Organic Maps
Estonia
Offline, ad-free, privacy-respecting maps built on OpenStreetMap.
European Alternative to:
An offline maps app, built by a small group of former Maps.me developers who forked the project in 2020 when they didn't like where the commercial version was heading. The company entity is registered in Estonia, and the app is open source.
What it does
- Offline maps and turn-by-turn navigation. Download a region once, then no connection needed
- OpenStreetMap data, so it includes hiking and cycling trails, footpaths, public-transport stops and elevation contours, not just roads
- Bookmarks and tracks, with KML/GPX import and export
- No ads, no accounts, no tracking. It doesn't even ask you to sign in
- CarPlay and Android Auto support
How it's funded
Donations and a community of contributors. There's no company trying to monetise your location. The trade-off is that development moves at the pace volunteers can manage, and a few conveniences you'd get from Google Maps (live traffic, detailed transit routing) aren't there.
Who it's for
Hikers, cyclists, travellers, and anyone who wants a map that works in a tunnel, on a plane, or abroad without roaming, and who'd rather their movements not be logged. It's on iOS and Android, including F-Droid.
Romania