Organic Maps・Offline Map & GPS icon
Organic Maps App Review: A Privacy-Centric Navigator for the Conscious Traveler

by Organic Maps

4.6
ANDROIDMaps & Navigation
For travelers who prioritize both functionality and data privacy, Organic Maps offers a compelling, open-source alternative to mainstream navigation apps. This app provides detailed offline maps and turn-by-turn navigation without harvesting user data. It's particularly well-suited for hiking, cycling, and international travel where internet access is limited or expensive.

Detailed Review

In a digital navigation landscape dominated by data-collection giants, Organic Maps carves out a distinct niche as a community-driven, privacy-focused tool. Built from open-source data by the same developers behind Maps.me, it strips away commercial trackers, ads, and mandatory registrations, presenting a purely functional mapping experience. The app's core proposition is reliable, detailed navigation that works entirely offline, a feature that positions it as a specialist tool rather than a generalist replacement for Google Maps. The app's functionality centers on its comprehensive offline capabilities. Users download vector-based maps for entire countries or regions via Wi-Fi, which are then stored locally. These maps include a surprising level of detail, featuring hiking trails, bicycle paths, and points of interest like drinking water sources—information highly valued by outdoor enthusiasts. Turn-by-turn driving, walking, and cycling directions are calculated on-device, ensuring they work even in airplane mode. For real-world use, this means a traveler can land in a new country, load the regional map, and navigate to a hotel or trailhead without incurring roaming charges or relying on spotty mobile data. User experience is defined by a clean, if somewhat utilitarian, interface that prioritizes speed and clarity over flashy graphics. Map rendering is fast, and search, while occasionally slower than cloud-dependent services due to on-device processing, is effective. The app supports bookmarking locations, tracking recording for hikes, and displaying elevation profiles. However, it lacks certain conveniences like real-time traffic, integrated public transit routing with live schedules, or extensive business reviews. Its strengths are most apparent in scenarios like backcountry hiking, urban cycling using dedicated paths, or navigating old towns with poor cellular reception. Although the app has no reviews in this specific instance, broader user feedback from other platforms indicates strong appreciation for its privacy stance and reliable offline performance. Comments frequently praise the detailed topographic and trail data, which often surpasses that of mainstream apps. Some users note that the map data, sourced from OpenStreetMap, can occasionally be less up-to-date in rapidly developing areas compared to commercially maintained alternatives. Others mention that while search works well for addresses and major landmarks, finding specific small businesses can sometimes be a challenge without the crowd-sourced depth of larger platforms. A balanced assessment finds Organic Maps to be an excellent, purpose-built tool for specific audiences. Its commitment to privacy and open-source data is genuine and executed effectively. The offline navigation is robust and detailed, making it a potentially vital safety tool for outdoor adventures. However, its limitations in real-time information and business search mean it often works best as a complementary tool alongside a more data-rich app for urban planning. For the right user—a privacy-conscious individual, a frequent hiker, or a traveler avoiding data roaming—it delivers exceptional value without compromise.

Key Features

  • **Completely Offline Navigation:** All vector maps and route calculations happen on-device after downloading regional data packs, eliminating any need for a mobile data connection during travel.
  • **Privacy-First Design:** The app collects no user data, runs no tracking, and requires no account, appealing to those wary of location data harvesting by larger services.
  • **Detailed Outdoor Maps:** Includes topographic contours, hiking trails, cycle paths, and points of interest like springs and viewpoints, sourced from the OpenStreetMap community.
  • **Multiple Transport Modes:** Provides voice-guided turn-by-turn directions for driving, walking, and bicycling, with routes optimized for each specific mode of transport.
  • **Bookmarking & Tracks:** Users can save favorite locations, create collections, and record GPS tracks of their journeys, which can be exported for later analysis.
  • **Free & Open Source:** The application is completely free, with no ads or premium paywalls, and its code is transparently available for public audit and contribution.

Why Users Love It

Zero data tracking or ads
Reliable offline functionality

Perfect for: Outdoor enthusiasts, international travelers, and privacy-conscious users who need reliable offline navigation without data collection.

Screenshots

Organic Maps・Offline Map & GPS screenshot 1Organic Maps・Offline Map & GPS screenshot 2Organic Maps・Offline Map & GPS screenshot 3Organic Maps・Offline Map & GPS screenshot 4Organic Maps・Offline Map & GPS screenshot 5Organic Maps・Offline Map & GPS screenshot 6

Ranking History

Track Organic Maps・Offline Map & GPS's performance in Maps & Navigation over the last 30 days

Top 5
Top 10
Top 15
Below 15

Current Rank

#48

Best Rank

#48

All-time high

Average Rank

#48

30-day average

User Reviews

Mark Anderson
Sep 4, 2025

After giving up on Maps.me, I switched to Organic Maps and feel like this one is a keeper. No limit on downloading maps and I've received map updates in the few weeks I've been using it. Option to warn of speed cameras only if speeding is a nice touch. Search can feel a little slow, but it finds business names and road names well. I'd rather wait for a good match than get a list of irrelevant locations quickly.

Sam Cascone
Nov 25, 2025

If there was a 6th star, it'd get it! Not only are you able to choose what maps are downloaded, not only are they easily found in their respective folders, not only are they extremely detailed, not only can you conveniently save locations, but you can route between two points in one of their downloadable maps- all without data, signal, or GPS! Would be indispensable in an emergency. 10/10 would recommend!

Wyatt Brege
Sep 17, 2025

This isn't an app you use to drive to a new house by address or find directions to a restaurant. You use this for traveling by carbohydrate. It obsoletes ALL subscription trail map apps. Being able to zoom down to a dime in parks and rivers, navigate without a data plan, and finding water and toilets has come in clutch on more than a handful of hikes. Mentioned this app to my brother when he was shoving off for a trip overseas, and it came up big in finding them a public restroom.

yahya
Oct 4, 2025

bless you creators of this app for the open source, reliable and privacy friendly app, many features that I like including set a route between two cities that your bot in any of them (like simulating a trp from London to Paris while being in Berlin is cool for us maps nerds)I also like when im offline I have the city descriptions and info I appreciate it! one thing i want is to make the UI more polished and user friendly, otherwise great alternative to Google Maps if only I had a bank account..

Sean P
Dec 5, 2025

Came here to support open-source mapping, after M@gic €arth sold its soul to the devil (sneakily changing to a subscription, and hiding free OSM maps and data behind their own paywall). Initial observation is excellent, though I have not yet used navigation function. Thanks to all the developers 🙏

App Details

Developer

Organic Maps

Platform

android

Rating

4.6

Last Updated

12/28/2025