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Navfree USA: Free Satnav (pictures)

Navfree USA is about as basic as navigation apps get, but its ability to store local map data, its frequent updates, and the fact that it's free make it an invaluable tool for Android navigation.

Antuan Goodwin

Aug. 2, 2012 5:50 p.m. PT

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Offline maps

One of Navfree's major selling points is that it stores its map data locally on your phone, so you won't need to connect to the Internet just to drive home. Custom voices and language packs can also be downloaded.

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Map downloads

Maps for all 50 states, plus Canada and Mexico, can be downloaded for free. A "Download All" option would be nice for cross-country road trips and wandering types.

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Wi-Fi recommended

California's maps took up about 250MB, so I'd recommend you make sure the device is connected to Wi-Fi before plunging in with the download.

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Map screen

Once under way, Navfree's map interface doesn't look dramatically different from that of a Garmin, TomTom, or Google Maps device.

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Night mode

Night mode, accessible through the options menu, darkens the map to preserve your night vision when driving at night.

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Main menu

Navfree's menu seems simple, but it's actually rather redundant. Many of the options visible here are also available in adjacent submenus.

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Route guidance

Route calculation was fast, as was recalculation while driving. There's an option to avoid certain road features, such as tolls, ferries, or highways.

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Worth the money

It's not the most fully featured navigation software available for Android, but it gets the job done in a manner that may be good enough for users with low data caps.

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Work in progress

Some of the features visible in the menus haven't fully baked, such as integration with your contacts list. This is free, open-source software, so we won't judge it too harshly for still being "under construction."

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Destination options

When used on a device with an Internet connection, Navfree can initiate a Google Search for destinations. Otherwise, you're stuck with its limited local database and simple address entry.

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2D view

The map can be switched between 2D and 3D views. The app also can issue speed limit and safety camera warnings.

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Driving Safety view

If the mere sight of a moving map is too distracting, this Driving Safety view provides a simplified readout of the next turn, the direction, and the distance remaining.

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