Organic Maps
Open-source offline maps and navigation app for Android and iOS, built on OpenStreetMap data.
Liked for fully offline maps and navigation, especially on hikes, long walks, rural trips and travel abroad,12345 and for making it easy to fix OpenStreetMap errors from inside the app.67 The most common caveat is concern over the project's governance, which has led some users to recommend the CoMaps fork instead,8910 and a few find it weaker than Google Maps for finding businesses or say it drains the battery.11121314
Why people recommend it
Offline use · 3
Maps and route planning work fully offline once regions are downloaded, which helps in areas with poor reception.
“So IMO it's way better than Google Maps for this use case.”
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“have Organic Maps and regions downloaded for travel and just switch between the two”
Hiking and walking · 3
Shows small paths, trails, water fountains and other landmarks useful on hikes and long walks.
“So IMO it's way better than Google Maps for this use case.”
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Travel · 3
Long-time users rely on it when traveling, and it includes wiki articles about tourist attractions.
“Organic is my favorite map app I use for years traveling around the world, also donated to them.”
“I love Organic Maps for offline navigation and exploration.”
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“have Organic Maps and regions downloaded for travel and just switch between the two”
Map editing · 3
Users can correct OpenStreetMap data directly in the app, and those fixes benefit everyone.
“Organic Maps was my go to app for a navigation app where you can fix errors yourself immediately!”
“So IMO it's way better than Google Maps for this use case.”
Show 1 more
“have Organic Maps and regions downloaded for travel and just switch between the two”
Simple and ad-free · 2
Described as stable, regularly updated, ad-free and easier to use than OsmAnd.
“Organic is my favorite map app I use for years traveling around the world, also donated to them.”
“But for now Organic Maps is totally fine and many people like me see no reason to move from it anywhere.”
Caveats and dissent
Governance concerns · 3
Some OpenStreetMap contributors and CoMaps users criticize the project's governance and recommend CoMaps or OsmAnd instead.
“if there are significant issues with their governance they are harmful to the broader OpenStreetMap community.”
“They forked from Organic Maps project which seems to have gone evil.”
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POIs and businesses · 3
Google Maps is seen as better for finding businesses and points of interest.
“Organic is my favorite map app I use for years traveling around the world, also donated to them.”
“have Organic Maps and regions downloaded for travel and just switch between the two”
Show 1 more
“Organic Maps - Google Maps alternative (not as good)”
Battery drain · 1
One user stopped using it because it drained their battery while recording KML tracks.
Routing mistakes · 1
One cyclist felt it made more routing mistakes than CoMaps.
“Before that I used also organicmaps and it was fine as well but I think made a few more mistakes in routing.”
Often compared with
Who recommends it in their own words
Threads where it came up
- Organic Maps 8 mentions
- CoMaps – FOSS Offline Maps 6 mentions
- Sudo – A dedicated music player designed around listening to music 1 mention
- CoMaps: The Offline App That Guided Rescuers Without a Signal in Venezuela 1 mention
- Apple Maps Ads Are Here, and There's No Way to Turn Them Off 1 mention
- Migrating to the EU 1 mention
Data: organic-maps.json. Quotes are verbatim; the verdict and theme labels are written by a model from these comments, and every clause links to its sources.
All comments 22
“I can throw Organic Maps on it and keep offline maps handy”
“I've been using its predecessor organic maps for years. Maps.me before it. Been great in the outback and rural areas.”
“I use Organic Maps (on android, I assume the ios version is decent too).”
“I use Organic Maps over CoMaps simply because Organic Maps is available in Accrescent”
“Before that I used also organicmaps and it was fine as well but I think made a few more mistakes in routing.”
“OM drained my battery like crazy”
“if there are significant issues with their governance they are harmful to the broader OpenStreetMap community.”
“But for now Organic Maps is totally fine and many people like me see no reason to move from it anywhere.”
“I used to use OrganicMaps.”
“Organic is my favorite map app I use for years traveling around the world, also donated to them.”
“I use OM for a lot of years”
“I love organic maps. It’s great for hiking”
“It's a really good experience.”
“have Organic Maps and regions downloaded for travel and just switch between the two”
“I strongly recommend you to seriously look into comaps or organic maps if you don't know them.”
“So IMO it's way better than Google Maps for this use case.”
“Organic Maps was my go to app for a navigation app where you can fix errors yourself immediately!”
“Organic Maps is great for offline.”
“OrganicMaps for OSM maps”
“They forked from Organic Maps project which seems to have gone evil.”
“Organic Maps - Google Maps alternative (not as good)”
“I love Organic Maps for offline navigation and exploration.”