Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Google Maps vs Google

Google Maps 4.7★ · Free to download 75
Winner Google Maps
Google 4.6★ · Free to download 60

Google Maps is the better choice for navigation and local discovery, despite recent update issues, while the Google app is best for general search and information retrieval.

Full reviews: Google Maps · Google

Google Maps excels as a navigation and local business discovery tool, offering detailed maps and user reviews, though recent updates have introduced glitches and usability concerns. The Google app serves as a general search engine, praised for its information retrieval but criticized for privacy issues and buggy new AI features.

Head to head

Features and Functionality edge: Google MapsR2R3R4R5
Google Maps Google Maps is praised for its core navigation, satellite view, and local business discovery, with users appreciating the ability to find and review places R2R5. However, recent updates have introduced issues like hidden addresses, inaccurate dropped pins, problems with multi-stop trips, and music pausing R3R4R13. Some users also report issues with outdated routes and illegal turn suggestions R9.
Google The Google app is valued for its general search capabilities, helping users find information and complete essays . However, recent changes have removed or broken features like 'Read Aloud' and translation, replacing them with a buggy AI/Gemini interface R61R79R91R105. Users also complain about issues with tab management, loading speeds, and the disappearance of favorite links .
Ease of Use tieR3R4R15R29
Google Maps Users generally find Google Maps easy to use for navigation and finding places R29. However, recent updates have made it less intuitive for some, with complaints about hidden addresses, confusing new interfaces, and difficulty editing saved locations R3R4. Some also experience glitches where the map doesn't follow their car or places don't open correctly R15.
Google The Google app is considered easy to use for basic searching . However, users report difficulties with signing in, managing emails, and navigating the new AI interface R79. The removal of features like 'Read Aloud' and the buggy AI mode have also made the app less user-friendly for some R61R79R91R105.
Reliability and Performance tieR6R9R15R21
Google Maps Google Maps is generally seen as reliable for navigation, but recent updates have introduced significant performance issues. Users report the app glitching, lagging, freezing, crashing, losing location, and pausing music R15R21. Some also note that speed limit detection is slow and routes can be inaccurate or suggest illegal turns R6R9.
Google The Google app's reliability is mixed. While some find it works well, others report it being slow, not loading searches, or having issues with the AI feature . There are also reports of accounts disappearing and the app itself vanishing from devices .
Privacy and Advertising edge: Google MapsR4R34R37R63
Google Maps Google Maps users express frustration with the app pushing ad-based locations and unwanted photo bubbles, making the map less clear R4R34. There are also concerns about the app identifying non-Christian places of worship without user preference R37.
Google The Google app faces significant criticism regarding privacy. Users complain about excessive ads, tracking personal information, selling data, and being bombarded with spam R63. There's a strong sentiment that Google collects too much data and pushes unwanted content R63.
Pick Google Maps if

you need reliable navigation, local business discovery, and user-generated reviews, and are willing to tolerate some recent update glitches R2.

Pick Google if

you primarily need a general search engine for information retrieval and are comfortable with Google's data practices .

Evidence note: Both apps have a significant number of recent negative reviews, often related to new updates and AI integration, which contrast with their high lifetime ratings. Google Maps' positive reviews often focus on specific local businesses, rather than the app itself, which can skew the perception of its core functionality.

Frequently asked

Are Google Maps and the Google app free to use?
Yes, both Google Maps and the Google app are free to download and use (Free to download).
Do recent updates improve Google Maps?
Recent updates to Google Maps have been met with mixed reactions, with many users reporting new glitches, reduced usability, and broken features like hidden addresses and inaccurate pins R3R4R13R15.
Does the Google app have an AI feature?
Yes, the Google app has an AI/Gemini interface, but users report it is buggy, breaks tab management, and has replaced other useful features like 'Read Aloud' and translation R61R79R91R105.

