Business Insider/Apple Maps
Apple received backlash when Maps launched in 2012. The GPS app was so badly reviewed that Apple fired the executive who oversaw its development, and CEO Tim Cook issued a public apology.
Over the last decade, Apple has updated the app with a slate of new features like public transit directions, a redesign, and an integration that enables users to display the app on their car dashboards.
Apple Maps updates
In September 2022, Apple updated its operating system to iOS 16. It came with new Maps features that allow users to plan multi-stop trips, see how much their public transit fares cost, and navigate areas with a street view option.
Apple updated the app again in January 2023 with new features for booking restaurant reservations and finding deals at nearby shops, a sign that the iPhone maker wants Apple Maps to be more than a navigational app.
At the same time, Apple introduced Apple Business Connect, a free tool that allows businesses to claim their location place cards and customize the way key information appears on Maps, Messages, Wallet, Siri, and other apps.
When Apple launched iOS 17 in September, users could now search for electric car charging stations along their routes and download maps so they could navigate offline without cellular service.
How do I access Apple Maps?
The Apple Maps app is always on your iPhone. You can hide the app, but you can't delete it.
If you have not hidden Apple Maps, accessing the app is simple: just tap the icon. The icon features a white arrow set in a blue ring over a colorful map patch.
If the Apple Maps icon does not readily appear on your iPhone's screen, you can find it in the Apps Library app. Simply swipe from right to left until you reach the last screen, the App Library. There, you'll see a collection of apps. You can scroll to the Maps app or search for it by name.
You can also swipe down from your iPhone's home screen to bring up a search bar. In the search bar, type "apple maps," and the app will appear for you to click.
Which Maps does Apple use?
Apple Maps is a proprietary mapping service developed for and by Apple. It is not Google Maps dressed up in a disguise, in other words. Nor is it Waze, MapQuest, or anything else. For several years following the release of the first iPhone, iPhones did indeed use Google Maps. But as of 2012, iOS devices have been sold with Apple's own Apple Maps installed.
The initial rollout of Apple Maps was a mess, with CEO Tim Cook even issuing a rare apology for all the glitches and bugs and recommending some people use competitor software instead. Today, Apple Maps is an effective and comprehensive platform, however, that has long since come into its own.
How are Apple and Google Maps different?
Both Apple Maps and Google Maps use GPS navigation, weigh traffic conditions in recommending routes, and can be customized to suit your travel or commuting preferences, like adding stops along the way or avoiding tolls.
One major difference between Apple Maps and Google Maps is that you can get Google Maps on an iPhone or tablet, but you cannot install Apple Maps on a non-iOS device. The interface on the screen also differs. Almost all of Apple Maps' buttons are on the bottom of the screen, while Google Maps has buttons at the top and bottom, plus a search bar. Some might find this visually overstimulating while driving.
Similarly, Google Maps shares more details about your surroundings, from bike lanes to bus stops to stop lights. Apple Maps shares only the more essential data, like street names and location tags. Neither approach is necessarily correct, but you may find Apple Maps easier to digest visually.
One way Google Maps is arguably ahead of Apple Maps is in that it lets you plan multi-stop trips before you even depart, while Apple Maps only lets you add stops once you've begun the navigation.
How are Apple and Waze different?
Both Waze and Apple Maps can help you drive to your destination with precise, turn-by-turn directions. But they are different beyond that basic point.
For starters, Apple Maps shares far less data about what you encounter along your drive: police activity, crashes, disabled vehicles, and other elements for which Waze is best known. Waze was created for users who are driving their own vehicles and doesn't offer services for public transit, cycling, or walking.
Apple Maps, on the other hand, can support you with any type of commute, whether by car, public transit, bike, or walking. This makes Apple Maps a far more versatile mapping app overall. But for people primarily concerned with driving themselves in a private vehicle, Waze may be the better choice.