Google Maps is the world's most popular navigation app — but it's built for everyone, not specifically for tourists. CityNav fills the gaps that matter most when you're in an unfamiliar city: offline transit maps, AR walking overlays, and a built-in SOS emergency button.
Try CityNav Free →| Feature | CityNav | Google Maps |
|---|---|---|
| Offline transit maps | ✅ 28 major cities, no data needed | ⚠️ Limited offline support; requires pre-download |
| CityNav includes pre-loaded transit data for all 28 cities. | ||
| AR walking navigation | ✅ Camera-overlay with live compass arrows | ❌ Not available |
| CityNav's AR overlay shows directional arrows in your camera view. | ||
| SOS emergency button | ✅ Sends GPS location via SMS to your contacts | ❌ Not available |
| CityNav's SOS sends your live coordinates to saved contacts. | ||
| Tourist transit focus | ✅ Pass tips, tourist-specific routes, 28 cities | ⚠️ General purpose — not tourist-specific |
| CityNav surfaces the best tourist travel pass for each city. | ||
| Turn-by-turn driving | ✅ Waze-style with maneuver icons | ✅ Full driving navigation with Street View |
| Real-time traffic | ✅ Included via Google Maps integration | ✅ Industry-leading traffic data |
| Street View | ❌ Not included | ✅ Available globally |
| Google Maps Street View lets you preview destinations visually. | ||
| Free to use | ✅ Core navigation free; AR & SOS from £1.99 | ✅ Completely free |
Walking directions, driving navigation, offline transit maps for 28 cities, and an SOS emergency button — all in one tourist-focused app. No download required.
Open CityNav — Free →Yes. CityNav includes fully offline transit data for all 28 supported cities. You can plan routes and view station information without any mobile data, making it ideal for international travel where roaming charges apply. Google Maps requires you to manually download offline maps and has limited transit support in offline mode.
Yes — CityNav has its own AR walking navigation that overlays directional arrows on your camera view using your device's compass and GPS. This works across all supported cities and does not require the Google ecosystem.
CityNav is specifically designed for tourists, with features Google Maps does not offer: an SOS emergency button, tourist-specific transit pass recommendations, and AR walking navigation — all wrapped in a mobile-first interface designed for exploring unfamiliar cities.
For international tourists, yes. CityNav pre-loads full transit data for all 28 supported cities so it works without any mobile data — critical when roaming abroad. Google Maps transit directions require an internet connection and its offline transit support is limited. CityNav also recommends the best-value tourist transit pass for each city.
Yes. CityNav includes full Waze-style turn-by-turn driving navigation with speed alerts, rerouting, and manoeuvre icons — free with no account required. Both apps offer driving directions, but CityNav adds an SOS emergency button and offline transit so you can switch modes when you park and explore on foot.
No. Google Maps does not have a built-in SOS emergency feature. CityNav's SOS button sends your live GPS coordinates and a tracking link via SMS to up to three emergency contacts by holding the button for three seconds. This is especially useful when travelling solo in unfamiliar cities.
CityNav is the better choice for tourists in London. It covers all 11 London Underground lines offline, surfaces the best Oyster and contactless fare strategy, includes AR walking arrows for navigating unfamiliar streets, and has an SOS button. Google Maps is excellent for general navigation but lacks these tourist-specific tools.
Yes — this is a feature Google Maps does not offer. CityNav recommends the best-value tourist transit pass for each supported city (for example, the Oyster daily cap in London, or the Paris Navigo Découverte for multi-day trips). Google Maps shows routes but does not advise on which ticket to buy.