Comparison of free off-line satellite navigation software
This article contains a list with gratis satellite navigation software for a range of devices. Some of the free software mentioned here does not have detailed maps or the ability to follow streets or type in street names. However, in many cases, it is also that which makes the program free, avoid the need of an Internet connection, and make it very lightweight. Very basic programs like this may not be suitable for road navigation in cars, but serve their purpose for navigation while walking or trekking, and for use at sea. To determine the GPS coordinates of a destination, one can use sites such as and .
Some software presented here is free, but maps may need to be paid for. In this instance, and in the instance that some maps are not standardly available, Mobile Atlas Creator can be used.
Some of the software mentioned can also be run on different devices than what they are intended for. A particular case-in-point is the Android software which can often be run on laptops or PCs as well. This can be done using emulators.
Some of the software mentioned here may run only on devices that are no longer commercially sold. However, these devices are often still obtainable via second-hand websites.
Navigation software
Free maps
Navigation software with free maps often uses maps from the OpenStreetMap project.| Name | Company | Type of device | Operating system | 3rd-party GPS-able? | Software with maps? Follows streets? | Open-source? | Remarks |
| Aqua Map | GEC | smartphone, tablet | Android, iOS | ? | Yes, yes | No | - |
| Google Maps | smartphone, tablet | Android, iOS | ? | Yes, yes | No | Maps can be downloaded, but they expire after 30 days, ads | |
| Here WeGo | HERE Global B.V., Netherlands | tablet, smartphone, Laptop, PC, | iOS, Android | ? | yes, ? | No | intended for marine navigation |
| Magic Earth | General Magic B.V. | Smartphone, tablet | Android, iOS | ? | Yes, yes | No | Free OSM maps intended for car navigation, hiking and biking |
| MapFactor | MapFactor, s.r.o., Czech Republic | Tablet PC, smartphone, car navigation, PC, etc. | Android, Windows, Windows Mobile, iOS, WinCE | ? | Yes, yes | No | Free OSM maps, optional non-free TomTom maps, ads |
| MAPS.ME | MapsWithMe GmbH | smartphone | Android, iOS, BlackBerry | ? | Yes, yes | Yes | ? |
| Navmii | Navmii | Tablet PC | Android | ? | Yes, yes | ? | ? |
| NaviComputer | ? | Windows Phone | Windows Mobile | ? | yes, no | ? | For hiking and biking |
| Navit | none | Laptop, PC, tablet PC, smartphone | Windows for PC, Linux, Android, OpenMoko | ? | Yes, yes | Yes | Intended for road navigation |
| OpenCPN | ? | Laptop, PC | Windows XP SP3, Vista, 7, 8, IntelMac, Linux | ? | yes, N/A | ? | Intended for maritime navigation |
| OsmAnd | OsmAND bv | Tablet PC, smartphone | Android, iOS | ? | Yes, yes | Yes | Limited to 7 maps for the free Google Play version, unlimited on F-Droid Maps can be added manually via PC in program order on smartphone |
Non-free maps
Other satellite navigation software
Miscellaneous / unsorted software
| Name | Company | Type of device | Operating system | 3rd-party GPS-able? | Software with maps? Follows streets? | Open-source? | Remarks |
| Maverick | ? | Tablet PC | Android | ? | yes, ? | No | ? |
| gvSIG Mini | Prodevelop | Tablet PC | Android | ? | yes, ? | Yes | ? |
| OpenSatNav | Kieran Fleming et al. | Tablet PC | Android, OpenMoko | ? | yes, ? | ? | ? |
| Minimap | ? | Tablet PC | Android | ? | yes, ? | ? | ? |
| MapDroyd | CloudMade Deutschland GmbH | Tablet PC | Android | ? | yes, ? | ? | ? |
| OruxMaps | ? | Tablet PC | Android | ? | yes, ? | No | ? |
| AlpineQuest GPS Hiking | ? | Tablet PC, | Android | ? | yes, ? | ? | ? |
| AndNav 2 | ? | Tablet PC, | Android | ? | yes, ? | ? | ? |
| Big Planet Tracks | ? | Tablet PC, | Android | ? | yes, ? | ? | ? |
