This article contains a list with gratis (but not necessarily open source) satellite navigation (or "GPS") software for a range of devices (PC, laptop, tablet PC, mobile phone, handheld PC (Pocket PC, Palm)). Some of the free software mentioned here does not have detailed maps (or maps at all) or the ability to follow streets or type in street names (no geocoding). However, in many cases, it is also that which makes the program free (and sometimes open source[1]), avoid the need of an Internet connection,[2][3][4] and make it very lightweight (allowing use on small portable devices, including smartphones). Very basic programs like this may not be suitable for road navigation in cars, but serve their purpose for navigation while walking or trekking, and for use at sea. To determine the GPS coordinates of a destination, one can use sites such as GPScoordinates.eu and GPS visualizer.
Some software presented here is free, but maps may need to be paid for. In this instance, and in the instance that some maps (of specific countries) are not standardly available, Mobile Atlas Creator (MOBAC) can be used (e.g. on OruxMaps, Maverick, Sports Tracker, Maplorer).
Some of the software mentioned can also be run on different devices than what they are intended for. A particular case-in-point is the Android software which can often be run on laptops or PCs (running Linux, Windows or Mac OS X) as well. This can be done using emulators.
Some of the software mentioned here may run only on devices that are no longer commercially sold (such as the PalmPilot and PocketPC devices). However, these devices are often still obtainable via second-hand websites.
Name | Company | Type of device[5] | Operating system | 3rd-party GPS-able?[6] | Software with maps? Follows streets? | Open-source? | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Maverick[40][41] | ? | Tablet PC | Android | ? | yes (OpenStreetMap data), ? | No | ? |
gvSIG Mini[42][43] | Prodevelop | Tablet PC | Android | ? | yes (OpenStreetMap data), ? | GPL | ? |
OpenSatNav[44] | Kieran Fleming et al. | Tablet PC | Android, OpenMoko | ? | yes (OpenStreetMap data), ? | ? | ? |
Minimap[45] | ? | Tablet PC | Android | ? | yes (OpenStreetMap data), ? | ? | ? |
MapDroyd[46] | CloudMade Deutschland GmbH | Tablet PC | Android | ? | yes (OpenStreetMap data), ? | ? | ? |
OruxMaps[47] | ? | Tablet PC | Android | ? | yes (OpenStreetMap data), ? | No | ? |
AlpineQuest Off-Road Explorer[48] | Psyberia | Tablet, PC, Smartphone
and any android enabled device |
Android | ? | yes (?), ? | No | Since 2010. |
AndNav 2[49] | ? | Tablet PC, | Android | ? | yes (?), ? | ? | ? |
Big Planet Tracks[50] | ? | Tablet PC, | Android | ? | yes (?), ? | ? | ? |
Sports Tracker[51] | Sports Tracking Technologies | Tablet PC | Android, | ? | yes (?), no | No | Does not allow navigation to specific points, only tracking |
RMaps[52][53] | ? | tablet PC | Android | ? | yes (?), ? | ? | may not provide actual navigation, only marking of GPS points, and the current position |
AFTrack[54] | ? | Tablet PC, handheld PC (Symbian) | Android, Symbian OS series 60 | ? | yes (?), ? | ? | ? |
CacheBox[55] | ? | Tablet PC, PC, handheld PC (pocket PC) | Android, Windows Mobile, Windows for PC | ? | yes (?), ? | ? | initially intended for geocaching |
Mapopolis[56] | ? | Handheld PC (Palm) | Palm OS | ? | yes (black and white maps), ? | ? | only has maps for USA |
Magellan Nav Companion[57] | ? | handheld PC (Palm) | Palm OS | ? | yes (OpenStreetMap data), ? | ? | ? |
TZGPS[58] | ? | handheld PC (Palm) | Palm OS | ? | yes (OpenStreetMap data), ? | ? | ? |
Trax[59][60] | Luke Klein-Berndt | handheld PC (Palm) | Palm OS | ? | ? (?), ? | ? | ? |