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. [R2] Google Maps 5/5 · US Superb Bartender: Came in for a quick bite and drink. Sat at the bar where Oowauwe the bartender treated me like family. She gave a beautiful and concise rundown of the menu and drinks. After asking me what kind of cocktail I enjoy she crafted a delicious tropical Rum punch for me. It was beautiful and tasted even better. I ordered the gumbo dumplings and Brussels and I was not disappointed.
  2. [R3] Google Maps 3/5 · US Bring back featuring the address on top: I love this app, I’ve used it for years. The only reason I’m writing a review now is because with the new update, they’ve hidden the address below and you have to scroll and search for it. I now have to search for it. I have friends who don’t use this app. “Sharing the location” doesn’t work if you don’t have the app. Stop making me search and lift up rocks
  3. [R4] Google Maps 1/5 · US They broke a perfectly good product: I’ve used google maps almost exclusively for years. Yesterday it insisted on not using an address I selected from my address book, that I’ve used many times behind, and instead pushing locations based on ads. After restarting the process it seemed to be taking me to the right place, but in fact it took me to a separate location 8 minutes away. At this point i
  4. [R5] Google Maps 5/5 · US BEST HANDMADE ICE CREAM IN FLORIDA: BEST HANDMADE ICE CREAM IN FLORIDA 💕💕Also they have the best Matchas!!
  5. [R15] Google Maps 3/5 · US GLITCH: The service this application provides it’s very useful. Some glitches here and there and i guess that’s why so much updates. Today it’s not the exception places are not opening right in the middle of my screen when i click on one it pops up to the side.
  6. [R29] Google Maps 5/5 · US Great: Great
  7. [R6] Google Maps 3/5 · US Needs Work: Calibration needs to be done for the sensor that detects speed limits because the app takes too long to switch over to a new speed- Apple Maps is faster at this. Also, please update so I can use my Siri voice as override audio because I don’t like the one Google has- it’s too sounds robotic to be helpful.
  8. [R9] Google Maps 3/5 · US untrustworthy: After all these years, still suggests illegal turns and nonexistent roads…
  9. [R21] Google Maps 3/5 · US Keeps pausing apple music: Keeps pausing apple music for no reason. I don’t have voice navigation turned on. Very irritating. Fix it
  10. [R34] Google Maps 1/5 · US TURN OFF THE STUPID PHOTO BUBBLES: I CAN’T SEE THE MAP WITH THE STUPID PHOTO BUBBLES
  11. [R37] Google Maps 1/5 · US Stop identifying Hindu or otherwise non-Christian places of worship: Do not assume I want non-Christian places of worship identified in searches unless I tell you that I do. STOP THIS FORCED FOCUS on things I didn’t ask for! I did not ask for Christian churches to be identified either, by the way. I will tell you if I want those sorts of religious places of worship to appear. Create a toggle pleas
  12. [R63] Google 3/5 · US It’s Just Okay!: I prefer a different search engine that doesn’t change the screen if you leave it and come back to it. I also prefer one that doesn’t track your information or location. I also don’t like having suggestions based on something that I looked up because I wasn’t sure what it was.
  13. [R13] Google Maps 1/5 · US Unsupported link error: Whenever I try to open a link it shows ‘Unsupported link, Google maps can’t open the link’. Too much annoying and disturbing.
  14. [R61] Google 2/5 · US Read Aloud disappeared: To be honest, I don’t really like the Google app, I am just super used to safari and can’t change it but I heavily, HEAVILY, used it for the “Read Aloud” function (and it’s the only reason why I use the Google App). It was working just fine but the option suddenly disappeared the day before yesterday. I have already removed the app, reinstalled, removed shut down the phon
  15. [R79] Google 1/5 · US Broken tab management: The AI/Gemini interface inside the Google App completely breaks basic tab management. When I click the "New Tab" button while inside an active AI thread, it fails to open a separate, additional tab. Instead, it completely ignores the command and overwrites my current thread. This destroys my active research progress and pollutes the AI's context window with unrelated questio
  16. [R91] Google 1/5 · US Why are the features I used now just an AI Mode button?: I use the Google app for just two things, reverse image search and translation. I can sort of get to the reverse image search if I’m ok with Google having camera access, but the translate button is gone, presumably to make room for the very unwelcome AI Mode button. There may be a setting to change this, but it’s not clear in the settings, a
  17. [R105] Google 1/5 · US Your AI sucks: Do you ever find yourself with a question racking your brain that you just have to talk out and do you ever find yourself while talking desperately desiring for the AI you’re talking to to just mute you and stop listening delete the whole conversation you were having and start from the ground up if that’s the case, then Google AI is for you outside of a two sentence question you’ll

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