OsmAnd

OsmAnd is one of the most feature-rich offline mapping and navigation applications available today, developed by a Netherlands-based team that has been refining the product since 2010. Built entirely on OpenStreetMap data, OsmAnd delivers a privacy-respecting navigation experience that stands in stark contrast to the data-hungry approach of Google Maps and Waze. The app is available on both Android and iOS, and its open-source codebase (licensed under GPL) allows anyone to inspect, modify, and contribute to the project. For Europeans who want a capable navigation tool without surrendering their location data to a US tech giant, OsmAnd represents one of the strongest options on the market.

At its core, OsmAnd is designed for offline use. Users can download detailed vector maps for entire countries or regions, enabling full navigation capability without any internet connection. This is not a stripped-down offline mode -- you get turn-by-turn voice navigation, POI search, address lookup, and route calculation all working entirely on-device. The maps are regularly updated from the OpenStreetMap community, ensuring that new roads, paths, and points of interest are reflected in the data. For travelers heading to areas with poor connectivity, or for anyone who simply wants to minimize their digital footprint, this offline-first approach is a genuine differentiator.

Navigation and Routing Capabilities

OsmAnd supports multiple navigation profiles for different modes of transport, including car, bicycle, pedestrian, public transport, boat, and even ski routes. Each profile can be customized with specific routing preferences -- for example, cyclists can choose to avoid steep hills or prefer dedicated bike lanes, while drivers can configure preferences for toll roads, motorways, and ferries. The 2025 release of version 5.0 introduced Fast Offline Routing, which dramatically improved route calculation speed for long-distance travel. Where previously a cross-country route might take several seconds to compute, the new engine delivers results almost instantly, even without an internet connection.

The turn-by-turn navigation includes voice guidance in dozens of languages, lane assistance, speed limit warnings, and intermediate waypoint support. OsmAnd also supports route recalculation when you deviate from the planned path, though this works best when the device has at least intermittent connectivity to fetch traffic data. For those who prefer to plan routes in advance, the app allows you to import and export GPX track files, making it an excellent companion for hikers, cyclists, and outdoor enthusiasts who plan their routes on desktop tools like Komoot or Strava.

Map Rendering and Styles

One of OsmAnd's most impressive features is the variety of map rendering styles available. The default touring view provides a clean, readable map suitable for everyday navigation, but specialized styles include topographic maps with contour lines and hillshading, nautical charts for marine navigation, winter and ski maps showing piste difficulty levels, and a desert style optimized for arid regions. Contour line data and hillshading can be downloaded as separate overlay files, adding detailed terrain information to any base map style. This level of cartographic detail is typically found only in specialized hiking GPS devices, not in free mobile apps.

The map rendering engine handles vector data efficiently, allowing smooth zooming and panning even on older devices. Users can customize the display of individual map elements, adjusting which POI categories are shown, changing text sizes, and toggling overlays for things like public transport routes, cycle networks, or hiking trail markings. This granular control means you can configure OsmAnd to show exactly the information you need for your specific activity, without the visual clutter of irrelevant data.

Plugins and Extensibility

OsmAnd's plugin architecture sets it apart from most navigation apps. Available plugins include trip recording (which logs your movement as a GPX track), an audio/video notes system for geotagging media to specific locations, a parking position reminder, an accessibility mode for visually impaired users, and OpenStreetMap editing capabilities that let you contribute corrections and additions directly from the app. The Wikipedia plugin overlays encyclopedic information about nearby landmarks and points of interest, turning OsmAnd into something of a travel guide. A planned Astronomy plugin, expected in 2026, will allow users to identify celestial bodies directly from the map view.

For developers and power users, OsmAnd also offers an API that allows other apps to trigger navigation or query map data. This makes it possible to integrate OsmAnd into custom workflows, fleet management solutions, or specialized outdoor activity apps. The open-source nature of the project means that organizations with specific requirements can fork the codebase and adapt it to their needs.

Explore Mode and POI Discovery

Introduced in OsmAnd 5.0 in April 2025, Explore Mode represents a significant step toward making OsmAnd useful not just for navigation but for discovering new places. This feature surfaces top-ranked and nearby points of interest, complete with photos sourced from Wikimedia Commons. You can browse restaurants, tourist attractions, shops, and services in your vicinity without needing to know what you are looking for in advance. While this does not yet match the rich review ecosystem of Google Maps, it offers a privacy-respecting alternative for discovering local businesses and attractions.

