GPS Apps for iPhone

[ExPirateShopGirl]

We usually bring our Garmin Nuvi along to WDW so we can navigate beyond Disney's magic walls. In the interest of consolidating devices and leaving the heavy sand-filled dashboard GPS holder at home, I'm looking for an iPhone app that will function as a portable GPS.

Does anyone currently use one? Any recommendations? Any caveats?

TIA!

ps - I did consider using the title "Naive GPS Question" but I thought better of it...

 

[vicki_c]

We chose to buy the Navigon app - about a year or more ago. It was expensive (like maybe $80 at that time) but it has come down in price since then. It still may be $50. We replaced our Nuvi with it, so that's why we were willing to spend that much. We have been very happy with it, and it's great that both DH and I have it on our phones, and we used it on our iPad on a recent trip.

The other popular one on the App Store is called something like Direct X GPS - I always forget the name. It is a lot cheaper and seems to get good reviews.

 

[1tufgt]

Navigon is the best GPS iPhone app in the market. They have a US only version which makes it cheaper than the US / Canada combined version.

 

[Polydweller]

Navigon is the best GPS iPhone app in the market. They have a US only version which makes it cheaper than the US / Canada combined version.

I'd have agreed until recently, and Navigon is still a great choice. Garmin bought Navigon within the last couple of months and it's future is a bit unclear.

But more importantly, Garmin released Garmin North America at the end of July which now has onboard maps for $49.99. The software operates like the Nuvi and is being reviewed as the best iPhone GPS software. Since it is like the Nuvi the OP will already be comfortable with how it works.

 

[1tufgt]

I'd have agreed until recently, and Navigon is still a great choice. Garmin bought Navigon within the last couple of months and it's future is a bit unclear.

But more importantly, Garmin released Garmin North America at the end of July which now has onboard maps for $49.99. The software operates like the Nuvi and is being reviewed as the best iPhone GPS software. Since it is like the Nuvi the OP will already be comfortable eight how it works.

Thanks for the tidbit. Haven't used my iPhone for a GPS much lately due to it integrated into our vehicle so I've bben out of the loop.

 

[Brian Noble]

I have the TomTom app. Happy with it. I'm guessing any of the major players would be pretty similar to one another, so if you are already an established Garmin user, may as well stick with their app/UI/etc.

 

[ccudmore]

I really like the Navigon app too. It's the only GPS app that I've seen that stores the maps onboard instead of having to access the Internet to get the maps as it needs them. I use it internationally so not having to incur Internet roaming fees just to use the GPS is a real plus. Buying the app is a lot cheaper than buying a new hardware-based GPS.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Thanks for the recommendations. I'm not a diehard Nuvi user as my car has GPS navigation built-in, so I really only use the Nuvi when traveling where I'll be renting a car.

I did download the MotionX (for 99 cents!) for review. I plan to use it here in town to see if I like it. I looked at Navigon and the Garmin online. I will eventually have to get one of the major apps as they cover all of North America and we drive down into Mexico a few times a year.

Keep the suggestions coming!

 

[vicki_c]

I did download the MotionX (for 99 cents!) for review.

Some day I'm going to get the name of that app to stick in my brain. That is REALLY cheap though.

 

[bdoyledimou]

I use Waze -- its free, it works great, has turn by turn and voice direction, and also has traffic reporting-- did i mention it was free?

 

[Brian Noble]

It's the only GPS app that I've seen that stores the maps onboard instead of having to access the Internet to get the maps as it needs them.

The TomTom app also stores maps onboard.

 

[Lewisc]

Waze doesn't seem to be as accurate as the commercial products.

I take it this isn't your first trip to WDW. I doubt you even need a GPS. Have you heard of maps?

 

[jnfr2424]

I use TeleNav on my iPhone and it works pretty good

 

[nytimez]

I've really enjoyed MotionX and you can't beat the price. It's 99 cents to download, and I think it comes with 30 days of navigation for free.

Then, you can pay $2.99 for 30 days or some other price -- I want to say $12.99 -- for a year.

It's not an automatically recurring fee, so you only have to pay when you use it. It's got voice navigation with street names, it can take live traffic into account to reroute (it's even rereouted me around trouble spots before I reached them).

It also tried to warn me that there is no way around the lake in Santee, SC by constantly urging me to go back to 95 (where there was a huge traffic jam that had traffic literally stopped). Eventually, I got tired of it and shut it off and set out to prove it wrong. I did prove it wrong -- three or four hours later, so it was a hollow victory. And I drove on some roads out there that I hope I never see again.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Sadly, Lewis... I am a victim of my own techno-reliance. I can get to, from and around WDW from MCO, but I am one of those renegade guests who likes to visit other points of interest while in FL. Before 2007 I was a very geographically-capable person. GPS navigation systems have turned my mind to mush. I have to admit it's been really really nice not having to plot a course before every adventure!

I take it this isn't your first trip to WDW. I doubt you even need a GPS. Have you heard of maps?

 

[ljcrochet]

I use the mapquest app on my iphone. I love it for when my car's GPS has no clue where i'm going. It does the speaking turn by turn.