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Maps Me – Offline Maps for iOS and Android

One of the main problems that any traveler has to solve is, of course, the issue of orientation on the road. Nowadays, acquiring traditional paper maps or atlases of any city or region is not a problem, especially since there is a wider choice of various mobile applications. Maps.me is one such app that has exploded in popularity recently.

We always want more! A regular card is not very convenient, and in order to use electronic ones, you almost always need an Internet connection. This is not always possible on the road: roaming costs a lot of money, and Wi-Fi is not always available. This means we need offline electronic maps.

Such solutions exist, and one of the best, in our opinion, is the Maps Me application - offline maps, which we will now discuss in detail.

Maps.Me is an app for iOS and Android that offers all the essential features travelers need, offline. This is precisely its main advantage: maps and routes for the area you are interested in can be downloaded to the gadget in advance, and your positioning on the map will be carried out using GPS - of course, it’s free.

The application itself is also free, which is good news. Moreover, it is completely free: no additional payments for initially unavailable features. Previously, you had to pay for many functions.

What can Maps.Me do besides simply display offline maps?

• Route planning;
• Convenient search for transport, hotels, attractions, restaurants and other objects of interest to travelers;
• “Bookmarks” on the map for your favorite places.

In a word, everything you need and nothing extra.

Another important advantage of Maps.Me is the relatively small size of both the application itself (less than 50 megabytes) and, most importantly, the maps. For a European city, a map weighs, on average, from several to 100 megabytes, sometimes a little more - in any case, such volumes will not overly burden any modern smartphone. And the necessary information will load quickly! The developers have done serious work on optimization to achieve this result.

Now let's talk in more detail about how to install the application and how to use it.

Installing the application

For example, let’s consider installation on the Android operating system, and work in it - the iOS version is practically no different.

Maps.Me is installed just like any other mobile application. But, just in case, let us briefly explain how this happens.

1. Go to Google Play and enter maps.me in the search bar:

2. Select the application in the search results - the icon looks like this:

3. Click on the “Install” button. Wait until the download completes.

As noted above, the size of the distribution is less than 50 megabytes, which is not so much for such a serious application. So, Maps.Me has been downloaded to your gadget, the icon has appeared on your desktop, and you can start using the application. Below we will talk about its main functions.

Working with Maps.Me

Having entered the application, we first see a map of the world in front of us - still on a very large scale. As usual, the area of ​​interest can be “zoomed in” using a gesture on the screen, or the plus and minus buttons (if these buttons bother you, you can turn them off in the program settings). Everything is quite intuitive.

But, if you don’t want to search for the desired object in this way, it’s time to pay attention to the menu located at the bottom of the screen. It includes only four points, which we will now analyze.

Main menu and settings

On the left is a button responsible for turning on geolocation: by clicking on it (and having previously turned on location determination using GPS on the smartphone itself), you will determine where you are.

The next icon is responsible for working with markers that you can place on the map. This issue also deserves separate consideration.

This menu item will also be useful to us when loading maps. It’s time to talk about loading them...

How to add cards

This can be done in two ways. Firstly, right on the world map that opens when you launch the application: if you get close enough to one or another part of it, the application will automatically offer to download a map or a map and routes on the ground.

Naturally, route files are additional space, so if you do not really need such a function (which is still somewhat limited in Maps.Me - we will explain below), then you can save disk space by downloading only maps.

In the same way, the application will offer to download a map of the region to your device if you find the desired country or city through the search bar.

Secondly, you can simply select the cards you need from the list. To do this, click on the “Settings” button in the main menu, and then select “Download maps”. You will see a list divided by continents and countries.

Naturally, the detail of the maps is somewhat different. For example, maps of most African countries take up only a few megabytes, but the “weight” of a map of Paris exceeds a hundred megabytes. But, if you are not traveling to extremely exotic places, the detail of Maps.Me maps will definitely be more than enough. And truly serious travel requires more thoughtful preparation than downloading a single application to your smartphone.

Also in this menu, at the very top, there is a “Downloaded” item - through it you can view previously downloaded maps and manage them.

How to search on the map

Clicking this button brings up a simple search bar, as well as a menu with various categories of objects.

