4 things Apple Maps does better than Google Maps

Google does not offer a feature like this. You can ask for directions using transit, sure, and those directions will take into account arrival times. If you tap on a specific bus station, you can also get a list of arrival times, which is useful in some situations, but you can’t just get a quick list of upcoming arrival times at all the stations near you, if you’re trying to decide between multiple options. Google should probably steal this feature, since it’s really cool.

Integration with Apple’s ecosystem

I’m a fan of messing with Apple ShortcutAutomation platform built on Apple devices. For example: I added a “Save my parking spot” button to my phone’s homepage I couldn’t create a shortcut like Google Maps because Google doesn’t offer any sort of Apple shortcut integration. This is an example of how Google doesn’t go out of its way to integrate with Apple’s ecosystem.

And then there’s the built-in integration with Apple apps and features. The Calendar app on my Mac and iPhone defaults to opening the map when I tap an address. Siri defaults to using Maps when I ask for directions. If an Apple app offers directions, it will work through Apple Maps. You may call it unfair, sure, but Google does the same on Android. Google Maps is tightly integrated with the rest of the company’s mobile OS, and that integration can make life easier for people who use those local services.

It’s just cleaner

Courtesy of Justin Potts

Google Maps, over time, has had more and more stuff grafted onto it. Nothing makes this more apparent than opening both apps and noticing the contrast. Apple Maps has fewer toolbars, fewer buttons, and in my opinion the geographic references provided on the maps are more likely to be useful (probably because, unlike Google, they have fewer paid ads).

Now, I’m hardly the first person to point out that an Apple app is cleaner than a Google one, and I’ll be the first to admit that the extent of that difference is subjective. But I think Apple’s design does a better job of staying out of your way, which is important when you’re just trying to get around.

I point these things out not to imply that Google Maps does nothing Better than Apple Maps. Google’s platform has had a huge head start on information about its business, for one thing, and Apple hasn’t caught up even a decade later. I especially noticed this during a recent trip to Peru, where Apple Maps was essentially useless. I’m sure people will contact me to point out other things that Google does better, which is good. I just want to say that Apple Maps is pretty good now and in some ways I actually think it’s better than Google Maps.

If you haven’t used Apple Maps in a while, I highly recommend you do. You might be surprised.