A6Win Game
Description
Organic Maps is an open-source navigation app built on OpenStreetMap data. Download a region once and the whole thing — search, routing, turn-by-turn — works with the radio off. Useful anywhere coverage is thin, which in northern Pakistan is most places.
Free · No ads · No in-app purchases · Source code public
Overview
Most navigation apps stream map tiles as you move, which means they need a connection and they log where you go. Organic Maps inverts both. You download a country or region as a compressed file, and every function after that runs locally on the device.
There is no account, no sign-in, and no telemetry. The app was forked from Maps.me by former members of that team after the original was acquired and filled with ads, and the project has stayed deliberately narrow since: maps, search, routing, bookmarks, nothing else.
The trade-off is that map data updates on your schedule rather than continuously, and live traffic does not exist. For city driving that matters. For hiking, road trips through weak-signal areas, or travel where roaming is expensive, it is the point.
Features
Search, routing and turn-by-turn voice guidance all run without a connection. Airplane mode changes nothing once a region is downloaded.
No account, no analytics, no ad SDKs. The source is public, so the privacy claim is auditable rather than a promise in a policy document.
Inherits OpenStreetMap’s hiking paths, contour lines and elevation profiles — coverage that mainstream mapping apps often leave blank.
Specifications
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Category | Offline navigation and maps |
| Platforms | Android, iOS, Android Auto, CarPlay |
| Distribution | Google Play, F-Droid, App Store, signed APK from the project site |
| Map source | OpenStreetMap, updated roughly monthly |
| Routing modes | Car, bicycle, walking, public transport (partial) |
| Permissions | Location only. No SMS, contacts or storage access required. |
| Monetisation | Donations. No ads, no subscription, no paid tier. |
| Storage per region | 50–400 MB depending on area size |
Assessment
Works well
- +Complete functionality with no connection at all
- +Light on battery compared with streaming map apps
- +Requests only location permission — nothing else
- +Strong trail, footpath and contour coverage
- +Free with no upsell path of any kind
Falls short
- −No live traffic or rerouting around congestion
- −Business listings and opening hours are patchy
- −Map updates need a manual download over Wi-Fi
- −Search is literal — it wants the right name
- −Public transport routing is incomplete outside major cities
Verdict
Organic Maps is not a replacement for a mainstream navigation app in dense city traffic, where live rerouting is the whole value proposition. It is a replacement everywhere else, and a better one.
If you travel through areas with unreliable coverage, hike, drive long distances between towns, or simply want a map that does not need an account, download your region before you leave and keep it installed alongside whatever you already use. It costs nothing and takes no data.
Best-in-class for offline and rural use, weakest in city traffic. Worth carrying as a second map even if it is not your first.
Questions
Is the APK version safe to install?
The project publishes signed builds on its own site and on F-Droid, and the source code is public, so builds can be verified. That is the exception rather than the rule for APKs — prefer the official site or F-Droid over any third-party mirror.
How much storage does a region need?
Between roughly 50 MB and 400 MB depending on the area. You download only the regions you want, and can delete them afterwards.
Does it work with no SIM card?
Yes. GPS is a receiver and does not need a network. With a region downloaded, positioning and routing both work on a device with no SIM at all.
How does it compare with Google Maps?
Google Maps wins clearly on live traffic, business information and search flexibility. Organic Maps wins on offline reliability, battery use, privacy and trail coverage. They serve different situations rather than competing directly.
Can I fix a mistake on the map?
Yes. Edits go to OpenStreetMap and appear for everyone in a later data release. The app has a basic editor built in for names, opening hours and similar details.
Written independently. No affiliate arrangement with the developer, and no payment received for coverage. Specifications reflect the app at the time of writing and may change with later releases — check the project’s own site before relying on any detail here.
App review · Navigation · Android & iOS