Queries in the search bar can return both global objects on the world map (countries and cities) and local objects on downloaded maps. This is very convenient: everything happens on one screen, without having to switch. Just try it - you will see how simply and elegantly everything is implemented.

If desired, you can enter not the name of the object, but its coordinates in the search bar. This is useful if the place you are looking for simply does not have a name: let’s say you want to mark a certain point on the route.

Coordinates in the application are presented in two formats: GPS, and traditional - with degrees and minutes of latitude and longitude. You can switch the display mode by simply tapping the screen.

If you select one of the categories, you will see a list of objects of a certain type (hotels, attractions, entertainment, shops, etc.) marked on the map you downloaded. Naturally, such a search does not require an Internet connection: just go to the menu item you are interested in, and a list of suitable places awaits you.

Having selected the desired object, you will immediately see it on the map, and the “pull-out” menu at the top of the screen will allow you to find out the coordinates.

How to tag

If you want to have quick access to a certain point on the map, not to forget the establishment you liked, or convey to someone the location of an interesting place found on a trip, then the ability to place markers will come to the rescue.

Putting a mark on the map is very simple. Just click on the desired location on the map - it will be marked with a green circle. After that, click the star icon in the upper right corner - the mark is installed!

By the way, in the “pull-out” menu at the top, you can easily change the color of the label by clicking on the red circle.

Now this place is easy to find through the corresponding main menu item:

By the way, using the icon in the upper right part of this screen, you can send the tag to one of your friends in any way convenient for you.

How to get directions

In order to get directions to your destination, you must first activate the detection of your location in the operating system settings (via GPS), and also allow applications to access this information.

Unfortunately, Maps.Me does not allow you to plot a route between two arbitrary points on the map. Still, the application is not designed for planning a trip, but for use during the process.

Now mark the desired place on the map - in the same way as you did when placing a mark. But instead of the star-shaped icon, click on the adjacent one - in the form of a car. Maps.Me will build a route. The program does this quite correctly, although before the first use of the function it warns the user that the information presented may not be optimal and is purely for informational purposes.

Conclusion

Maps.Me is an easy to use and very functional program. The interface is implemented very simply and concisely, although some solutions in it are not entirely intuitive - however, above we have discussed all the main features of the application, so you will not have any problems.

Maps.Me will not replace all the tools useful for tourists, but it may become one of the most popular.

Maps.me is an excellent service for tourists, car owners and simply active people who love to travel and also want to explore new places.

This application includes high-quality maps of all islands and cities on the planet. Completely free maps will allow the user to quickly find the right road, or choose the optimal route. This program can also be used for navigation, which will especially appeal to pedestrians, motorists and athletes.

Among the additional functions of the application, it is worth noting the ability to find out current information about the situation that is currently happening on the roads of your city. Therefore, you will always be aware of whether there are currently traffic jams on the nearest street. If you really liked some places in the city, then using bookmarks you can share them with your friends. The application also always monitors current holidays and events in the world in order to offer users exciting scenarios. For example, during Halloween, you can drive along a certain route, collecting themed items along the way (pumpkins, bats, etc.).

What versions of Maps.me are there?

At the moment, developers from My.com B.V. offer everyone to download the navigator for mobile devices on Android and iOS. There is a version of Maps.me for owners of laptops and personal computers.

But it is possible to use this service online. To do this, you just need to go to the official website and then select the desired location from a huge list. The user will have access to all significant objects and attractions that are located in a given point of the world. You can not only read about them, but also see the objects in photographs. Also, all these places will be shown on the map. But the online version does not have navigation functions, so you can track the route only in the mobile application.

Do I need internet to use Maps.me?

As you know, many mapping programs require a constant Internet connection. But this is definitely not about Maps.me. This application fully functions offline. This means that there is no need to connect to the Internet every time you launch Maps.me. Simply select the desired country in the application, and then download its detailed map to your smartphone. We are talking about OpenStreetMap maps, which are compiled directly by users themselves. Therefore, you will always have fresh maps with up-to-date information about new roads, intersections, and junctions at hand. This solution will significantly save mobile traffic even in the most remote corners of the Earth.

