There’s a strong case to be made for Google Maps being the single best smartphone app around. Yes, even on iPhone. Since it launched on mobile in 2008, Google has spent the past two decades improving its mapping service, with new features, visual overhauls, and, of course, the introduction of AI.
I’ve been using Google Maps on smartphones since the app first launched, and over those 18 years, I’ve witnessed these changes first-hand. It’s been an invaluable travel companion as I’ve ventured around the world, but in 2026, Google Maps is so much more than a simple mapping app.
