New Google Maps alternative has a feature that has everyone saying the underdogs might truly be taking over
Published on Mar 07, 2026 at 6:13 PM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Mar 03, 2026 at 6:06 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
A new Google Maps alternative has introduced a feature that may enable the underdogs of the app world to overtake the major players.
The debate about which navigation app is better has been going on for a while, with Google Maps, Apple Maps, and Waze seen as the ‘big three’ of the navigation world.
But a new contender has recently emerged, going by the name MapQuest, and it’s bringing new features that could change the game.
In fact, its latest update is a significant one, and it might well be that the underdog will one day suddenly take over.
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This is what MapQuest is bringing with its significant update
One of the biggest features on Google Maps is its real-time traffic data.
The app can see what’s going on the roads ahead of you, whether traffic is heavy or if there is an accident.
It can then offer alternative routes to get you to your destination quicker.
Google Maps has offered this for some time; however, its rival, MapQuest, has suddenly caught up.
The update has seen the app get a new traffic layer, and that has introduced real-time traffic data.
It’s a firm sign that the underdog applications are beginning to catch up and rival the big players.
For many, this traffic data is the main reason for using one app over another.
However, it isn’t the only feature that has been added in MapQuest’s recent big update.
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How the Google Maps alternative is becoming a serious player
An update earlier in February also introduced lane guidance to MapQuest.
The big rivals have offered this for a while, so it’s another sign that the app is catching up.
Another small tweak was made to the satellite mode.
The app now retains the satellite layer activated by the user.
Basically, if you close and relaunch the app, it will remember what map layer settings you used previously.
In addition to this, another update allowed users to tap on the navigation header.
This gave a full list of directions and helped make navigation a little bit easier.
One bonus of MapQuest is that it works on Apple CarPlay.
So you can get its instructions on a larger screen.
For now, Google Maps, Waze, and Apple Maps are the three main navigation applications, but MapQuest is becoming a serious Google Maps alternative, and doing so at a vast rate of knots.
A brief history of Google Maps
February 2005: Officially launched as a desktop web service, revolutionizing digital mapping with draggable maps and satellite imagery.
May 2007: Introduced Street View, a groundbreaking feature providing 360-degree panoramic views of streets worldwide.
October 2009: Released free turn-by-turn voice navigation for mobile, effectively disrupting the paid standalone GPS hardware market.
February 2023: Rolled out ‘Immersive View’, which uses AI to fuse billions of Street View and aerial images into 3D representations of routes and landmarks.
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Henry joined the Supercar Blondie team in February 2025, and since then has covered a wide array of topics ranging from EVs, American barn finds, and the odd Cold War jet. He’s combined his passion for cars with his keen interest in motorsport and his side hustle as a volunteer steam locomotive fireman at a heritage steam railway.
