News

Copy-pasting my own comment:

For using OSM on Android (edit: and iOS):

• I use OsmAnd, which is free on F-Droid. It's very feature-rich, and I can customize it pretty much exactly how I like. There's a good tutorial for beginners here.
• However, some people prefer the simplicity of the app CoMaps, which is available for Android, iOS, macOS, and Linux (Flathub). It's a fork of Organic Maps that arose over disagreements with Organic's governance (see: open letter).
• There are also specialty apps like Alpi Maps for more specialized uses of OSM (in Alpi Maps' case, hiking).

For contributing to OSM on Android:

• I use Vespucci for more complex edits on Android, so things like adding features. (The rough iOS equivalent is Go Map!!.)
• I use StreetComplete for a more trimmed-down, gamified experience. It isn't a power user experience like Vespucci, but it's often really useful if you're just on the go and want to make small but meaningful contributions.

The easiest way I've found to contribute local information is the iD editor on desktop; it's the one that pops up if you click 'Edit' on OpenStreetMap.org. It strikes a good balance between user-friendliness and power user stuff. For full-on power users, JOSM is a good option. And the easiest way to contribute in a limited way is StreetComplete, which will ask you questions about existing features (like "does this traffic signal have a walk button for pedestrians?")

The OpenStreetMap Wiki is a great general resource for using and contributing.

Use CoMaps. It's a privacy-first app that pulls their map data from OpenStreetMaps. If something is inaccurate on the map, you can edit it on OSM and it'll populate to most map services. I've made changes and seen it pop up on Google Maps too.

I downloaded CoMaps from F-Droid (https://f-droid.org/), just to avoid the Google Play Store. Slowly de-Googling my life...

I don't know if there is an iOS version. Apple is the OG evil company, long before Google got rid of their "Don't Be Evil" motto, so I avoid their products. Now I'm trying to get off Android stuff too, but there aren't many alternatives right now.

EDIT: Someone else linked a website for CoMaps and it does have an iOS app. Also an Apple and Linux desktop program. No Windows though.

CoMaps is a great app for iOS and Android. Cleaner interface than OsmAnd. FOSS and uses open street maps.

FYI, here are the PrivacyGuides recommendations:

https://www.privacyguides.org/en/maps/

But but we at OSM have interminable discussion about how to map several flavors of lgbtq stuff. Surely that must count for something?! Also here is an OSM project to show these places https://pkoby.github.io/LGBTQmap/#13/51.4979/-0.0887 And here's a map with just the rainbow pedestrian crossing https://mapcomplete.org/rainbow_crossings

I was about to pivot to CoMaps but then saw this mapquest thing taking off.....

One way or another, Google is out. GrapheneOS is in this week.

It also misses a ton of roadworks in my area, so it's quite literally unusuable. More than half the time it will try to route me along a closed road