GPS Apps Review

Reviewers scramble to keep up with fast-changing GPS apps

GPS apps -- programs that turn your cell phone into a turn-by-turn navigator -- are gathering steam, threatening to replace stand-alone  auto GPS units entirely. And since many of the apps use the same underlying mapping and interface software as stand-alone  GPS units, they can be just as accurate. Bottom line? If you own an iPhone, a Blackberry or another smartphone, it might be worth trying an app instead of paying more for an in-car GPS.

Nailing down reviews on GPS apps is like trying to hit a moving target since the landscape changes drastically from week to week. Even big-name review sources struggle to keep up with all of the new apps and constant updates for older apps. ConsumerReports.org's well-organized GPS blog does the best job of staying ahead of this fast-paced segment, with regular news updates and app reviews that are free, unlike most other ConsumerReports.org ratings that require a subscription.

CNET also posts the latest GPS app news and conducts very reliable tests, but they are scattered around the site and hard to find. Other trustworthy sources test only a select few apps; these include computer publications (Laptop, PCMag.com, PC World, Macworld), newspapers (Chicago Sun-Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Dallas Morning News) and tech blogs (MacTalk.com, TheiPhoneBlog.com). Oddly, most dedicated GPS review sites still test only stand-alone GPS devices and ignore GPS apps, despite their popularity; GPSReview.net is one exception. User reviews at retail sites like the Apple App Store and BlackBerry App World aren't professional, but they're usually the most up-to-date.

You can get written turn-by-turn directions on any smartphone via Google Maps or something similar. But if you want your phone to announce the directions (so you don't have to take your eyes off the road), you'll need an app. You can buy a GPS app directly from your wireless carrier (AT&T, Sprint and Verizon all offer similar apps for $10 per month) or you can download an app from the Apple App Store or a similar site. These third-party apps range in price from free to $100, and some come from major GPS brands.

Experts say that pricing and branding don't necessarily dictate quality. The pricey Navigon MobileNavigator (*Est. $90) outclasses cheaper iPhone GPS apps in reviews, thanks to its frequent, free updates and advanced features. On the flipside, the older Garmin Mobile (*Est. $100) for BlackBerry and other smartphones gets zero attention from critics now that newer and cheaper apps are available for these phones. (Instead, Garmin has dumped its considerable resources into the Garmin nuviphone, a hit-or-miss gadget that combines a Garmin GPS with a Garmin-branded phone.)

Free GPS apps can likewise be either terrific or terrible. The free Google Maps Navigation can compete with any app at any price, critics say, although it's only available on Android 2.0 phones so far. Other free GPS apps such as Waze and Nav4All get mediocre reviews; experts and users say they just aren't as accurate or useful as a good paid app.