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Best offline maps apps for travelling in Europe

Organic Maps, CoMaps, OsmAnd, HERE WeGo and Guru Maps compared for offline use in Europe: price, privacy labels, ads and what to download before you go.

Author: Best Mobile Apps Editorial Team Published:
Best offline maps apps for travelling in Europe

For travelling in Europe, the best offline maps apps are Organic Maps and its community fork CoMaps: both are free, show no ads and declare that they collect no data. If you want more routing options and do not mind a partly paid app, OsmAnd and HERE WeGo are the strongest alternatives.

Why offline maps matter in Europe

EU roaming rules make mobile data cheap inside the Union, but coverage still drops in mountains, on ferries, in tunnels and in rural areas, and trips to non-EU countries such as the UK, Switzerland, Norway, Serbia or Turkey can bring roaming charges. An offline map keeps search, routing and your position working with no connection, and it also reduces the amount of location data that leaves your phone.

How we picked

This ranking is based on the App Store privacy labels, the Google Play pages and the developers’ own descriptions, checked in October 2026. We have not driven every route with every app, so treat remarks about navigation quality as what the listings claim. We compared:

  • Privacy: what the store label declares, whether an account is required.
  • Price: free, limited free, one-time purchase or subscription.
  • Offline depth: search and turn-by-turn navigation without internet.
  • Ads: none is the target.
  • Maintenance: recent updates and map data freshness.

The ranking

1. Organic Maps (iPhone and Android)

By Organic Maps OU. It is built on OpenStreetMap data and works fully offline, including search and navigation, with unlimited map downloads and updates roughly every two weeks, according to its listing. The App Store label says Data Not Collected, and the Google Play page says no data is collected or shared. There are no ads and no purchases to unlock features. Downsides: fewer business details and reviews than commercial maps. App Store · Google Play.

2. CoMaps (iPhone and Android)

A community-led, not-for-profit, open-source app that is also based on OpenStreetMap. Its listing says that all functions are designed to work offline, that it does not track you and that it is ad-free. The Google Play page declares no data collected and none shared. The App Store listing is published under an individual developer name, Anton Wenemoser, which is normal for community projects but worth knowing. It is the younger project: it was forked from the Organic Maps code in 2025 over governance and transparency concerns. App Store · Google Play.

3. OsmAnd (iPhone and Android)

By OsmAND B.V. It is the power tool: offline navigation for driving, cycling and walking, GPX tracks, contour lines and many map overlays. According to the OsmAnd documentation, the free version allows seven map downloads, and unlimited downloads need a paid option such as OsmAnd+ or a subscription, so check this before you rely on it. The App Store label lists usage data and diagnostics, not linked to you. The interface has a learning curve. App Store · Google Play.

4. HERE WeGo (iPhone and Android)

By HERE Europe B.V., a European company. It is a free navigation app that can download a region, country or continent for offline use and also offers public transport in many cities. The App Store label is the more extensive of the free apps: it lists data linked to you, including contact info, user content, search history and identifiers. Pick it for transit information, not for minimal data collection. App Store · Google Play.

5. Guru Maps (iPhone and Android)

By Evgen Bodunov. It offers offline OpenStreetMap maps, turn-by-turn navigation, GPS track recording and CarPlay support, and the listing states that there are no ads and that your location stays on your device. Unlimited downloads, satellite layers and unlimited tracks require Pro, which is a subscription or a one-time lifetime purchase. The App Store label shows purchases and identifiers linked to you. App Store · Google Play.

Also worth knowing: Google Maps and MAPS.ME

Google Maps can save areas for offline use and has the largest business database, but it carries ads, and its App Store label lists a very long list of data types linked to you. MAPS.ME still works offline, yet its label lists data linked to you for advertising and marketing, so we rank it below the open-source options.

At a glance

  • Organic Maps: free; no ads; label says no data collected; iPhone and Android.
  • CoMaps: free; no ads per listing; Play says no data collected; iPhone and Android.
  • OsmAnd: free with limits, paid options; not linked usage and diagnostics data; iPhone and Android.
  • HERE WeGo: free; transit info; label shows data linked to you; iPhone and Android.
  • Guru Maps: free with Pro upgrade; no ads per listing; iPhone and Android.

Tips before you travel

  • Download maps over Wi-Fi at home, country by country, and check the file size: a large country can take over a gigabyte.
  • Download maps for a neighbouring country too, since you may cross a border by accident or on purpose.
  • Refresh your maps just before departure, because road works and new roundabouts appear in updates.
  • Test offline search in airplane mode once, so you know it works before you are on a mountain road.
  • Bring a power bank, since GPS use drains the battery quickly.

Frequently asked questions

Which offline maps app is the most private?

Organic Maps and CoMaps declare that they collect no data, according to their store pages. Labels are self-declared by developers, so they are a strong hint rather than proof.

Do offline maps work without GPS signal?

The GPS receiver in your phone works without mobile data, but not indoors or in deep tunnels. The map itself loads from storage.

Are offline maps free?

Organic Maps and CoMaps are free. OsmAnd and Guru Maps limit the free version, and HERE WeGo is free to use with a wider data label.

How much storage do I need for Europe?

It depends on the countries. Download only the ones you need, and delete them after the trip to free space.

Can I get live traffic offline?

No. Live traffic needs an internet connection, which is the trade-off for using fully offline maps.

Conclusion

Install Organic Maps or CoMaps as your main offline map, and keep one more app as a backup. If you hike or cycle a lot, OsmAnd is worth its learning curve. If you depend on public transport in big cities, HERE WeGo fills that gap.