

Scale and everyday trade-offs

With a listed rating of 3.17 from more than 19.3 million reviews and 10 billion-plus installs, Google Maps is used at a very large scale, though the rating shows that experiences vary. Continuous location tracking, live traffic updates, and camera-based guidance can use noticeable battery and data. For a broad set of maps, routes, and local information in one app, it remains a practical starting point.