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

Google Maps vs Google Drive

Google Maps 4.7★ · Free to download 55
Winner Google Drive
Google Drive 4.8★ · Free to download 70

Google Drive is the better choice for reliable cloud storage and file management, despite recent UI complaints, while Google Maps struggles with consistent navigation and feature stability after updates.

Full reviews: Google Maps · Google Drive

Google Drive generally offers a reliable and user-friendly experience for file storage and sharing, though recent updates have introduced navigation and AI pop-up issues. Google Maps, despite its long-standing popularity, faces significant criticism for recent updates that have degraded navigation accuracy, UI, and core features.

Head to head

Features & Functionality edge: Google DriveR3R6R12R42
Google Maps Google Maps users appreciate features like satellite view and location accuracy, but recent updates have removed or degraded core functionalities, such as easily finding addresses, multi-trip planning, and searching nearby locations while not physically present R3R12. Some users also report issues with specific features like speed limit detection and public transport routing R6R42.
Google Drive Google Drive is valued for its core functionality of uploading, storing, and organizing files, with users finding it easy for tasks like transferring VR content . However, recent updates have made it harder to move files, edit documents without additional apps, and manage storage . Users also complain about the inability to restore previous versions of shared documents .
Ease of Use & User Interface tieR3R34R49R62
Google Maps Many Google Maps users find the app's interface to be deteriorating, with complaints about hidden addresses, confusing camera angles, and intrusive photo bubbles R3R34R49. Recent updates are described as making the app look like a 'daughter's video game' and less like a functional map R49.
Google Drive Google Drive is generally considered easy to use and navigate by many, with some calling it 'super easy' and 'user friendly' R62. However, recent updates have introduced navigation difficulties, laggy interfaces, and issues with folder naming conventions . Some users also find sharing files difficult .
Reliability & Performance edge: Google DriveR9R15R25R39
Google Maps Google Maps users report significant reliability issues, including inaccurate navigation, suggesting illegal turns or non-existent roads, and routing through closed roads R9R25. The app is also prone to glitches, lagging, freezing, losing location, and crashing, especially with Apple CarPlay R15R39.
Google Drive Google Drive users experience issues with synchronization, files getting stuck during uploads, and a recurring 'Content Unavailable' error on iPads . Some users also report problems with downloading files and videos .
Price & Value edge: Google MapsR70R73R106
Google Maps Google Maps is free to download and use, and users do not discuss specific pricing concerns.
Google Drive Google Drive is free to download and offers a certain amount of free storage, but users complain about low storage limits and aggressive video processing that restricts viewing, potentially pushing them to consider other paid cloud storage providers R73R106. There are also complaints about the backup link leading to a Google One signup page without explanation R70.
Support & Updates tieR4R25R28R31
Google Maps Google Maps updates are frequently criticized for making the app worse, breaking core features, and introducing new bugs R4R28R31. Users express frustration over changes that seem to ignore user feedback, such as the removal of the direct overhead camera angle R25R49.
Google Drive Google Drive updates are a source of frustration for some users, particularly regarding unwanted AI assistant pop-ups and changes to the user interface that make tasks harder R67R94R103. There are also complaints about the new logo .
Pick Google Maps if

you need a navigation app for general use and are willing to tolerate occasional glitches and frustrating UI changes R15.

Pick Google Drive if

you need a reliable cloud storage solution for files and photos, especially for cross-device transfers, and can overlook recent UI changes and AI pop-ups R103.

Evidence note: Many reviews for Google Maps are not about the app's functionality but rather about businesses listed on Google Maps, making it challenging to assess the app itself. These reviews were excluded from the analysis where they did not pertain to the app's features or performance.

Frequently asked

Are recent Google Maps updates improving the app?
No, recent Google Maps updates are largely criticized by users for making the app worse, breaking core features, and introducing new bugs, leading many to consider alternatives like Apple Maps or Waze R4R28R31R16.
Does Google Drive offer enough free storage?
Google Drive users frequently complain about having 'so less storage' with the free tier, and some feel that Google's aggressive video processing and backup link issues push them towards paid Google One plans or other cloud providers R70R73R106.
Can I avoid AI assistant pop-ups in Google Drive?
Users report constant, unwanted AI assistant pop-ups that interrupt work and take up screen space, even after clicking 'no thanks,' with no clear option to permanently remove them R67R94R103.

