Android

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Android is a Linux-based operating system for mobile phones and other mobile devices. Android devices can be used to view and edit OpenStreetMap-based maps as well as to record GPS tracks that can be uploaded to OSM to aid in editing.

For more information about Android and OpenStreetMap, see also the Android category.

OpenStreetMap.org

The most basic way to use OpenStreetMap on your Android device is to open https://www.openstreetmap.org/ in a Web browser such as Chrome. The website is optimized for small screens such as those found on many Android phones; however, the slippy map is limited to basic gestures such as drag-to-pan and pinch-to-zoom. OpenTouchMap has slightly better multitouch support. For a map-viewing experience similar to that of the Google Maps application, check out the applications below. Similarly, for contributing to OpenStreetMap, the iD editor embedded on the website supports basic interaction on tablets, but you may find an Android editor application to be much more convenient.

Applications

Main article: Comparison of Android applications

The following applications rely on OpenStreetMap for core functionality, so they’re good ways to use OpenStreetMap on your Android device. Each of these applications is actively maintained, with a new release within the last 18 months, as of 11:02, 26 June 2016 (UTC). For a comprehensive comparison of all available Android applications, see Comparison of Android applications.

Navigation

These applications provide turn-by-turn navigation and, in many cases, voice guidance:

Name Install License Price OSM POI Works offline Record tracks Public transport routing
(except ferries)
OsmAnd [5] [6] GPLv3 except UI/UX design[7] Free or 25€ yes yes yes yes but still in beta
Organic Maps [8] [9] Apache License 2.0 Free yes yes yes only subways in select cities
Navit [10] GPLv2 Free no search by name yes yes no
CycleStreets [11] [12] GPLv3 Free no search by name no no no
Mapy.cz [13] Proprietary Free yes yes yes no
Guru Maps [14] Proprietary In-app purchases limited details[1] yes yes no
Locus Map [15] Proprietary In-app purchases limited details[2] yes[3] yes no
Magic Earth [16] Proprietary Free limited details[4] yes no yes in select cities
MapFactor Navigator [17] Proprietary In-app purchases limited details[5] yes yes no
MAPS.ME [18] Proprietary In-app purchases limited details[6] yes no only subways in select cities
Alminav [19] Proprietary In-app purchases no details yes yes no
Bike Citizens [20] Proprietary In-app purchases no details yes yes no
Navmii [21] Proprietary In-app purchases no details yes no no
komoot [22] Proprietary In-app purchases OSM POIs aren't clickable partially[7] yes no
Kurviger [23] Proprietary In-app purchases only motorcycle POIs[8] partially[9] yes no
AFTrack GPS-Tracking [24] Proprietary 3.90€ ? yes yes no
QuoVadis X Mobile [25] Proprietary Yearly subscription ? yes yes no
Cruiser [26] Proprietary Free requires manual download yes no no
Navitel [27] Proprietary In-app purchases does not use OSM for POIs yes yes no
CityGuide (rebadged as: Navi-Maps, GeoNET) [28] ([29], [30]) Proprietary In-app purchases does not use OSM for POIs yes yes no
Sygic GPS Navigation [31] Proprietary In-app purchases uses Google POI yes yes no
Naviki [32] Proprietary In-app purchases monthly subscription no yes no
TripGo [33] Proprietary Free uses Google POI no no yes
Trip4YouMaps
?
 Proprietary Free yes[10] no yes no
Geovelo [34] Proprietary Free Only cycling-related POIs no yes no
  1. ↑ Guru Maps lacks support for wikipedia=* and pitches without a name.
  2. ↑ Locus Map lacks support for phone=* and sport=*.
  3. ↑ Locus Map requires an additional app to calculate routes offline.[1]
  4. ↑ Magic Earth lacks support for opening_hours=* and pitches without a name.
  5. ↑ MapFactor Navigator lacks support for opening_hours=* and wikipedia=*.
  6. ↑ MAPS.ME lacks support for wikipedia=* and sport=*.
  7. ↑ Komoot requires you to pay to use maps offline[2], but even then Komoot cannot compute new routes while offline.[3]
  8. ↑ Kurviger only shows clickable POIs that are relevant for planing motorcycle trips.
  9. ↑ Kurviger requires you to pay to use maps offline, but even then Kurviger cannot compute new routes while offline.[4]
  10. ↑ Trip4YouMaps has quick buttons for restaurants, accomodations & groceries.

Editing the map

These advanced editor applications allow you to contribute to OpenStreetMap by editing the map directly:

These applications are specialized OSM editors not allowing direct editing of data:

There are also several applications that contain some limited editing functionality; you can find them in this category.

Contributing street level imagery

These applications allow you to contribute imagery for armchair mappers to use, also see [Street-level imagery services] for a comparison of features:

Augmented reality

These applications overlay OpenStreetMap data atop a real-time view of the device's back camera:

Track recording

The applications in Category:Android apps that can record GPS tracks allow you to record your movement as GPS tracks. You can upload your GPS tracks to OpenStreetMap to help you add features to the map. Some of these applications also appear in the Navigation section of this page, making them granular enough for use in turn-by-turn navigation directions. Other applications that appear here have orienteering features that are still useful for that purpose.

