Guru Maps - Offline Navigation Reviews

by User45642

I used this a few years ago when it was Galileo. I downloaded maps for 5 US states. The UI is confusing but you get used to it, so everyone I showed this to I would explain the UI so that they’d understand what it does. The map design is not as nice as other mapping apps but GuruMaps works offline, so I used it occasionally when I was out of signal range.

Since then, Galileo/Guru has changed their pricing from one time to subscription, and other apps have added offline use. HERE Maps has unlimited downloads, a simpler UI, and better map design; Google Maps has limited downloads but a nicer UI and more data on the maps.

I stopped using Galileo/Guru when I had to restore my phone from backup. It lost the maps it had already downloaded and wouldn’t let me download them again without payment. I understand why they raised their prices but it made me think about why I didn’t use it much (map design, ui, features), and led me to delete it. I don’t want to be reminded every month that I’m paying for something I only use occasionally; I only subscribe to things I use often.

It’s the right app for some people so *it’s worth a try* but it wasn’t worth the higher price for me so I’ve removed it and no longer show it to my colleagues.

by BadDomino5

One thing that I have found that I dislike about GuruMaps is the search function. Let’s say I open GuruMaps and conduct a search. It finds my results, and if I select a result, a new panel appears on the right side of the screen that shows the update map. I cannot seem to merge the search results into the main screen. I do not want a small sliver of screen. If I search for a location, chances are I want the map to be centered on my selected search result. Full screen, big map. No small windows or split screens. Horrible aggravating implementation of search.

by LBKcouple

The free version only allows you to trace 15 trails. Also, I haven’t figured out how to map individual waypoints.

by MrSideSpin

GuruMaps does not register as accurately and quickly the direction I’m moving or the direction I’m aiming the phone. This is an issue when trying to smoothly navigate in the city. GuruMaps also has issues with recognising street addresses or names of locations. As a paid use of Guru, I still end up having to use Google maps.

by Drarlek

Guru Maps keeps me located when I’m far from cell service so I use it all the time, especially hiking, snowshoeing, and cycling. Easy to use out of the box, but lots of features I still need to learn.

by Rogers A Canyon

If your looking for an offline map, this is it!

by Travel Gurus

Used guru in the states, Israel and Peru so far. Best way to travel. Easy and accurate.

by PuKio 206

My family and I were trying to find a house in a remote area and our GPS on our phones couldn’t reach service where we were. Not to mention we wouldn’t be able to find our way back home. Luckily, a year ago, I decided to download this Guru map offline app and to my surprise, it worked offline like It said it would. So this is diffidently an app worth keeping. As well as a real map. Lol

by Albatrossbird

Guru maps has replaced my stand alone GPS unit for hiking and hunting. This is a well written and very useful app. Thanks.

by Cluny Aviation Services

Just learning how to use Guru Maps. Enormous potential! Applying it to aerial survey of protected areas in Africa. Looking forward to mastering it in aid of Biodiversity Conservation.

by Vish12Math

Love that it is free and shows terrain for all my trad climbing routes in Yosemite Valley. I can record the gps trail map, save pins for not so well marked climber trails. Have been using GuruMaps for over 5 yrs!

by Nabil Irq

The best navigation app I have ever used. I really love it

by Yarus

With the ability to download offline maps and the recent addition of topographic data, this is the best map app for my uses.

by Provostpilot

GuruMaps is awesome especially with the fact that u can use it offline once the map is downloaded for ur country. Pls keep improving it cos it helps with getting coordinates airborne especially for operations.

by Swood Friend

I use it frequently on my daily walks and trade images of my route with my daughter in CA. We also enjoy sharing flowers and nature photos we see along our route.
It uses NO Cellular Data and doesn’t track us

by Rideredhrc

Great app. The functionality without internet or cell service was exceptional on a recent visit to Baja California. Looking forward to using it on my next adventure here in the states now.

