Apple Maps review

Apple Maps is the zero-effort option for iPhone owners. Apple's App Store listing says it gives real-time transit updates so you never miss a bus, train or ferry, and that downloaded offline maps on iPhone or Apple Watch include turn-by-turn directions for driving, walking, cycling or transit. AR walking directions can guide you to the stop, Siri can find places, and Look Around lets you check a street before you arrive. Because it ships with the phone, there is nothing to install and no ads or in-app purchases are listed. Its limits for bus riders are what it does not list: no departure alarms, no get-off alerts and no crowdsourced arrival predictions, which Transit and Citymapper document. It also works only on Apple devices. Its standalone App Store listing shows a 2.2 rating from 65,000 ratings. We compared documented features and published prices; we did not ride test routes.

Who it is for

iPhone owners who want bus times without installing another app.

Price

Free; built into iPhone and listed free on the US App Store.

Navigate and explore the world Free
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 10, 2026.

Key features

• Real-time transit updates for buses, trains and ferries
• Offline maps with turn-by-turn directions for transit
• AR walking directions to the stop
• Siri place search and directions
• Multi-stop routing synced between Mac and iPhone

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Already installed on every iPhone
• Strength: Offline maps include transit directions
• Strength: No ads or in-app purchases listed
• Weakness: Apple devices only
• Weakness: No departure alarms or crowd ETAs are listed
• Weakness: Rated 2.2 on its App Store listing, the lowest here

Key facts

• App Store rating: 2.2 from 65K ratings
• Price: Free
• Age rating: 4+
• Languages: English and 32 more
• Platforms: iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch

Where it ranks

Apple Maps is No. 5 in our Best Map Apps for Bus Routes verdict and No. 3 in Best Free GPS Navigation Apps.