SoaringPilot[61] | ? | handheld PC (Palm, some PocketPC/WinCE devices) | Palm OS | ? | yes (OpenStreetMap data), ? | ? | Originally intended for use in sailplanes |
CotoGPS[62] | ? | handheld PC (Palm) | Palm OS | ? | ? (?), ? | ? | Originally intended for geocaching |
GpsPilot[63] | ? | handheld PC (Symbian One) | Symbian | ? | no (?), ? | ? | ? |
Maplorer[64] | ? | handheld PC (pocket PC) | Windows CE, Mobile | ? | yes (?), ? | ? | ? |
OSMtracker[65] | ? | handheld PC (pocket PC), smartphone | Android, Windows Mobile | ? | yes (?), ? | GPLv3 | ? |
gpsVP[66] | ? | handheld PC, certain smartphones | Windows Mobile 5,6, 2003 | ? | yes (OpenStreetMap data), ? | ? | ? |
CacheWolf[67] | ? | Laptop, PC | Windows, Mac OS X, Linux | ? | yes (?), ? | ? | ? |
Glopus[68] | ? | Laptop, PC, handheld PC (Pocket PC) | Windows, ? | ? | yes (?), ? | ? | ? |
TrekBuddy[69][70] | ? | PC, laptop, handheld PC (Palm, Symbian, BlackBerry), Windows Phone | Android,Symbian, Palm OS, SE proprietary OS, Windows Mobile, Windows XP, Vista, | ? | yes (?), ? | ? | Runs on Java, hence cross-platform |
gvSIG 2.0[71] | ? | PC, laptop, | Windows XP, Vista, Linux, OS X | ? | yes (?), ? | ? | cross-platform; originally intended as a GIS; however can be fitted with GPS receiver and has support for it[72] and also allows to easily download maps from any location from an online database as OpenStreetMap, and many others[73][74] |
LuckyGPS[75] | ? | Laptop, PC, smartphone | Windows, Linux, OpenMoko | ? | yes (?), ? | ? | ? |
Mumpot[76] | ? | Laptop, PC, smartphone | Linux, OpenMoko, GPE | ? | yes (?), ? | ? | ? |
Pyroute[77] | Ojw | Laptop, PC, smartphone | Windows XP, Linux, OpenMoko | ? | yes (?), ? | ? | ? |
TangoGPS[78] | Marcus Bauer | Laptop, PC, smartphone | Linux, OpenMoko | ? | yes (?), ? | ? | ? |
FoxtrotGPS[79] | ? | Laptop, PC | Linux, OpenMoko | ? | yes (?), ? | ? | based on TangoGPS, actively being developed, especially adapted for use with touch screens |
Rana[80] | Ojw | smartphone | OpenMoko, Neo Freerunner | ? | yes (?), ? | ? | runs on Python, so possibly cross-platform |
BikeAtor[81][82] | ? | smartphone (OpenMoko, Symbian), tablet PC | Android, OpenMoko, Symbian | ? | yes (?), ? | ? | ? |
Osmarender[83] | ? | laptop, PC | , Linux, OS X, Windows | ? | yes (OpenStreetMap data), ? | ? | Not intuitive |
Mobile Trail Explorer[84] | ? | smartphone, ? | Symbian, multiple OSs | ? | yes (?), ? | ? | Runs on Java, so a cross-platform GPS navigation software |
Open Citymap[85] | ? | smartphone (Qt) | Windows CE, OpenMoko | ? | yes (?), ? | ? | ? |
Mappero | ? | Nokia N810 | Maemo[86] | ? | yes (OpenStreetMap data), ? | ? | ? |
NaviPOWM[87] | ? | handheld PC, Laptop, PC | Windows for PC, Windows Mobile 5/6/2003 SE, Linux | ? | yes (OpenStreetMap data), ? | ? | ? |
GPSS | Robin Lovelock | Laptop or Pocket PC | Windows for PC, Windows Mobile | ? | yes (can import) | No | Since 1995. www.gpss.co.uk |
NaVisu | ? | Laptop, PC | Linux, OS X, Windows | ? | yes (OpenStreetMap data), ? | ? | Developed for marine applications, not intuitive, built around NASA WorldWind |
Cetus GPS[88] | Cetus software | embedded system (Garmin) | OS 5 | ? | yes (?), ? | ? | ? |
GPS interpreter[89] | Marcel Durieux, Christian Tavernier[90][89] | Embedded system (purpose-build PCB)[91] | ? | ? | yes, ? | ? | ? |
Andrew Holme's GPS software | Andrew Holme[92] | Embedded system (several custom PCB's + Raspberry Pi)[93] | Raspbian Linux | ? | ?, ? | ? | ? |
AdvRider WD[94] | Adi Barda | Android | Android | ? | yes (can import) | No | Since 2013. |
TheGOAT[95] | ? | Tablet PC | Android | ? | yes (OpenStreetMap data), ? | No | ? |