Alternative to Google Maps?

Have you looked at Bing Maps, Microsoft's competitor of Google Maps? I do not know for sure what it does for historical names but it offers street view and spoken directions. I am pretty sure that most map services based in the US change the name of locations for users in the US when the US Geographic Names Information System makes a name change.

Supposedly, the real name is supposed to be displayed for users outside the US. That is not the case where I am in Mexico- apparently Google Maps thinks it's OK t use both names. My daughter in Canada reports the same. No Bueno Google

Organic Maps says Gulf of Mexico. However there is no street view and I find it very difficult to use. It is very similar to maps.me
WAZE worked good several years ago for driving directions in southern Italy but I haven’t used it since that trip.

Can you use Apple maps if you're not on Apple devices?

Note also that it is easy to report errors in Google Maps by clicking on the 'more' ellipsis three dots button and suggest a correction.

Apple Maps now also has updated a previous historical geographic name, so that's not a good alternative.

Note also that it is easy to report errors in Google Maps by clicking on the 'more' ellipsis three dots button and suggest a correction.

On my Account any report function for the Gulf of Mexico has been blocked .REALLY no Bueno. But it answers a question about the bosses at Google I didn't think I'd have to ask

Waze is owned by Google so you’re going to run into the same situation there.

And as others have pointed out most large companies like Google and Apple are switching over to the official recognized name. I’m not happy about it either, but I don’t know of any good alternative and quite frankly, that is the least of my worries right now with this administration.

For what it’s worth, I believe that Google paused the reports on the name because of the high volume of reports they were getting. It was probably overwhelming their staff. I’m sure they know what most people think about it though.

Try Open Street Maps or OsmAnd. The interfaces are not the same (as gmaps) but, they have good privacy features.

20 years ago I thought Google Maps was useful. Over time, it has become more of an advertising medium and its usefulness for mapping purpose has deteriorated. In particular, it's always been pitiful in displaying hydrographic names, which makes the kerfuffle over the name of that body of water all the more ridiculous.

It still has the best street views available, however, including the ability to go back in time for places they've photographed multiple times over the years.

So I have a compromise. I don't have the Google Maps app on my phone anymore. Instead, I use Apple maps, Organic Maps and Iphigénie (this last one is a French paid service). But if I want to see a street view, I load Google Maps on a web browser temporarily, take a look, and then close it. I don't log in to any Google account or anything and I block cookies to the best of my ability. As a general rule, I do my best to minimize use of Google products.

There are not a lot of good alternatives for what you are looking for in the US.

Depending on the country, there might be better maps to use that are region specific. For example, South Korea has a better app for maps because they don't let Google have access to all of the mapping information due to the regional political issues.

I want to mention the issue of Google changing names and borders depending on where the viewer is located has been an issue for many years, we are just noticing it here.

I do not like the concept and the resulting low quality of Google Maps.

Check here.com which is used by car manufacturers for their navigation systems.

Sygic GPS Navigation is also worth to try.

Apparently for general duty use it's hard to beat lGoogle Maps. I've read a lot of reviews, with a few exceptions they pretty much come up like this one. See if their #2 has what you are looking for: https://www.pcmag.com/picks/apple-maps-vs-google-maps-vs-waze-the-best-navigation-apps-for-your-phone

Waze is the one that came closest to Google in several reviews I read.

Thanks everyone.

I'll take a look at your suggestions.