Reviews about Maps.me

Many users speak positively about the Maps.me program. People like the convenience of the service, as well as its versatility. Some users actively use the opportunity to book a hotel room using the Booking.com portal, access to which is available in the application itself. Praise also applies to offline maps, because it is much easier to download individual maps of countries or one global map once than to constantly turn on the Internet, losing traffic and money. Users note the fact that the program is completely free, and its functionality is not limited in any way. But there is an opinion that there could still be fewer advertising banners.

The detail of the maps also deserves good words, which users often write about in their reviews. So, you will be able to see in detail not only streets and buildings, but also smaller objects: stops, signs, etc. Users are pleasantly surprised by the opportunity to see train stations, gas stations, clinics, shops, cafes, markets, clubs, attractions, hotels, financial institutions, educational institutions and much more on maps. Even forest trails are indicated!

In terms of the level of detail of maps, the Maps.me service is clearly among the leaders, as evidenced by numerous reviews. In this regard, the application can be compared with competitors such as Google Maps. And in terms of information updating speed and speed of operation, Maps.me has no competitors at all.

Maps.me is a unique mapping service. It does not require the Internet to work. You just need to download and install this application once, and then update it periodically. This service has a large number of maps, points of interest, catering establishments, banks and other objects that we often use during our daily activities. You can download Maps Me for your computer using our website.

Video review

Application features on PC

The library of this program contains almost all maps of the world. Therefore, you can select the desired area and find everything you need in it. The service works offline, which is a big advantage when using it where there is no Internet access.

All maps are edited by amateurs. Each user of this service can make their own changes. Has an ATM appeared near your home? Has a new bakery or cafe opened? All this can be noted on the special website www.openstreetmap.org and wait until the changes take effect in the next application update.

Although the program is optimized for smartphones and tablets, it can also be used on a large computer screen. With it, you can find detailed site plans, driving routes, bike paths and walking routes.

Currently, the library of this mapping service contains 345 maps. They are taking over all areas of our planet. From large cities to the tiniest uninhabited islands. Each map contains detailed tourist and other useful information. The interface of this service is laconic, but has great functionality. Download Maps Mi to your computer and see for yourself.

If geolocation is enabled on your computer, a map of your area will automatically load. There are two ways to download the map you need:

• Move the map until the area you want appears on the screen. The application will constantly load the next piece of the map until you reach the desired place.
• By clicking on the menu button. With which you can display the card you need on the screen.

Each map is equipped with useful points. With their help, you can obtain the necessary information about the location of a particular place. Most of the new points on the map were marked by app users. It is possible to search for the nearest hotel, hospital and even a free Wi-Fi point.

On a smartphone, all this is done using touches and swipes. But using a computer mouse and keyboard, working with the application is very convenient and comfortable. You can get a route, print it or transfer it to your navigator. Everything is done very quickly and simply.

Advantages and disadvantages

If you want to contribute to the development of this service, you can also leave marks on the map. They can be imported via cloud services and sent to friends. This is especially interesting if you want to meet them in an unfamiliar city or point out an interesting place. Thanks to Maps Mi for PC, traveling will become easier and more interesting.

This service also has such a function as “What to do”. It is activated by clicking on the binoculars icon. By clicking on it, the program will help you find interesting places near you. If you have free time, but you don’t know what to do, then the program’s algorithms will select what interests you. By clicking on the place you like, the service will instantly create a route to it. In this case, you can choose a means of transportation (or walk). The program will tell you about the route, give information about distances and gradients. It is very interesting when crossing hilly terrain.

You can select display modes for maps, measurement systems, turn off photographs of objects and change other data.

The advantages of Maps Me are:

• the ability to build a route relative to the road surface;
• excellent work without the need for Internet access;
• coverage of all countries and regions of the world;
• quick download of the desired map from the World Wide Web;
• proprietary data compression algorithm to save traffic;
• saving resources of mobile devices;
• the ability to search for the desired address;
• the ability to edit the map and set your own markers;
• saving bookmarks of selected places;
• “sounding” the route with a built-in electronic assistant.

At the moment, the program has been downloaded by several million users. More than 2 million regularly enter their data and correct maps.

Disadvantages of this mapping service:

• Intrusive adware. The program is free, so you have to deal with advertising.
• Regions of the Russian Federation are not grouped by federal districts. Downloading each area separately is not very convenient.
• Maps are more suitable for use in large populated areas than for out-of-town tourism.
• It is not possible to add points between the start and end of a route. You have to add points while passing the route.

