TOP 50 ANDROID GPS NAVIGATION APPS

Originally Navstar GPS, the Global Positioning System (GPS) as we know it today, is a U.S government owned global navigation satellite system for the basic provision of time information and geolocation to a GPS receiver anywhere on Earth or even outside Earth so long as there is a clear line of vision to at least four or more GPS satellites; the GPS Project is globally controlled and operated by the United States Airforce. 

What most folks do not know is that the GPS was originally programmed to work outside of any telephone-based or internet enabled reception, the use of the above-mentioned technologies is to enhance the working capability of the system. The GPS is a stand-alone positioning system that is programmed to provide vital information to both civil, military and commercial users globally.

 Launched in 1973 by the United States Department of Defence solely for military use, the civilian populace was allowed access to the GPS in the 1980 and the overall system became fully functional in 1995. Another fact about the GPS system is that the U.S government has the full right to deny whoever access (selective denial). An example is the case of GPS access denial to the Indian military during the Kargil War of 1999.

In a bid to destabilize and decentralize the U.S government's monopoly over the sole right to provide the globe with GPS access, the Russian government took upon itself the responsibility to build an equally powerful global positioning system called the Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) which at inception suffered inadequate coverage because it at some point still had to link to the GPS but that was taken care of in the early 2000s with advancements in technology and launch of more satellites to this effect.

Today we now have other positioning systems like the Chinese BeiDoU Navigation Satellite System, Japan's Quasi-Zenith Satellite System, The European Union's Galileo Positioning System, and India's NAVIC. 

This article showcases the top 10 GPS Navigation Apps for Android smartphone. 

Prior to the advent of smartphone technology, GPS receivers used to be bulky equipment needed for GPS Navigation. Being the most popular Operating System globally, the Android technology comes with its world of ease, malleability and gadget-to-user interaction which allows users to be more advanced and productive. With the advent of the Android OS, users can now enjoy the full power of the GPS anywhere they go using their smartphones.

The Google Play Store has an array of GPS Navigation Apps to keep users from losing their way anywhere by providing accurately precise navigation information on-the-go.

1. MAPS (NAVIGATION & TRANSIT): Google's official GPS App is a must have as it provides users with real-time GPS navigation, geolocation, transit, traffic and time information. The Google Map  App goes navigation App to furnish its users with advances details more like a navigation encyclopedia. It allows users access to real-time traffic updates, ETAs, transit information, travel guide, hotel reservation guide, tour guide, and landmark guide. The App which also doubles as an open source App allows users to update information for other users benefit by allowing users to share reviews of various locations remote or near including photos. The App also serves as a travel planner which allows it uses to access menus, make reservations and get the best ratings to work with. Google's Map App usually comes pre-installed on almost all Android operating systems which means nearly all Android smartphone come handy with the App. 2. SYGIC: Sygic GPS navigation App boasts of being one of the most downloaded GPS navigation Apps on the PlayStore after Google's own Maps with over 500 million users globally, the Sygic GPS App is an authority when it comes to aiding Android users to find their way around the planet Earth. One of the reasons why the Sygic App became an industry 1-stop App was the ability of its developers to be able to long ago provide an offline GPS navigation solution for Android smartphones. The App uses a full 3D offline map platform from TOMTOM which serves users even without internet service. Sygic GPS App provides users with the cheapest gas deals on their route, best parking space deals, uses Head-Up Display (HUD) for safer night driving, alerts users on police radar and speed cameras, real-time traffic updates and dynamic lane guide. The App comes pre-installed with an active interactive voice prompt system. 3. WAZE: Waze is one GPS navigation App that has been around for a while. A product of Israel based developers, Waze Studios. The App is a full function GPS, live navigation, and global traffic alert platform. Waze gives precise details like traffic, hazards and police stop with instant re-route or route change to avoid heavy traffic, polices stops and hazards. Users enjoy an ETA that is based on live traffic data, the App also notifies users of the cheapest gas stations on their route and allows users to drive with Android Auto thereby users can use Waze on their car's display. 4. MAPFACTOR: MapFactor is a navigation App in a class of its own as it boasts of a full function offline GPS mapping system which uses the OpenStreetMaps platform. The App comes complete with a postcode cache which on the installation of the App is loaded and stored away either in the users Android smartphone's SD card or Internal memory. Map Factor is the Android Mobile adaption of the popular NavigatorFREE GPS navigation software for PC, WinCE and Pocket PC. The App delivers an intuitive voice navigation platform offered in different languages. The App allows offline real-time cross-border switching without the hassle of reloading or refreshing the pane. The App delivers both 2D and 3D satellite navigation imagery. The App has a support platform for speed cameras, day/night view, and warns users via voice prompts as they approach speed cameras. 5. GPS Coordinates: The GPS Coordinates App from Woozilli LLC Developers is a simple interfaced GPS Navigation tool which allows users to get precise geolocation information instantly. The App switches between satellite and map views allowing users to share information to their emails, social media platforms, and chatrooms. For the professionals, the App comes in handy for geocaching, field-work, and geolocation testing projects which require real-time GPS coordinates.