Google Maps offers the option of storing maps and information for offline use on your phone. — dpa
Many people use their smartphone to navigate, but if you want to avoid roaming fees when abroad, for example, or are going to be in a place where you know there's no phone reception, you need to prepare beforehand by loading your device up with offline maps.
Google Maps is pre-installed on almost every Android device and can also be installed on iOS ones. It offers the option of storing maps and information for offline use on your phone – to do so, select "Offline Maps" in the menu and zoom in to the map you want.
It's even possible to navigate within this selected area without mobile reception. However, the offline map doesn't contain as much information as its online counterpart.
Google also offers the Trips app, which picks out information and tips for a planned journey and complements them with maps. You need to be logged into a Google account for it to work offline, however.
Of course there are alternatives to Google Maps. Alexander Spier from c’t magazine recommends the free, open-source OsmAnd Maps, which uses OpenStreetMap (OSM) data. It has a wide range of maps for pedestrians, motorists, skiers or sailors, the information it shows can be customised, and it can be used online or offline.
Other free options include Here WeGo or MapFactor GPS Navigation Maps. Sometimes a specific destination also offers its own map app.
A prerequisite for all of these apps is an up-to-date smartphone with GPS reception and sufficient memory. Maps downloaded for offline use can be several hundred megabytes in size; it's best to download them over a WiFi connection so as not to consume your data allowance.
For the apps to work, they have to be given permission to access the smartphone's location and GPS has to be enabled. GPS doesn't need an Internet connection or even phone reception, but it does consume a lot of energy, so it makes sense to bring a power backup along. – dpa
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