GPS accuracy

You can use GPSTest to troubleshoot your GPS data. GPSTest can help you determine which GNSS satellite networks your phone supports (Beidou, Galileo, GLONASS, GPS, QZSS, etc.). It can also help you determine the satellites it can see and is using at any given time, which frequencies your device listens on (whether it supports dual band signals, for example), and the accuracy of the data your phone reports.

Travel planning

These applications let you search for and learn about places on the map. Many of them also support offline maps.

Games

Main article: Games#In the game itself

These games rely on OpenStreetMap data to power gameplay:

Miscellaneous

Applications using OpenStreetMap

These applications also use OpenStreetMap in some fashion:

Libraries for developers

Main article: Software libraries

Several libraries make it easy for Android developers to incorporate OpenStreetMap in their own applications, whether as a static map image, a fully interactive map, or more sophisticated uses like geocoding and routing. Another benefit of using these libraries is that they respect OpenStreetMap’s tile usage policy by fetching tiles and other resources from dedicated servers instead of OpenStreetMap’s donated servers.

There are also a number of projects on GitHub and Google Code with both 'android' and 'openstreetmap' tags.

Maps

Library Minimum API level License Notes
Carto Mobile SDK 11 BSD Supports 3D city overlays, editable vector overlays and is highly customizable.
CartoType 14 Proprietary Offline rendering and routing library using OpenGL ES; customisable style sheets; 2.5D perspective view with 3D buildings
GLMap 14 Proprietary Offline or online vector map rendered on device using OpenGL ES
LocationMapViewer 10 GPLv3+ Android-Intent; "geo:"-Uri; gpx and kml file/url
Mapbox Android SDK 15 Proprietary Customizable, interactive vector maps styled in Mapbox Studio and rendered using OpenGL ES. Hybrid components available for Cordova, NativeScript, React Native, and Xamarin.
Mapbox Android Services 15 MIT Connects to various Mapbox APIs
mapsforge 9 LGPLv3 Map rendering, map overlays, and more
Navmii Mobile SDK ? Proprietary
OSMBonusPack 10 LGPL with exceptions Addon for osmdroid: Markers, Bubbles, Routes, Directions, KML and more...
osmdroid 7 Apache 2 OSM based replacement for Android's MapView (v1 API) class. Supports online and offline tile sources and overlays for plotting icons, tracking location, drawing shapes.
OsmSharp ? GPLv2 or commercial Offline vector map rendering in C# using Xamarin
Skobbler Android SDK 14 Proprietary
Tangram ES 15 MIT 2D and 3D map renderer using OpenGL ES, used to have its own vector tile service but as Mapzen went bankrupt it no longer exists.
VTM 10 GPLv3+ 2D and 3D map renderer with own vector tile service; compatible with Mapsforge.
WhirlyGlobe-Maply ? Apache 2 Geospatial display kit for iOS and Android based on OpenGL ES. Implements a 2D map and a 3D globe and can handle image base maps and tiled vector maps based on OSM data.
MapLibre Native 21 BSD An open-source vector map renderer with support for dynamic styling, and semi-3D views.

Geocoding

Library Minimum API level License Notes
mapsforge 9 LGPLv3 POI indexing and search
Pelias Android SDK 15 Apache Connects to Mapzen’s Pelias Geocoder instance
Stadia Maps Jetpack Compose Autocomplete Search ? Apache Connects to the Stadia Maps Geocoding API
Stadia Maps Kotlin SDK 26 BSD A customizable autocomplete search view for Jetpack Compose

Directions

Library Minimum API level License Notes
CartoType 14 Proprietary Rendering and routing library; supports motor vehicles, bicycles, walking, and more; can take gradients into account
GraphHopper 10 Apache 2 Routing engine for car, bike and more
Mapbox Android Services 15 MIT Connects to Mapbox’s Directions API for route data
mapsforge 9 LGPLv3 Route planning and navigation
Navmii Mobile SDK ? Proprietary
On The Road 15 Apache Connects to Mapzen Turn-by-Turn (powered by Valhalla)
osm-common ? Apache 2 Nominatim
BRouter ? MIT offline routing engine, can be integrated as backend into other apps (e.g. OsmAnd, Locus Map)
Ferrostar 25 BSD A navigation SDK with an extensible core, composable UI with Jetpack Compose, voice guidance, OSRM-style annotation support, and more.
Stadia Maps Kotlin SDK ? BSD API client connecting to the Stadia Maps Routing API.

See also

Operating systems based on GNU/Linux kernels
Android · Arch · Debian · Fedora · Firefox OS · Gentoo · Mandriva · Mint · OpenSUSE · Red Hat · sidux · Slackware · Tizen · Ubuntu · LinuxMint
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