This is Organic Maps, the advanced map app that does not require a connection

With the next novelty of Google Maps that will allow hiking routes In order to make things more complicated for Wikiloc in Spain, there is an app called Organic Maps which is increasingly gaining the interest of many users for a great reason: it offers maps without the need to be connected to a mobile network.

Is a open source app for Android and iOS that offers offline maps for any type of user and according to their needs, such as going on a hiking route, taking a bicycle to cover a few kilometers or those who want to travel outside of Spain to always have at hand the crucial data to move around any city. or town.

An important point, to know who it comes from, is that we are really looking at the old MapsWithMe, an application that had great success and that the team that was behind its development is now in charge of maintaining Organic Maps. You simply have to take a look at your scores on the Google Play Store to realize that it is receiving applause from many for its undeniable quality and all the help it generates with those offline maps.

Its main virtue is that once installed, you can download the necessary maps and thus completely forget about the data connection. That is to say, which, as happens with Google Maps, once downloaded, they can be used perfectly without the need to have an active connection; It also comes in handy when There is a data limit outside of Spain when roaming and you want to save as much money as possible to send chat messages from apps like WhatsApp or Telegram.

Downloading maps

Its developers have hit the nail on the head so that the moment it starts, when the location is activated on the mobile and the positioning button is tapped, the moment the user is located, the area begins to download. For example, if you are in Madrid, when you position your mobile, you will see a small window with the name of the city and the size of the download. The download of data from the map of the area is carried out automatically and it can now be used without any type of restriction.

It is an app that takes open mapping data from OpenStreetMap. And the truth is that the interface is very simple and intuitive with a map that centers the color orange for roads and streets and offers vital information with labels that mark the most important points in the area.

Regarding the interface, the main screen highlighted by four icons located at the bottom that lead to the app’s information, a search engine, favorite places and the hamburger button for certain important actions: adding a place to the map, download maps, settings and share my location. When downloading maps, the one for Spain already appears with 72 MB, but by clicking on the ‘+’ button, you can download as many as you want from the provinces or any country.

The favorites button allows create a new list of places or import markers and traces from other apps. The other option available in the app is the map layers, although it only offers two options, the default one for heights and meter. He search engine is another of the most important functions of the app, since it offers a large list such as where to eat, hotel, food, tourism, transportation, gas station or ATM among many others (you can also search for WiFi points).

Hiking and cycling routes

Also allows you to make routes. For example, if you place one on some of the hills or all that important information for hikers in very special places such as mountain chains, when you click on this location, the four modes of transport appear at the top: car, walk, train and bicycle. You select walk, you click on a point, for example Cerro Covacho, now on the route from and now with one click you locate the destination point.

The map will locate the correct route to carry out the walk and indicates data such as the route time, kilometers to be traveled and variation in altitude both up and down. This is used to plan routes, since you will have to be at the starting point to use the navigator with a simple interface and certain options such as visual indicators, silencing voice notifications or accessing settings.

Organic Maps It is not an app full of virtues or an exquisite design in the interface or interactions, but goes directly to its most important function: offering an offline map with which one can manage for certain types of needs such as those mentioned above. It is free without ads and open source, so by knowing how to use it you can get the most out of it. It is available from Google Play Store and the App Store from Apple.

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