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. [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
  2. [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.
  3. [R12] Google Maps 3/5 · US Need MULTI TrIp tab: You should really have a multi trip tab for people that drive to multiple areas in a row. That way we can plug in multiple locations in a row we need to hit up and it would save them. Instead of having to do single trip inputs overtime we stop at locations.
  4. [R42] Google Maps 3/5 · GB Great maps. Terrible for London Transport: It’s a great way to navigate in cars and cycling. If you are planning to use London’s public transport, other options offer faster routes which are accurate to the time it takes. I’m going to Kew Gardens today: all the routes on public transport offered by Google Maps would’ve taken 1hr 30min. TFL Go suggested a different route taking 60min. Actual time
  5. [R34] Google Maps 1/5 · US TURN OFF THE STUPID PHOTO BUBBLES: I CAN’T SEE THE MAP WITH THE STUPID PHOTO BUBBLES
  6. [R49] Google Maps 1/5 · US Why?: What is with the bubbly shiny appearance? It looks like my young daughter got ahold of my phone, what was wrong the map looking like a map? The bigger annoyance, why can I no longer have the camera angle directly above the vehicle? It used to be a very easy adjustment if you wanted it directly above or angled behind, now it’s only 1 angled view. Not sure why such changes are made, you ma
  7. [R62] Google Drive 5/5 · US Super easy to use: Such a great user experience, so easy to use
  8. [R9] Google Maps 3/5 · US untrustworthy: After all these years, still suggests illegal turns and nonexistent roads…
  9. [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.
  10. [R25] Google Maps 1/5 · US Somehow gets worse each year: Even with all the feedback I give, the navigation keeps getting worse with: - dangerous right turns immediately after highway exits - not showing highway exit numbers - routing through road closures that have already been 'accepted' as a valid change
  11. [R39] Google Maps 3/5 · GB Sick of it lagging or locking up: Using iPhone 16 pro max so frustrating when looking up pins and then using google maps for location and it comes off or lags !!
  12. [R70] Google Drive 1/5 · US Backup broken: The backup link is broken. All it does is present another login screen, and then immediately directs you to a signup page for Google One with no explanation and no exit.
  13. [R73] Google Drive 1/5 · US It has so less storage: It really does have really low storage
  14. [R106] Google Drive 1/5 · US Video processing: Google has started aggressively processing videos that I upload. They determine the thumbnail or whether there will be a thumbnail. They also restrict viewing my videos while they are process. I'm considering other backup cloud storage providers
  15. [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
  16. [R28] Google Maps 1/5 · US Updates have made app worse: The recent updates have made the app worse and almost unusable at times. The "Dropped Pin" location is no longer accurate. And often can't trust the routes provided anymore. Used to be the best maps app available till developers began improving it.
  17. [R31] Google Maps 1/5 · US AI inclusion ruined core features: The addition of AI features (for what exactly? Who knows!) has nerfed core functionality. Want to switch apps while listening to music? Hope you like 4 second skips. Check Notification Center while using it? Hope you didn’t need Bluetooth connected! Classic Google problem of prioritizing new build over core maintenance. This time has finally pushed me over to A
  18. [R16] Google Maps 1/5 · US Trash. BACK TO APPLE MAPS: Has been the worst maps in history. It’s back to Apple Maps for me
  19. [R67] Google Drive 2/5 · US Constant AI assistant interruption: I don’t want the constant AI assistant pop up that interrupts my work and takes up half the screen. I have to X out or say no thanks constantly. I do not need AI to summarize a document I am clearly able to see and read myself. Also, why is it that now when I open a PDF, all of the background workspace is visible and the X and next buttons are clear bubbles I ca
  20. [R94] Google Drive 1/5 · US Summarize this file: Get rid of it. How annoying on each and every file. Ridiculous.
  21. [R103] Google Drive 1/5 · US Please remove gemini: Hi google, I clicked no thanks for gemini, but I keep getting pop- ups on every single image asking me if I want to summarize this file. I don’t, ever. Please remove every pop-up and hide the gemini icon from the main view because now I associate that sparkle icon with the aggravating pop-ups

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