We're thrilled to announce that CoMaps Android release 2025.06.10 is now live on the F-Droid app catalogue!
This is a big step forward in our mission to provide a privacy-respecting, community-powered navigation app to everyone.
Why F-Droid?
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Free and Open Source: F-Droid ensures that the apps listed contain no closed / proprietary parts. All apps are built by F-Droid itself and are guaranteed to correspond to source code made available by apps' developers.
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Community: F-Droid is a volunteer-driven project, aligning perfectly with our values and the support of the amazing people who use CoMaps.
Get CoMaps on F-Droid
- Install F-Droid: Download F-Droid from f-droid.org
- Install CoMaps: Search "CoMaps" in F-Droid, install
We're excited to bring CoMaps to the F-Droid community. Thank you for being a part of this journey with us! ❤️
Looks like it's some Organic Maps / Maps.me fork: https://www.comaps.app/news/2025-05-29/ITs-FOSS-NEWS--Organic-Maps-Forked-Over-Governance-Concerns-CoMaps-is-Born/
The Organic Maps shareholders closed parts of the code, added Kayak advertising and there is a risk that they will sell the project for their own profit.
The Open Letter to Organic Maps Shareholders from April provides some details.
I think the key issue was lack of transparency around donations from the OrganicMaps owners. Article summary: https://www.comaps.app/news/2025-05-29/ITs-FOSS-NEWS--Organic-Maps-Forked-Over-Governance-Concerns-CoMaps-is-Born/ The open letter that startet CoMaps: https://openletter.earth/open-letter-to-organic-maps-shareholders-a0bf770c
The Organic Maps project was described as community-driven, but shareholders were making a number of decisions without the community's input, and even without the community being aware that decisions are being made. While the use of donations is concerning, it wasn't the main problem. When people contribute their time and money to the project so that it can be for the entire community, but it turns out the shareholders are open to selling the contributors' work for their own profit - that becomes problematic. After Maps.me was sold, it added paid subscriptions and a crypto wallet, which destroyed the entire experience. And it appears Organic Maps risks the same problem.