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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Yandex Maps & Navigator vs Google Maps

Yandex Maps & Navigator 4.6★ · Free + IAP 60
Winner Google Maps
Google Maps 4.7★ · Free to download 80

Google Maps generally offers more reliable navigation and fewer user complaints about intrusive ads or core functionality issues, making it the stronger choice for most users.

Full reviews: Yandex Maps & Navigator · Google Maps

While both Yandex Maps & Navigator and Google Maps offer navigation, Yandex struggles with consistent accuracy, frequent crashes, and an overwhelming amount of advertising. Google Maps, despite some recent update issues, maintains a stronger reputation for reliable routing and a less intrusive user experience.

Head to head

Navigation Accuracy & Reliability edge: Google MapsR1R3R4R13
Yandex Maps & Navigator Yandex Maps users report frequent issues with inaccurate location detection, incorrect public transport schedules, and routes that are not the fastest or most convenient R1R3R4R13. Some users also experience the app crashing or routes getting disrupted when minimized R12R30.
Google Maps Google Maps users generally praise its accuracy, though some recent updates have led to complaints about suggesting illegal turns, non-existent roads, or routing through closed roads . Some users also report the app losing location or crashing during trips .
User Interface & Experience edge: Google MapsR4R10R12R21
Yandex Maps & Navigator Yandex Maps users are frustrated by inconvenient button placement, intrusive advertising that covers the map, and difficulty closing routes R4R10R12R21. Recent updates have also removed the ability to view entire routes, replacing it with a less convenient 'steps' feature R50R53R55.
Google Maps Google Maps users have mixed feelings about recent UI changes, with some disliking the new 'bubbly' appearance and the inability to easily see street names or adjust camera angles . Some also find it harder to find addresses after updates . However, many still find it easy to use .
Features & Functionality tieR6R7R24R42
Yandex Maps & Navigator Yandex Maps offers features like detailed maps, traffic information, and organization search with hours and reviews . However, users report issues with public transport routes disappearing or being inaccurate R24R42, and problems with VoiceOver compatibility R6. The app also has excessive, uncustomizable notifications R7.
Google Maps Google Maps provides satellite view, traffic updates, and the ability to find businesses . However, recent updates have removed or broken features like searching nearby locations when not physically present , multi-stop trip planning , and the ability to get metro directions for multiple locations . Some users also report issues with the app pausing music .
Performance & Stability tieR4R12R16R22
Yandex Maps & Navigator Yandex Maps is criticized for high energy consumption, frequent crashes, and not working with VPN R4R12R16R22.
Google Maps Google Maps users occasionally report glitches, lagging, and the app locking up, especially when connected to Apple CarPlay or when trying to open links .
Pick Yandex Maps & Navigator if

you are primarily interested in detailed local business information and traffic, and are willing to tolerate frequent ads and occasional navigation inaccuracies .

Pick Google Maps if

you need generally reliable navigation and a less ad-heavy experience, even with some recent update issues and occasional glitches .

Evidence note: Many reviews for both apps, especially Yandex Maps, are not directly about mapping or navigation features, but rather about businesses listed on the map. These were excluded from the analysis where possible to focus on app functionality. Yandex Maps has a significantly smaller number of ratings compared to Google Maps, which might skew the perception of its lifetime rating.

Frequently asked

Which app has better public transport information?
Google Maps appears to have a slight edge, as Yandex Maps users frequently report that public transport schedules are inaccurate, buses don't arrive as shown, or that public transport routes are missing entirely in some cities R3R13R24R27. Google Maps has some complaints about public transport routes not being the fastest in specific cities like London, but fewer general complaints about accuracy or missing routes .
Does Yandex Maps have too many ads?
Yes, Yandex Maps users frequently complain about an overwhelming amount of intrusive advertising, with banners covering the interface and pop-up ads appearing even during navigation, making the app difficult to use R10R21R25R30.
Are there issues with recent updates for either app?
Both apps have received negative feedback regarding recent updates; Yandex Maps users dislike changes that removed the ability to view entire routes and introduced a less convenient 'steps' feature, along with issues like VoiceOver compatibility breaking again R6R50R53R55. Google Maps users complain about updates making the app glitchy, losing location, pausing music, and removing features like searching nearby locations or easily finding addresses .