The POI search system supports filtering by category, distance, and opening hours. You can search for specific amenities like ATMs, pharmacies, fuel stations, or public toilets, and results are displayed both on the map and in a sortable list. For areas where OpenStreetMap coverage is particularly detailed -- which includes most of Europe -- the POI data is remarkably comprehensive.

Privacy and Data Sovereignty

OsmAnd collects virtually no user data. The app operates entirely on-device for its core functionality, with no requirement to create an account or share location data with any server. When you use OsmAnd, your routes, searches, and movements stay on your phone. This is a fundamental architectural difference from Google Maps, which continuously streams location data to Google's servers to feed advertising profiles, traffic estimation, and location history features. For GDPR-conscious Europeans, this means OsmAnd eliminates an entire category of privacy risk.

OsmAnd does offer an optional cloud backup service (OsmAnd Cloud) for syncing favorites, tracks, and settings between devices, but this is entirely opt-in and the data is stored on European servers. The company is headquartered in Amsterdam and operates under Dutch and EU data protection law, providing a strong legal framework for privacy that US-based alternatives cannot match.

OsmAnd+ and Pricing

The free version of OsmAnd allows downloading a limited number of map files (typically 7 on Android), which is sufficient for most casual users who primarily navigate within their home region. OsmAnd+ removes this download limit and adds features like hourly map updates, Wikipedia and Wikivoyage offline articles, and terrain data (contour lines and hillshading). OsmAnd+ is available as a one-time purchase for around 24.99 EUR on Android, or through an annual OsmAnd Pro subscription that adds cloud backup and cross-platform sync. The iOS version follows a similar model, with in-app purchases to unlock premium features.

Compared to the hidden costs of using Google Maps -- where you pay with your personal data and attention to ads -- OsmAnd's straightforward pricing model is refreshingly transparent. The one-time purchase option for OsmAnd+ is particularly appealing for users who prefer not to commit to recurring subscriptions.

Community and OpenStreetMap Integration

OsmAnd's reliance on OpenStreetMap data means that map quality is directly tied to community contributions. In most European countries, OSM coverage rivals or exceeds that of commercial mapping providers, with detailed building outlines, accurate road classifications, and rich POI data. Users can contribute back to OpenStreetMap directly from OsmAnd, reporting errors, adding missing businesses, or refining path geometry. This creates a virtuous cycle where the app's user base helps improve the underlying data for everyone.

The OsmAnd community itself is active on GitHub, forums, and social media, providing support, sharing custom map styles, and developing third-party plugins. Regular releases (three major updates in 2025 alone) demonstrate a healthy development pace, with the team responsive to user feedback and community requests.

Limitations and Considerations

OsmAnd is not without its drawbacks. The user interface, while functional, has a steeper learning curve than Google Maps. The sheer number of settings and options can be overwhelming for new users, and some features are buried in nested menus. Real-time traffic data is limited compared to Google's comprehensive traffic layer, and live rerouting around congestion is not as reliable. There is no built-in business review system, so you cannot check restaurant ratings or read user reviews as you would in Google Maps. Additionally, the iOS version has historically lagged behind Android in feature parity, though recent releases have narrowed this gap significantly.

For users who rely heavily on public transport routing, OsmAnd's capabilities are improving but still fall short of dedicated apps like Citymapper or Google Maps' transit integration. The app also requires meaningful storage space for offline maps -- a full map of Germany, for example, requires several hundred megabytes. However, for users who prioritize privacy, offline capability, and European data sovereignty, these tradeoffs are generally well worth making.

Verdict

OsmAnd earns its place as one of the best European alternatives to Google Maps, particularly for users who value privacy, offline functionality, and detailed outdoor mapping. The 2025 updates brought meaningful performance improvements and new discovery features that make the app more accessible to mainstream users. While it requires more initial setup than Google Maps and lacks some real-time social features, OsmAnd delivers a remarkably capable navigation experience that respects your data and supports European digital sovereignty. For hikers, cyclists, travelers, and privacy-conscious commuters, it is an essential app to have on your device.