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

Google Maps vs YouTube

Google Maps 4.7★ · Free to download 65
Winner Google Maps
YouTube 4.7★ · Free to download 40

While both apps face recent challenges with updates and glitches, Google Maps maintains a slight edge due to its core functionality remaining generally reliable for navigation, whereas YouTube users report widespread app crashing issues.

Full reviews: Google Maps · YouTube

Google Maps and YouTube, both free apps with high lifetime ratings, are currently experiencing user frustration due to recent updates. Google Maps users report issues with UI changes and occasional navigation errors, but YouTube users are frequently unable to even open the app due to persistent crashing.

Head to head

Core Functionality & Reliability edge: Google MapsR3R4R9R21
Google Maps Google Maps users generally find the app useful for its core navigation, but recent updates have introduced issues like hidden addresses, incorrect routing, and glitches that pause music or cause the map to lag R3R4R9R21. Some users report the app insisting on ad-based locations or suggesting illegal turns R4R9.
YouTube YouTube users are experiencing severe reliability issues, with many reporting the app crashes immediately upon opening, requiring repeated uninstalls and reinstalls to function temporarily R64R67R70R73. Beyond crashing, users also note bugs with video uploads and analytics .
User Interface & Experience tieR3R10R34R49
Google Maps Recent Google Maps updates have drawn criticism for UI changes, such as hiding addresses, a 'bubbly shiny appearance,' and removing the direct overhead camera angle R3R49. Users also dislike photo bubbles obstructing the map and the inability to easily see highway names R34. Some find the satellite imagery quality has decreased R10.
YouTube YouTube's UI changes are also a point of contention, with users disliking the lack of pixel separation between videos in the subscription feed and the push towards 'Shorts' content, which some users actively avoid . The removal of the dislike button and changes to the like button are also unpopular .
Features & Functionality tieR6R12R48R52
Google Maps Google Maps users desire features like a multi-trip tab for sequential destinations and the ability to use Siri voice for navigation R6R12. Some report loss of features, such as searching by a non-current location or getting directions for multiple metro stops R52. Integration with Apple CarPlay is also reported to be buggy R48.
YouTube YouTube users suggest a 'repost' button for content and express frustration with the algorithm suggesting watched videos or unwanted content . There are also complaints about the difficulty of rearranging playlists and grouping subscribed channels .
Advertising & Monetization edge: YouTubeR4R40R63R72
Google Maps Google Maps users are concerned about the app pushing locations based on ads and overriding choices like avoiding tolls R4R40.
YouTube YouTube users frequently complain about the excessive number of ads, with some reporting ads freezing videos or appearing every five minutes R63R72R74R78. There are also complaints about inappropriate ads and the high price of YouTube Premium .
Pick Google Maps if

Pick Google Maps if you need a generally reliable navigation tool, are willing to tolerate some recent UI changes and occasional glitches, and value its local business information .

Pick YouTube if

Pick YouTube if you primarily use it for entertainment and content consumption, are willing to deal with frequent app crashes and numerous ads, or are a content creator looking to upload videos .

Evidence note: Both apps are free, so there is no free-vs-paid asymmetry. Recent negative reviews for both apps highlight significant issues, suggesting a decline in user satisfaction compared to their high lifetime ratings. The Google Maps reviews include many positive reviews for specific businesses, which are not directly about the app's functionality but contribute to its overall rating.

Frequently asked

Is Google Maps experiencing issues with recent updates?
Yes, Google Maps users report that recent updates have made the app worse, with issues including hidden addresses, incorrect routing, glitches that pause music, and a less intuitive user interface R3R4R21R25.
Why is my YouTube app crashing?
Many YouTube users report that the app is crashing immediately upon opening, requiring them to uninstall and reinstall the app repeatedly, sometimes multiple times a day, for it to work temporarily R64R67R70R73.
Are there too many ads on YouTube?
Yes, many YouTube users complain about an excessive number of ads, with some reporting ads freezing videos, appearing every five minutes, or being for content they already know about R63R72R74R78.

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. [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
  3. [R9] Google Maps 3/5 · US untrustworthy: After all these years, still suggests illegal turns and nonexistent roads…
  4. [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
  5. [R10] Google Maps 1/5 · US Bad map: What's with your bad satellite imagery update? Why did you make the images faded and poor? Bring back last year's map, it was better. Are you progressing or regressing? · translated
  6. [R34] Google Maps 1/5 · US TURN OFF THE STUPID PHOTO BUBBLES: I CAN’T SEE THE MAP WITH THE STUPID PHOTO BUBBLES
  7. [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
  8. [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.
  9. [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.
  10. [R48] Google Maps 3/5 · GB Apple play: Google needs to do another update as it keep crashing and shutting down when connected to apple play
  11. [R52] Google Maps 1/5 · US Limited directions: I stopped using Google Maps since it won’t let me get directions for multiple locations while traveling via metro. This limitation makes the app unusable.
  12. [R40] Google Maps 1/5 · US I wish there were better alternatives: Awful! I feel like this map app got worse. It gives you suggestions like “less traffic” “similar …”, don’t trust it!!! It’s all false!Don’t take them, don’t use google’s atrocious suggestions. Trust me bro. Also, if you take a rerouted suggestion, it restarts your option of cheaper/no tolls. Like it overrides your choice, and chooses for you as in pay $10+ i
  13. [R63] YouTube 3/5 · US Ads freezing the video: Since the most recent update, any time an ad plays the video ends up freezing. I have to close the app and restart it in order to watch the video. Fix this.
  14. [R72] YouTube 3/5 · US ?: The app is buggy and too many ads
  15. [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
  16. [R64] YouTube 1/5 · US Application keeps crashing: Noticed about 2 days ago the app started crashing again and again. Only fix I have found is uninstalling and re-installing the application.
  17. [R67] YouTube 2/5 · US Keeps crashing: Why does it keep crashing every time I open it? I have to uninstall the app and keep reinstalling it. I’ve had to do it at least 20 times in the past three days.
  18. [R70] YouTube 1/5 · US YouTube crashes: YouTube crashes immediately upon opening. Deleting and reinstalling the app only resolves the issue temporarily for a few hours before the crashing recurs. Environment: OS: iOS 18.7, App Version: YouTube 21.26.4
  19. [R73] YouTube 1/5 · US App doesn’t work: For over a week, every day i have to redownload the app because for some reason, it won’t even let me open the app. It just crashes immediately.
  20. [R74] YouTube 5/5 · US Too many Commercial: Enjoy my time on YouTube but too many ads ( I know that’s how they make money) still good stuff
  21. [R78] YouTube 3/5 · US Too many ads: WAY too many ads for one video, especially to the longer videos like every 5 minutes there’s an add and the tiny ad box that appears in the corner when you skip one is just taking away from the experience of watching. It’s getting tiring but overall, I love the app and just see the ads as a little too excessive.

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