How to install MAPS.ME on your computer

This program can be installed on a Windows computer in two ways:

Summarize

Maps Me is a popular map application that does not require an Internet connection. You can install this product on your smartphone and use it where there is no connection. This is very convenient for long trips or travel. But we are ready to help you run this application on PC. Download Maps Me for your computer with our help and take advantage of the rich functionality of this application on the large monitor of your Windows desktop device.

It happens that you need to go somewhere, but you may not have a navigator in your car. But my head didn’t remember the whole journey. Then you can resort to Android applications. In fact, there are quite a large number of navigator and map applications, but not all of them work offline, and this function can be useful when there is very little Internet traffic or no traffic at all. In this article we will talk about an application that has a map and you can use navigation. The good thing is that this application works offline. That is, it does not require an Internet connection. The application is called Maps.Me offline maps. We will look at the pros and cons and features of this application, and then we will summarize in which we will understand whether you need to download this application.

Advantages and disadvantages

Let's look at what the pros and cons of the Maps Me app are. We will start, of course, with the positives.

• Maps me is an offline map, that is, the application works without the Internet. This may be useful for those who do not have Internet traffic in their tariff plan. That is, you just need to download the application at home, where there is internet, and use it everywhere.
• You can download the Maps Me app on Android completely free of charge. That is, you do not need any monetary investment to unlock all the functionality of the program.
• Maps Me, this application is in Russian. That is, the entire program interface, all the symbols, in general, everything that is included in the program has been translated into Russian.
• The program works on Android of any version.

Perhaps, this is where the advantages end; of course, not all of them are collected here, but everything else that is good in the application will be grouped in features in this article.

Now let's talk about the disadvantages, there are few of them - there is only one. Due to the fact that the map works offline, new symbols appear only with the following updates. However, due to the frequent release of updates, this problem can be solved. On the other hand, this is a plus - you save Internet traffic.

Peculiarities

Now let's look at the features of this program, that is, what distinguishes it from other programs.

• As mentioned earlier, Maps me Android is offline maps, that is, there is no dynamic map update. And this does not eat up extra traffic.
• Many countries are available in the application, of course with their cities and even attractions.
• You can also edit any map for Maps Me yourself. That is, you can click on a place on the map and add some symbol, be it a city, or even a museum.
• You can build routes and Maps.Me maps for Android based on different choices of options for covering distances. Bicycles, cars, motorcycles, even on foot. For all this, you can enable the display of your individual path.

Results

After weighing all the pros and cons, and also considering the features, you probably wanted to download Maps me on Android. In this case, we offer you to download the Maps Me program for free from us. Also, if you want to download updates for Maps Me, do it with us, because we always have the latest versions of the applications. You may want to talk about your work experience, ask a question or answer an existing one, talk about what is missing on the map. You can express all this in the comments.

MAPS.ME is access to detailed maps of all countries and cities from anywhere in the world; MAPS.MI does not require an Internet connection.

MAPS.ME - screenshots

Main features of MAPS.ME for Android

MAPS.MI maps load instantly, these are the fastest mobile offline maps. With a unique data compression method that saves space on your device.

A universal offline navigator helps to create routes not only for transport, but also for pedestrians. You can move along paths, alleys, bridges, ground and underground passages. The map will show you the most optimal and correct path to your destination!

MAPS.ME contains more detail than other maps, including distant points such as dirt roads, villages and small towns, as well as restaurants, tourist attractions, gas stations, ATMs and more.

Map data is updated daily by hundreds of thousands of users on openstreetmap.org - a public alternative and.

Using the application you can download any map for free. MAPS.ME offline maps are useful not only in your city, but also indispensable when traveling and traveling.

The app has detailed maps of 345 countries and islands from Rome, London and Berlin to Moscow and St. Petersburg. There are also maps of all winter resorts and ski slopes.

The navigator is available even where there is no mobile connection; there is no need to pay for Internet roaming. Maps determine your location offline, it’s impossible to get lost!

To start the game you need to unpack the cache into the folder /Android/obb/ and it should eventually look like this /Android/obb/*APPLICATION_FOLDER*/*CACHE_FILE*.obb