17+ Google Maps Statistics to Survey in 2023

Updated · May 20, 2023

Our traveling habits and traffic changed during the pandemic. This, in turn, affected the use of navigation apps. While adaptation to the new situation was difficult for all companies, some had a better chance of succeeding than others.

Compared to Google Maps, the other most popular navigation apps, like Waze and Android Auto, don’t stand a chance.

Read our list of Google Maps statistics to find out how the app performed during the years and how it’s always up-to-date.

Fascinating Facts About Google Maps

  • Google Maps is the most popular navigation app in the US.
  • The app surpassed 23 million downloads in 2020.
  • Google Maps has 154.4 million monthly users.
  • Nearly five million live websites use Google Maps.
  • In 2018, 67% of all mapping app users relied on Google Maps.
  • Google Maps users contribute 20+ million pieces of information per day.
  • Google Maps uses 5MB of data per hour.

General Google Maps Statistics

We start with some general facts to give you an idea of the scope of this platform.

1. Google Maps provides $200 worth of services per month for free.

(Source: Google Cloud)

In 2018, the Google Maps platform split into Maps, Routes, and Places. For all three, you get $200 worth of services for free each month.

So, is Google Maps free to use?

Yes, provided you don’t exceed the monthly limit.

Otherwise, getting directions would cost you $5 per 1,000 requests. The same goes for geocoding—converting addresses to and from geographic coordinates. Static and dynamic street view cost $7 and $14, respectively, per 1,000 requests each, and so on.

The good news is that the monthly Google Maps usage limit is enough for most users.

2. Google Maps marketing optimization can increase the visibility of your business.

(Sources: WordStream)

Listing your business on Google Maps isn’t just about making it easier to find. You can apply SEO techniques to improve your Google Maps ranking.

Whenever someone is looking for a certain type of place, multiple Google Search and Maps results pop up. Make sure your venue’s location is on top to increase the popularity of your business.

3. On average, Google Maps uses 5MB of data per hour.

(Source: Ting)

Data usage is an important aspect to consider when choosing a navigation app. After all, running out of data in the middle of nowhere doesn’t sound like a fun scenario.

Fortunately, the Google Maps data usage is only around 5MB per hour while navigating. It does use more when setting the destination, but that problem has a simple solution.

4. You can download areas of the maps and use the app offline.

(Source: Ting)

That way, you can save data and use Google Maps offline. All you need to do is download the map while you’re connected to the internet and update your maps before you disconnect.

Google Maps Usage Statistics

As we mentioned, Google Maps is the most popular navigation app. Let’s see how that translates in numbers.

5. Google Maps has 154.4 million monthly users.

(Source: iMapping)

Having been around for so long and coming preinstalled with most Android smartphones, the platform gathered a considerable user base. The Google Maps competitors don’t stand a chance.

Even combined, Waze (25.6 million) and Apple Maps (23.3 million) can’t reach half the user count of Google Maps.

(Source: Statista)

It’s hard to tell exactly how many people use Google Maps today, but one thing is for sure. Google Maps is the most popular platform of its kind.

According to Statista, it reached 23.4 million downloads in 2020. Waze and Android Auto came second and third, with 11.2 and 5.9 million, respectively.

7. In 2012, Apple Maps took away 23 million active Google Maps users.

(Source: Vivial)

The app might dominate the market today, but the Google Maps story isn’t all roses.

Shortly following the release of iPhone 5, the Google navigation app surpassed 81 million users. This is when Apple's offensive took place.

The company started including Apple Maps instead of Google Maps in their operating system. Consequently, Google Maps lost ten million active users in just about a month.

And that’s nothing compared to the overall damage. Google Maps ultimately lost 23 million users.

8. Google Maps has 4.1 million ratings on the App Store.

(Source: Google Play Store)

Google Maps statistics show that the app not only recovered from the Apple hit with ease but is still way ahead of other navigation platforms.

Google Maps has a 4.7 rating on the App Store and 3.8 on Google Play based on 4.1 and 14.1 million user opinions, respectively. In comparison, only 4.3K people rated Waze on the App Store (and 8.3 million on Google Play).

But here’s the plot twist: in 2013, Google bought Waze.

We think it’s safe to assume that Google still has the upper hand.

9. 67% of all navigation app users preferred Google Maps in July 2018.

(Source: The Manifest)

Google Maps stats reveal that 77% of all smartphone users turn to navigation apps regularly. 67% of those prefer Google Maps, while only 12% use Waze. Apple Maps is even lower at 11%, and MapQuest is at 8%.

According to The Manifest, the reason for this is that Google Maps offers more information than the competition.

