After Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi pushed for adopting Swadeshi techonology, IT Minister Ahswini Vasihnaw advocated the use of Zoho apps as a perfect replacement to Microsoft 365 and Google Workplace. Now, another Swadeshi replacement for Google Maps has come to the spotlight. The Mappls app, developed by MapmyIndia and available on all platforms, has won the Atmanirbhar Bharat App Award and has over 30 million downloads.
Let's compare Mappls with Google Maps across several key dimensions. This comparison will focus on features relevant to the Indian context, satellite coverage, and other technical aspects, aiming to determine which platform might be superior for Indian users in line with the Swadeshi initiative.
1. Satellite Coverage and Imagery Quality
Google Maps:
- Google Maps boasts extensive global satellite coverage, with high-resolution imagery updated regularly. In India, it provides detailed aerial and satellite views, often within a few years of capture. The platform leverages data from various sources, including Landsat and commercial satellites, ensuring broad coverage.
- Street View, introduced in India in 2022 after an 11-year wait due to regulatory hurdles, now covers over 50 cities, offering 360-degree panoramic views. However, this feature is still expanding and not as comprehensive as in Western countries.
- Google Maps also integrates 3D building models and terrain data, enhancing the visual experience, especially in urban areas.
Mappls:
- Mappls relies on indigenous data collection, which means its satellite imagery might not be as frequently updated or as globally sourced as Google Maps. However, it claims to offer hyperlocal and precise maps, particularly for Indian addresses down to house numbers.
- Mappls does not currently offer a Street View equivalent but provides 360-degree panoramic images through its RealView feature, which is less extensive but focused on key locations.
- The satellite imagery on Mappls is tailored for Indian users, potentially offering more relevant data for local navigation but may lack the global breadth of Google Maps.
Verdict: Google Maps currently has superior satellite coverage and imagery quality, especially for global comparisons and frequent updates. Mappls, while focused on India, may not match this breadth yet. MapMyIndia says that it constantly innovates to unlock new features in the future.
2. Navigation and Routing Accuracy
Google Maps:
- Google Maps is renowned for its accurate navigation, leveraging real-time traffic data, historical traffic patterns, and user contributions. It supports multiple modes of transport, including driving, walking, cycling, and public transit, with detailed transit schedules integrated from over 800 providers globally.
- Features like live traffic updates, incident reports, and alternative routes are highly reliable, making it a preferred choice for both urban and rural navigation in India.
- The platform also offers features like glanceable directions on mobile devices, enhancing user experience during navigation.
Mappls:
- Mappls claims to offer precise navigation with features like 3D junction views, which are particularly useful in complex Indian road networks. It also provides live traffic monitoring and safety alerts, such as speed breakers and traffic camera locations.
- The app supports offline navigation, which is advantageous in areas with poor internet connectivity, a common issue in parts of India.
- However, user feedback suggests that Mappls can be slower and less intuitive compared to Google Maps, with some reporting inaccuracies in ETA and route suggestions.
Verdict: Google Maps generally offers more accurate and user-friendly navigation, especially for real-time updates and public transit. Mappls excels in offline capabilities and hyperlocal features but needs improvement in speed and reliability.
3. User Interface and Experience
Google Maps:
- Google Maps has a polished, intuitive interface available across web, Android, and iOS platforms. It supports multiple languages and is designed for ease of use, with features like voice-guided navigation and customisable map styles.
- The integration with other Google services, such as Google Search and Google Assistant, enhances functionality, allowing seamless transitions between tasks like searching for places and getting directions.
- However, some users criticise the increasing focus on social and gamified features, which might detract from core navigation purposes.
Mappls:
- Mappls' interface is functional but often described as bulky and less polished compared to Google Maps. It offers unique features like Mappls Pin (a 6-character digital address system) and hyperlocal social discovery, which are innovative but may overwhelm new users.
- The app supports CarPlay integration, which is a significant advantage for Indian drivers, but the overall user experience can be slower and less responsive.
- Mappls is actively working on improvements based on user feedback, but it currently lags behind Google Maps in terms of seamless design and performance.
Verdict: Google Maps provides a superior user interface and experience, with a more intuitive design and better performance. Mappls has potential but needs significant enhancements to compete on this front.
4. Data Privacy and Localisation
Google Maps:
- Google Maps collects extensive user data, including location history, search queries, and interaction patterns, which raises privacy concerns. While features like Incognito mode and data management options exist, the platform's global nature means data is processed outside India.
- The service adheres to international privacy laws but has faced scrutiny in India over data localization and security, especially with features like Street View.
Mappls:
- Mappls emphasises data privacy and localisation, storing and processing data within India, aligning with the Swadeshi and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives. This is a significant advantage for users concerned about data sovereignty.
- The app collects less data compared to Google Maps, focusing on essential navigation and location services, which might appeal to privacy-conscious users.
- However, the trade-off is potentially less robust data analytics and feature development due to limited data volume.
Verdict: Mappls is better for data privacy and localization, making it a stronger choice for Indian users prioritizing these aspects. Google Maps, while more feature-rich, poses greater privacy risks.
5. Support for Swadeshi and Local Development
Google Maps:
- Google Maps, despite its utility, is a foreign-developed platform, and its profits largely benefit international stakeholders. While it employs local talent and partners with Indian entities (e.g., for Street View data collection), the core technology and decision-making remain outside India.
- The platform's dominance can stifle local innovation, as smaller Indian tech firms struggle to compete.
Mappls:
- Mappls is a homegrown solution, developed entirely in India, supporting local talent and innovation. It aligns perfectly with the Swadeshi push, as advocated by PM Modi, and contributes to the Indian economy.
- The app has received recognition, including the Atmanirbhar Bharat App Award, and is actively promoted by the government, enhancing its credibility and adoption.
Verdict: Mappls is unequivocally better in supporting Swadeshi and local development, fulfilling the ideological and economic goals of the initiative.
6. Additional Features and Ecosystem Integration
Google Maps:
- Google Maps integrates with a vast ecosystem, including Google Search, Gmail, and third-party apps, offering a cohesive experience. Features like business listings, reviews, and augmented reality navigation (Live View) add value.
- The platform supports developers extensively through APIs, enabling businesses to build location-based services.
Mappls:
- Mappls offers unique features like Digipin for simplified addressing, IoT integration for vehicle tracking, and bespoke solutions for enterprises. These are tailored for Indian needs but are less known globally.
- The ecosystem is smaller, with fewer integrations compared to Google, but it focuses on B2B solutions, which could be advantageous for Indian businesses.
Verdict: Google Maps has a more extensive feature set and ecosystem, beneficial for broader applications. Mappls' features are niche and locally relevant but lack the scale and integration of Google Maps.
Conclusion: Which is Better?
For Indian users aligning with the Swadeshi initiative and prioritising data privacy, Mappls is the better choice. Its focus on local development, data localisation, and support for Indian innovation aligns with national goals. However, for those seeking the most accurate, feature-rich, and globally competitive mapping solution, Google Maps currently holds the edge, particularly in satellite coverage, navigation accuracy, and user experience.
As Mappls continues to improve based on user feedback and government backing, it may close the gap, but as of now, Google Maps remains the superior option for comprehensive mapping needs in India.