| Sports Tracker | Sports Tracking Technologies | Tablet PC | Android, | ? | yes, no | No | Does not allow navigation to specific points, only tracking |
| RMaps | ? | tablet PC | Android, | ? | yes, ? | ? | may not provide actual navigation, only marking of GPS points, and the current position |
| AFTrack | ? | Tablet PC, handheld PC | Android, Symbian OS series 60 | ? | yes, ? | ? | ? |
| CacheBox | ? | Tablet PC, PC, handheld PC | Android, Windows Mobile, Windows for PC | ? | yes, ? | ? | initially intended for geocaching |
| Mapopolis | ? | Handheld PC | Palm OS | ? | yes, ? | ? | only has maps for USA |
| Magellan Nav Companion | ? | handheld PC | Palm OS | ? | yes, ? | ? | ? |
| TZGPS | ? | handheld PC | Palm OS | ? | yes, ? | ? | ? |
| Trax | Luke Klein-Berndt | handheld PC | Palm OS | ? | ?, ? | ? | ? |
| SoaringPilot | ? | handheld PC | Palm OS | ? | yes, ? | ? | Originally intended for use in sailplanes |
| CotoGPS | ? | handheld PC | Palm OS | ? | ?, ? | ? | Originally intended for geocaching |
| GpsPilot | ? | handheld PC | Symbian | ? | no, ? | ? | ? |
| Maplorer | ? | handheld PC | Windows CE, Mobile | ? | yes, ? | ? | ? |
| OSMtracker | ? | handheld PC, smartphone | Android, Windows Mobile | ? | yes, ? | Yes | ? |
| gpsVP | ? | handheld PC, certain smartphones | Windows Mobile 5,6, 2003 | ? | yes, ? | ? | ? |
| CacheWolf | ? | Laptop, PC | Windows, Mac OS X, Linux | ? | yes, ? | ? | ? |
| Glopus | ? | Laptop, PC, handheld PC | Windows, ? | ? | yes, ? | ? | ? |
| TrekBuddy | ? | PC, laptop, handheld PC, Windows Phone | Windows XP, Vista, Windows Mobile, Palm OS, Symbian | ? | yes, ? | ? | Runs on Java, hence cross-platform |
| gvSIG 2.0 | ? | PC, laptop, | Windows XP, Vista, Linux, OS X | ? | yes, ? | ? | cross-platform; originally intended as a GIS; however can be fitted with GPS receiver and has support for it and also allows to easily download maps from any location from an online database as OpenStreetMaps, and many others |
| LuckyGPS | ? | Laptop, PC, smartphone | Windows, Linux, OpenMoko | ? | yes, ? | ? | ? |
| Mumpot | ? | Laptop, PC, smartphone | Linux, OpenMoko, GPE | ? | yes, ? | ? | ? |
| Pyroute | Ojw | Laptop, PC, smartphone | Windows XP, Linux, OpenMoko | ? | yes, ? | ? | ? |
| TangoGPS | Marcus Bauer | Laptop, PC, smartphone | Linux, OpenMoko | ? | yes, ? | ? | ? |
| FoxtrotGPS | ? | Laptop, PC | Linux, OpenMoko | ? | yes, ? | ? | based on TangoGPS, actively being developed, especially adapted for use with touch screens |
| Rana | Ojw | smartphone | OpenMoko, Neo Freerunner | ? | yes, ? | ? | runs on Python, so possibly cross-platform |
| BikeAtor | ? | smartphone, tablet PC | Android, OpenMoko, Symbian | ? | yes, ? | ? | ? |
| Osmarender | ? | laptop, PC | Windows, OS X, Linux | ? | yes, ? | ? | Not intuitive |
| Mobile Trail Explorer | ? | smartphone, ? | Symbian, multiple OSs | ? | yes, ? | ? | Runs on Java, so a cross-platform GPS navigation software |
| Open Citymap | ? | smartphone | Windows CE, OpenMoko | ? | yes, ? | ? | ? |
| Mappero | ? | Nokia N810 | Maemo | ? | yes, ? | ? | ? |
| NaviPOWM | ? | handheld PC, Laptop, PC | Windows for PC, Windows Mobile 5/6/2003 SE, Linux | ? | yes, ? | ? | ? |
| GPSS | Robin Lovelock | Laptop or Pocket PC | Windows for PC, Windows Mobile | ? | yes | No | Since 1995. www.gpss.co.uk |
| NaVisu | ? | Laptop, PC | Windows, OS X, Linux | ? | yes, ? | ? | Developed for marine applications, not intuitive, built around NASA WorldWind |
| Cetus GPS | Cetus software | embedded system | OS 5 | ? | yes, ? | ? | ? |
| GPS interpreter | Marcel Durieux, Christian Tavernier | Embedded system | ? | ? | yes, ? | ? | ? |
| Andrew Holme's GPS software | Andrew Holme | Embedded system | Raspbian Linux | ? | ?, ? | ? | ? |
| AdvRider WD | Adi Barda | Android | Android | ? | yes | Yes | Since 2013. |
| TheGOAT | ? | Tablet PC | Android | ? | yes, ? | No | ? |