10. In 2021, Google Maps reached 54% of all smartphone users.

(Source: Statista)

As of June 2021, Google Maps was the third smartphone app in terms of audience reach in the US. It’s only behind YouTube, with 71%, and Facebook, which sits at 62%.

It’s not very far ahead, though, as Google Maps, Google Search, and Gmail are all in the 53%-54% area.

If you found this Google Maps news impressive, wait till you hear the rest. Facebook Messenger, Google Play, and Instagram are all behind Google Maps, and Apple Maps is nowhere to be seen.

11. Almost five million live websites use Google Maps.

(Source: Built With)

Say you’re a business owner. Why just include your address when you can embed Google Maps and show the location of your venue on your website?

Today, Google Maps has a great reputation in terms of marketing, and nearly five million live website owners recognize that.

12. Out of the top one million sites, around 100,000 use Google Maps in 2021.

(Source: Built With)

This looked even better for the Google Maps market share before Covid-19.

At the start of the pandemic, around 125,000 of the top one million websites used Google Maps. Today’s numbers are still pretty impressive, though. Instead of every eight, every tenth site uses the app.

The number also decreased for the 100k and 10k most popular websites in the world.

For the former, the number fell from around 17,500 in H1 2020 to around 14,000 a year later. The latter dropped from around 2,500 to just shy of 2,000 during the same time period.

Google Maps Accuracy Statistics

Google Maps’ popularity is undeniable. But how accurate is it?

13. Navigation app users believe Google Maps gives the best directions.

(Source: The Manifest)

25% of smartphone navigation app users appreciate the app for the clear directions it gives. 17% consider it the best source for directions for non-drivers.

These Google Maps stats also show that 20% use it because it offers their preferred features. Another 20% like the interface.

14. TripAdvisor users believe Google Maps is not too accurate.

(Source: TripAdvisor)

How accurate are Google Maps travel time estimations?

If you ask TripAdvisor users, they’ll probably tell you they’re a bit off—usually, too optimistic. Some claim the app doesn’t take into account certain factors, such as the weather.

However, most of these comments were made years ago. The reason why users praise the app is that it’s constantly updated.

15. Ancoris case study from February 2021 deems Google Maps’ time calculations accurate.

(Source: Ancoris)

This Premium Google Cloud Partner states Google Maps is much more accurate than before.

Does Google Maps overestimate driving time? According to Ancoris, it was on point 23% of the time. It overestimated the journey length 38% of the time and underestimated it 39% of the time.

This research was based on 56 journeys with an average length of 18 miles and a duration of 32 minutes. The average journey time difference was 1.8 minutes.

This is excellent considering how hard it is to predict traffic.

Of course, they have excluded trips with more serious traffic accidents.

16. Google Maps traffic statistics predict the time necessary to reach a destination.

(Source: GeoAwesomeness)

With the help of machine learning, this app can predict the amount of traffic on your route. It does so by analyzing historical patterns, road quality, and average speeds. Local data, such as speed limits and restricted movement areas, is also considered.

Google Maps also updated its algorithm to adjust to the COVID-19 pandemic changes. It now prioritizes data from the previous two to four weeks.

Google Maps Updates

We end our list of Google Maps stats with a few more curious facts about the platform.

17. You can create a Google Maps intent.

(Source: Google Maps Platform)

Tech-savvy users will be glad to hear that the Android version of this app supports the so-called “intents.” They allow you to:

  • Search for a certain place and display it on a map;
  • Request driving, walking, or cycling directions from one place to another;
  • Use Google Street View to display panorama imagery;
  • Display a map at a certain place and zoom level.

18. Google Maps users add more than 20 million pieces of info every day.

(Source: Google Cloud)

New Google Maps info doesn’t come solely from satellite imagery and Street View cars. Users also play an important role in keeping the app fresh.

The company behind Google Maps relies on machine learning to integrate that data and continuously improve the platform.

19. 1.3% of all web searches in February 2018 were performed on Google Maps.

(Source: SparkToro)

This is significantly less than the 3% in November 2015. But this decrease doesn’t necessarily reveal a loss in the number of Google Maps users.

It’s more likely related to the growing number of Google searches used as a starting point for a journey.

20. Google Maps relies on almost 21 petabytes of data.

(Source: BroadBandSearch)

Hard drives of today usually have a storage capacity of one or even several terabytes. Now imagine having over 20,500!

According to Google Maps stats, that’s how much space Google Earth’s satellite imagery takes up. And Google Maps relies on all of it.

Wrap Up

We hope you found the answers to your questions and learned something new about the platform. Or at least had a good time navigating through our list of Google Maps statistics.

Until next time, we wish you a good trip!

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Nick Galov
Nick Galov

Unaware that life beyond the internet exists, Nick is poking servers and control panels, playing with WordPress add-ons, and helping people get the hosting that suits them.