Cheap satnav or app for smartphone - suggestions please

[Lilymaid]

We are thinking of buying DS a cheap satnav or smartphone app as he has been borrowing ours. Any recommendations? He just needs something to cover the UK.

[Lilymaid]

Thanks for that. DS reckons that Google Maps is as good as a satnav - I don't know (we really prefer to use old fashioned paper maps and concoct our own routes and diversions, leaving the satnav for use in towns).

[readyforno2]

I use google maps. It's really easy

[RitaConnors]

Google maps us as good as satnav. Better probably as the maps are so up to date.

[Politelydeclining]

I'm a recent Waze app convert. It's brilliant.

[FlintAndTinder]

My husband uses google maps to navigate. He likes it a lot. For someone doing relatively uncomplicated UK driving, I'd probably recommend it. It reads traffic data in real time so it can be very accurate. And it's free!

I paid £45 for a tomtom app four or five years ago. It's a monster app at 2GB but mine covers all of Western Europe and is available offline - very handy when you travel abroad a lot as the maps are already downloaded and it only uses GPS so no roaming needed. And I find it super clear when it comes to taking ramps/lanes on motorways, avoiding tolls etc. Google relies on 3G coverage and isn't always very clear I find.

[Cindy34]

Waze - free, does real time traffic.

[AllThreeWays]

Google maps works well but relies on constant data use, I recommend NavFree, as once download you don't need a data connection and it wont use up your data allowance

[westcountrywoman]

Google Maps is only ok if you're travelling in areas with good mobile data coverage and have a good data allowance on your tariff as the maps load as you go, rather than store on your phone. I live in Devon and it's useless as so many areas have either no mobile signal at all, or phone signal but poor data coverage (no 3G, only GPRS or Edge).

[PedroYoniLikesCrisps]

Google maps navigation allows you to preload portions of maps so you don't have to rely on data. I've been using Google maps for 6 years and never had any navigation issues with it.