Google Maps review

Google Maps is the app most people already have, and for many bus trips it is enough. Google's App Store listing says you can catch the bus, train and ride-share with real-time updates, alongside directions for driving, walking and cycling. Its biggest advantage is search: it covers over 250 million businesses and places, so you can find a destination and the bus route to it in one step, then use Lens in Maps for walking directions to the stop. Offline maps help in areas with bad signal. What it lacks, compared with Transit or Citymapper, is a transit-first screen: the listing does not mention departure alarms, get-off alerts or crowd-reported ETAs. Google also notes that some features are not available in all countries or cities. It is free, holds a 4.7 rating from 7.4 million ratings and shows 10B+ downloads on Google Play. We compared documented features and published prices only.

Who it is for

Riders who want one free app for buses, walking and finding places, on iPhone, Android or the web.

Price

Free; in-app purchases on the US App Store are Google storage plans, not Maps features.

Places, navigation & traffic Free
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 10, 2026.

Key features

• Public transport directions with real-time updates
• Walking, cycling and ride-share options in the same search
• Offline maps for areas with bad signal
• Lens in Maps overlays walking directions on the real world
• Search across 250M+ businesses and places

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Free on iPhone, Android and the web
• Strength: Finds the destination and the bus route in one search
• Strength: 10B+ downloads on Google Play
• Weakness: Not a dedicated transit app, so no stop alarms are listed
• Weakness: Some features are not available in all countries or cities
• Weakness: The largest download here at 487.2 MB

Key facts

• App Store rating: 4.7 from 7.4M ratings
• Google Play downloads: 10B+
• Places: 250M+
• App size: 487.2 MB
• Age rating: 4+

Where it ranks

Google Maps is No. 3 in our Best Map Apps for Bus Routes verdict and No. 1 in Best Free GPS Navigation Apps.