I recently took a trip to Grand Haven, Michigan and used an app for my iphone (GPS Drive) as my GPS. No suction cups, no cords, no worries of a break-in…just my cell phone in the cup holder telling me when and where to turn. It worked brilliantly, with the same accuracy as a traditional GPS. It found restaurants, libraries, car washes, amusement parks, and more. I have continued to use it in Portland with the same results. Cost: free for the first month, then $25 a year thereafter.
There’s several advantages to using a smartphone-based GPS:
- Easy set up: No cords, no suction cups. I’d say most people who own a GPS don’t use it because it simply takes too long to attach it to their windshield, then take it down when done. You ALWAYS have your cell phone with you, and you simply place it in a cup holder and drive away.
- Updates. Cell-phone based GPS apps are always updated. If there’s new restaurants or gas stations around, they’re on your map. If a business goes under…it’s off the map.
- Portability. You probably drive more than one car, and there’s probably not a GPS in each car, but that cell phone–as always–is in your pocket.
The top-rated GPS apps, per phone type:
*Note: your smartphone likely includes a free maps app like Google Maps. I don’t recommend Maps as a driving app, as it requires you to glance down frequently as you drive. Real voice guidance is the safe, reliable way to go.