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. [R1] Yandex Maps & Navigator 1/5 · US Why?: When you learn to correctly determine my location, then we'll talk. · translated
  2. [R3] Yandex Maps & Navigator 3/5 · US .: I was looking at buses, and it showed that the bus I needed would arrive in 2 minutes. About 5 minutes passed, no bus came. I went back to check, and it was gone, showing it would arrive in 25 minutes. · translated
  3. [R4] Yandex Maps & Navigator 1/5 · US Inconvenient: Button placement is inconvenient, extremely high power consumption, doesn't stay open long, provides theoretically the fastest route, but often not the fastest and definitely not the most convenient. · translated
  4. [R13] Yandex Maps & Navigator 1/5 · US Transport: Bus arrival times are set randomly. · translated
  5. [R10] Yandex Maps & Navigator 1/5 · US Ads: Ads, and more ads here, and even more ads here. This could have been a review, but it's an ad, because using maps has become impossible. Half the interface is ads. It's impossible to build your own route because when you zoom, a bottom window with the route pops up. I pull it down, and the whole route is shown, but I had zoomed in for a long time looking for my spot, where there was an ad again. I'm tired of the ads. · translated
  6. [R12] Yandex Maps & Navigator 3/5 · US It keeps crashing lately! + a very inconvenient part of the interface: The reason is completely unclear. I constantly have to restart it. What happened there, fix it! Regarding the interface: there's no way to simply close a built route with an 'x'; you have to go back using the arrows, which is extremely inconvenient and slow! Also annoying is that when viewing a built route, something always pops up. · translated
  7. [R21] Yandex Maps & Navigator 3/5 · US Windows: Please remove the Rosneft pop-up windows; they are very annoying and intrusive. · translated
  8. [R6] Yandex Maps & Navigator 3/5 · US VoiceOver compatibility: VoiceOver screen reader compatibility has worsened again. The app does not announce the list of stops on ground transport routes. This problem was fixed before, but it has returned in recent updates. Please fix it and try not to forget to maintain VoiceOver compatibility when releasing new updates. · translated
  9. [R7] Yandex Maps & Navigator 1/5 · US Too many notifications: There's no way to set important notifications for me. As a result, the navigator in the city constantly makes sounds and interferes with listening to the radio or music. With the appearance of traffic lights in the app, there are even more sounds. Give us the ability to customize! · translated
  10. [R24] Yandex Maps & Navigator 3/5 · US Moscow: Add navigation. In Moscow, transport isn't visible; some buses are shown, some are missing from the map. · translated
  11. [R42] Yandex Maps & Navigator 3/5 · GB Public Transport Routes: Where did the ability to plot routes for public transport and taxis go? · translated
  12. [R16] Yandex Maps & Navigator 1/5 · US Unstable performance: I used the app for over 20 years. It refuses to work with VPN; I'm tired of jumping back and forth. Google Maps works more stably. RIP. · translated
  13. [R22] Yandex Maps & Navigator 1/5 · US Doesn't work with vpn: Doesn't work with vpn
  14. [R27] Yandex Maps & Navigator 3/5 · US Bus problem: No issues with the navigator, but the buses are a disaster. They always show one time, but the bus arrives 15 minutes late or doesn't arrive at all. I don't know whose fault it is, GPS or the driver, but it's a nightmare. I can stand at a stop for 40 minutes, and there will be 0 buses, but according to the map, 7 should have arrived. How does that happen? · translated
  15. [R25] Yandex Maps & Navigator 1/5 · US Too many ads: The app has turned into a dump. Ad banners are annoying. I'll wait until this dump is removed from the App Store! · translated
  16. [R30] Yandex Maps & Navigator 3/5 · US Ads: Lots of intrusive ads, sneaky recommendations popping up under your finger. The route gets messed up when the app is minimized, often showing not the most convenient route, as if pushing you to order a taxi. · translated
  17. [R50] Yandex Maps & Navigator 4/5 · US Latest update: I use maps for public transport trips. In the latest update, you can't view the entire route to compare it with others. You can't take a screenshot of the route. The route is broken into pieces; you have to swipe the screen, and honestly, without this annoying voice assistant, you might not figure it out. This 'commentator' turned on for some reason. It's unclear what time you'll arrive. · translated
  18. [R53] Yandex Maps & Navigator 1/5 · US "Step-by-step" feature: Today, I was pleased to learn that the step-by-step feature is forcibly enabled by the app and doesn't allow you to see the entire route. The fact that the app makes mistakes and the built route can be quite 'exciting' for Yandex.Maps is not new. But the fact that I was restricted from disabling the inconvenient step-by-step feature today led to me not seeing... · translated
  19. [R55] Yandex Maps & Navigator 2/5 · US WHAT IS THIS UPDATE?: I never write reviews, but this has boiled over. Yandex Maps is the best app for navigation, but what have you done with the latest update?! Everything was perfect before! Why can't you view the entire route when building one? There used to be such a feature; now they've made stupid steps, and you can't view it all at once. · translated

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