by Nomadmot

This is my go-to app for anything that Google or Apple Maps can’t handle. With selectable map sources, downloadable vector maps, decent navigation, and rock solid track recording, it does everything I need. It even works offline with a little preparation.

by Timmy Jon

I have used Guru maps for year. (Before they renamed it).
I love the route tracking. We travel a lot and it is great documentation for where and when we have been. I also use it on bike trips that we take from time to time. So I have markers and route tracking from all over.
I use it on bike t

by Swerdy

Used GuruMaps for backpacking for several days. Super easy to download offline maps and it provides excellent offline navigation both for driving and walking. It even provides excellent terrain information for walking directions, showing the expected elevation changes which was super helpful.

by Ozexpat

I’ve been using Guru maps for many years in multiple countries including Mongolia, Costa Rica, Indonesia, Australia and the USA.

The maps are accurate, the downloaded versions are quick and snappy in areas where WiFi and cellular are hard to come by.

The developer is awesome! We get new features all the time, customer service is great, and updates for each OS come quickly after apple releases any updates.

This is a map app for pros.

by Putler Kaput

Too buggy, especially if try your so called offline mode. And remember, putlerlover, that Crimea is not Russia, it is Ukraine.

by Whyaskforthis

Lots a better and free options. Not sure how they expect to survive with the new subscription model

by Pegasus1787

The vector map quality looks very nice and professional, and GuruMaps works with off device GPS such as Bad Elf. However, when you download a state map, you don't get a high resolution map for the whole state. It seems that your device have to be online in order to pull in the additional details. For example, if I bring up GuruMaps at home where an internet connection exists, it will show my surrounding streets clearly and cache that information. If I leave the house and drive 10 miles out with no internet connection, the map details will get blurry, street names are no longer recognizable. Once I get online again, GuruMaps will download the necessary details and the map gets updated with the higher resolution information. Also the search function will not work unless you are online, I was hoping that it will at least be able to search the downloaded database.

If an online connection is required to generate a high resolution map, you are better off using Google Map's cache mode. In Google Map, zoom your window in or out to include a region where you want to cache the map information, then type in "ok maps" as the search criteria. Google Map will cache that data and display them in high vector resolution. Unfortunately, you cannot cache an entire state, its too much information to cover.

by Mmmmm55555

Love GuruMaps. Would get 6 stars if it had support for Apple CarPlay.

by Jamusu

This program does exactly what it is supposed to do. However, to use it, you must follow instructions carefully. If you want to make a set of offline maps, you have to use mobile atlas creator, and you have to buy the import map feature within GuruMaps . Your maps can then be loaded into Galileo. Google maps was removed as a map source in version 1.9 of mobile atlas creator for copyright reasons, but it is still available in the previous version. I just searched Google for version 1.8 of mobile atlas creator and downloaded it. Google maps was then available as a source. However, I got an error message when I tried to convert to an sqlite database file, which is needed for Galileo. There is a library that you must download and place in the mobile atlas creator directory. This is mentioned in the documentation for Mobile Atlas creator. After that, it worked beautifully, and I have offline maps of any region I choose on my iPad. The Galileo website has a help file for making offline maps and importing them, which was a big help. This program is excellent.

by Fredericksy

Wonderfully useful as visitors from the USA

by Cocinero8

I'm not one to rave about apps just because, but Galileo is really the best app for travellers. Download all your maps when you have a WiFi connection and use them everywhere. But it's the highly intuitive design, with excellent features that just work, that rate the 5 stars. Touch 2 points and it shows you the distance between them. Choose offline vs online map modes. The new vector map feature with auto download makes it a no-brainer (used to be somewhat convoluted and "techy" to get offline maps before). You can use the free version but the "Bookmark" feature alone is worth the $4 for the package. But you can always try the non-pro free version and buy in-app the features that make it essentially the same as the Pro version (though I thinkn it's logistically simpler to delete the non-Pro and install the Pro version once you decide to buy, otherwise you will always have the "non-Pro-with-in-app-purchase" version).