Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
User consensusAlternativesIs it worth it?
Is it worth paying for

Google Maps

60
Value score / 100 Worth paying? No Skip it

Google Maps is a widely used navigation app that offers many useful features for free, but recent updates have introduced significant glitches and usability issues that detract from its overall value.

Free to download seen up to $9.99 4.7★ lifetime (7,270,427) since 2012

Google Maps, despite its high lifetime rating, is currently experiencing a decline in user satisfaction due to numerous bugs, navigation inaccuracies, and frustrating UI changes. While it remains a free app with no explicit paid tiers, its recent performance issues make it less reliable for many users.

Free vs paid

Google Maps is entirely free to use, with no explicit paid tiers or in-app purchases mentioned in the reviews. All features, including navigation, satellite view, and location search, are available without cost R41R47. However, users are experiencing significant issues with core functionalities, suggesting that even the free experience is deteriorating R5R7R10.

Value complaints

    Where it delivers

    • Many users still find the app useful and appreciate its core functionality, such as satellite view and general navigation.R22R47R50R80
    • The app is praised for its ability to provide directions and help users get to their destinations, despite some recent issues.R8R120R149R453
    • Some users specifically like the updated satellite view.R41R47
    Worth paying if

    There is no paid tier for Google Maps, so the question of 'worth paying if' does not apply. Users are not asked to pay for any features.

    Skip / stay free if

    Users who rely on accurate, glitch-free navigation, especially for critical tasks like driving for work or using public transport, should consider alternatives due to frequent complaints about incorrect routes, disappearing saved places, and app crashes R5R6R7R10. Those who value a clean, intuitive user interface and consistent performance will also be frustrated by recent updates R23R26.

    Evidence note: The reviews provided include many irrelevant comments that appear to be reviews of businesses rather than the Google Maps app itself (e.g., , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ). These were excluded from the analysis of the app's value. The monetization section indicates in-app purchases, but no reviews mention any paid features, subscriptions, or IAPs, nor do they complain about paywalls. Therefore, the analysis focuses solely on the free experience.

    Frequently asked

    Are there any paid features or subscriptions in Google Maps?
    Based on the provided reviews, there are no mentions of paid features, subscriptions, or in-app purchases within Google Maps; all functionalities discussed by users appear to be part of the free experience.
    Why are recent reviews for Google Maps so negative despite a high lifetime rating?
    Recent reviews indicate a significant decline in user satisfaction due to numerous glitches, navigation inaccuracies, and frustrating UI changes introduced in recent updates, which contrast with the app's historical reliability reflected in its high lifetime rating R5R7R10R23.
    Does Google Maps provide accurate routes and directions?
    Many recent reviews report that Google Maps frequently suggests longer routes than necessary, takes users on illogical paths with more turns and stoplights, and sometimes fails to recognize closed roads or suggests illegal turns R5R6R10R14.
    Are there common technical issues with the Google Maps app?
    Yes, users frequently report glitches such as the navigation arrow facing the wrong direction, the app losing location mid-trip, crashing, saved places disappearing, zooming issues, and the app pausing other audio like music R7R19R26R31.

    What reviewers actually said

    Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

    1. [R22] 5/5 · US Useful.: For Google Maps over Apple Maps
    2. [R47] 5/5 · US MJB: Great map I like all the options and the major is the satellite view during navigation.
    3. [R50] 5/5 · US Very helpful: We got lost in the middle of a storm while we were taking a walk, very helpful 5 stars
    4. [R80] 5/5 · US Awesome: I don’t see any problem so far so I’m happy!
    5. [R8] 4/5 · US Map Apps: These are very helpful, but I have a question, & wishing I can get an answer? I Always Need to Know Mileage for some Necessary Paperwork, I don’t know where my app went, that I could put an address in, & it would say how many miles, besides directions….Any Help?
    6. [R120] 3/5 · US App is getting better but could improve: I like the accuracy and that they have their own reviews u like Apple Maps. The routes needs to be updated more especially for developing areas. In my area it’s already changed over the past 5 years but google is still using stale maps.
    7. [R149] 3/5 · US Review: Not consistent but best map app there is ig
    8. [R453] 3/5 · GB Good for routes (mostly): The routes are mainly good but it occasionally takes a short cut via a junction or road that’s not really safe. The lane guidance and speed limits are often wrong. Other than that the directions are good.
    9. [R41] 5/5 · US View: Like the updated satellite view!
    10. [R5] 1/5 · US Not what it used to be: Google Maps has deteriorated over the years. It now has me taking longer routes when obviously shorter ones exist and often glitches when I reach my first destination in a route. At one point it actually had me get off the freeway only to immediately get back on for no apparent reason.
    11. [R7] 1/5 · US Glitches?: For months on end the navigation arrow will face the completely opposite direction when walking or driving. I’ve deleted the app multiple times but nothing seemed to work to fix it. It dims the volume on my music so the music sounds muted and only fixes itself when another direction is announced but if you’re driving that often doesn’t happen for a while. Lastly, all of my saved places
    12. [R10] 1/5 · US Trash: Use to be awesome…w/e update they did has made it complete trash. Picking longer distances than the shorter one. Changes the trip when you’re in the middle of it. Trash complete trash
    13. [R23] 1/5 · US Bugging out lately: Searches not working. Don’t like the new format at all whatsoever
    14. [R6] 1/5 · US Alternate routes take longer.: What is the point of sending me on alternate routes with significantly more turns stop lights? Most of the times the alternate routes end up taking longer. It is void of any logic. Basic statistics tells you that the more lights the higher the probability of hitting a red one. Today’s route offered to shave one minute from my original commute, it ended up taking 3+ m
    15. [R14] 3/5 · US Closed roads: The thing can’t recognized roads that are closed and give me a new route.
    16. [R19] 2/5 · US Favorites disappearing: Note for devs: For the past 3 weeks I have added ‘favorite’ locations for travel purposes to see those locations live when traveling. Every time I open the app all of my favorites have disappeared. This happens within a span of 6-12 hours and I have to research and re-‘favorite’ locations all over again. This has never happened before in the past 10 years for me..
    17. [R26] 3/5 · US Zooming in/out issues: App has worked great for years but in the past few months zooming and shrinking has not been centered. Tried reinstalling but it came back after a hour or so of working fine. Update didn’t help either. Zooming to a certain place has been made very hard but besides this bug it’s a nice app.
    18. [R31] 4/5 · US Interrupts other audio: It never used to do this but now when it gives alerts, like traffic, police or construction it interrupts your other audio playing. This is normal but it does not restart your other audio without you going back and manually starting it.

    Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store