Justin O’Beirne:

Both are the default mapping apps on their respective operating systems (Android and iOS). And both are in a race to become the world’s first Universal Map — that is, the first map used by a majority of the global population. In many ways, this makes Google Maps & Apple Maps two of the most important maps ever made.

Who will get there first? And will design be a factor?

In this series of essays, we’ll compare and contrast the cartographic designs of Google Maps and Apple Maps. We’ll take a look at what’s on each map and how each map is styled, and we’ll also try to uncover the biggest differences between the two.

While O’Beirne “designed and led the development of Apple’s cartography” and therefore might be considered biased, this is nonetheless a (very) long and interesting discussion of the differences and similarities of the two apps. I’m directionally-challenged so these kinds of discussions are really interesting to me. I still prefer a dedicated GPS device but occasionally need to use one of several iOS apps in order to find my way around and can see some huge differences in the way these two apps present information.