How Much Data Does Google Maps Use? (Plus How to Use It Offline)

That’s especially true when it comes to travel. Our phones are cameras, messaging systems, emergency communication equipment, reservation software, music and video streaming devices, and GPS units. When you’re on the road, Google Maps can be your best friend, guiding you through places you’ve never seen before and helping you discover the best restaurants and attractions nearby.

But how much data does Google Maps actually use? If you’re travelling on your home SIM card, using a lot of data can create an absolutely massive bill for you when you get home.

The good news is, Google Maps doesn’t use all that much data. Generally, it’ll use only a few megabytes per hour. But that depends on how you use it. If you browse photos, load satellite imagery, and constantly search for places to go, you’ll use more than you would just by following simple directions.

Let’s look at just how much data Google Maps uses on your phone. We’ll also examine some ways you can use this ultra-handy app without chewing through your data allowance.

How Much Data Does Google Maps Use?

Annoyingly, Google doesn’t publish an official figure on how much data Google Maps uses per hour. Maybe that’s because it varies so much based on how you use it.

That said, independent testing gives us a good idea.

For example, WhistleOut ran a test of Google Maps and found it averaged 0.73MB for every 20 minutes of navigation. That’s less than you’d use streaming a single song on Spotify at normal quality, if that helps put it in perspective.

That’s under test conditions, so for real-world usage, you could budget around 3 to 5MB per hour while navigating with Google Maps. Your route, your settings, and how much map information is already cached on your phone will all influence this figure, but it’s a pretty solid ballpark estimate.

Why Does Google Maps Use So Little Data?

Given how unbelievably handy it is while you’re travelling, it’s slightly surprising that Google Maps uses as little data as it does. The trick is that it doesn’t download everything you see while you’re navigating a new place.

Your GPS connection doesn’t need mobile data. If you’ve ever opened Google Maps on a plane, you may have noticed that, while it’s much slower to load the map, your phone can still find where you are using GPS alone. So keeping track of your location doesn’t require much data at all.

Google Maps does use your internet connection for other tasks, though. It downloads map information, searches destinations, calculates routes, and retrieves live traffic information over your mobile or Wi-Fi connection.

Typically, it loads most of this information at the start of your journey. Then, once you’re en route, it only needs a small amount of data to keep you moving along.

What Uses the Most Data in Google Maps?

Keeping track of that little blue dot that represents you on the screen isn’t a big problem. What really chews up data is when you start actively exploring within Google Maps. That means:

• Viewing satellite imagery
• Opening Street View
• Browsing photos of businesses and attractions
• Repeatedly zooming and moving around the map
• Searching for new places
• Loading reviews and business information
• Refreshing live information

All of these activities can start to make a substantial hole in your data allowance. So if you’re travelling with a hard limit on the data you can use, you may want to save the research and Street View exploration for when you’re back at the hotel or on Wi-Fi. When you’re out exploring in the real world, it’s a good idea to try to limit Maps to turn-by-turn directions.

Does Google Maps Use Data While Driving?

Usually, yes, but not a lot. When you’re driving, Google Maps constantly updates so it can alert you to new road conditions and even reroute you if necessary. That will definitely consume some data. But using our 3 to 5MB per hour estimate, even five hours of driving will only cost you around 15 to 25MB. Unless you have an extremely limited data plan, that’s not a crazy amount.

Still, if you’d rather not think about data at all while you’re travelling, a travel eSIM gives you that freedom. With a travel eSIM from ZenSim, you connect to a local network and use your phone pretty much like you would at home, without getting hit with expensive roaming charges.

Can You Use Google Maps Without Data?

For travellers, one of the most important things to know about Google Maps is that it can work without using any data at all.

Google Maps lets you download selected areas to your phone before you travel. Once you have an area downloaded, you can view the map and get driving directions within that area even if you have no internet connection at all.

That’s not just handy for keeping your data usage down, by the way. It’s also a lifesaver in areas with patchy coverage, like remote national parks or long stretches of country road.

It’s not perfect, though. When using Maps offline, you won’t have:

• Public transport directions
• Walking and cycling directions
• Live traffic information
• Alternative driving routes or lane guidance

Instead, your Maps app will function more like an old-fashioned GPS that can give you driving directions, but nothing fancier than that. Still, it’s a lot better than nothing, and could get you out of a jam if you remember to plan ahead.

Naturally, you’ll need to download the offline map while you still have a connection, otherwise this feature can’t help you. Offline maps also aren’t available in every country, so check that your destination supports them before you rely on them.

To be safe, download offline maps for everywhere you plan to go, and make sure they cover not just your starting point and destination, but the roads in between.

How to Use Google Maps Offline

The steps are the same on Android and iPhone:

1. Open Google Maps while you still have a Wi-Fi connection.
2. Tap your profile picture or initial.
3. Select Offline maps.
4. Tap Select your own map.
5. Zoom the box in or out until it covers the area you need.
6. Tap Download.

You can also search for a specific place, open its information panel, tap More (the three dots), and select Download offline map.

Remember that the bigger the area you save, the more space it will take up on your phone. If space is tight, limit the offline map area to just what you need for your trip.

Downloaded maps also expire if they’re not updated within about a year. Google Maps updates them automatically when you’re on Wi-Fi, but if you downloaded maps for a trip ages ago, open the app on Wi-Fi before you fly so they’re fresh.

How Much Storage Do I Need for Offline Google Maps?

Unfortunately, there’s no simple answer to that. It all depends on how large and how detailed the area you’re downloading is.

In general, a map of a single city needs much less storage than a map covering a whole region. However, because cities are packed with more streets and places, they can take up more storage than an equivalent-sized area of countryside.

Before you download an offline map, the app will show you the estimated download size. That way, you can shrink the selected area if you need to.

If you’re planning a big multi-country trip, you don’t have to download everywhere all at once. Saving individual cities or regions, then deleting them to make space for new ones, can help you manage your storage so you don’t run out.

Heading to China? Google Maps doesn’t work reliably there on a local connection, so read our guide on how to get data in China without VPN issues before you go.

Using Google Maps While Travelling

If you’re worried about burning through your data while using Google Maps to travel, hopefully this article has set your mind at rest. At around 3 to 5MB per hour of navigation, Google Maps isn’t a heavy user of data. Even a modest travel data pack should be plenty.

Still, it’s always a good idea to download offline maps wherever you go. That way, if you run out of data or simply can’t get a signal, you can still find your way around.

A ZenSim travel eSIM makes travel so much easier. A local network connection and a generous data allowance mean you don’t have to stress about burning through your data, so you can use your phone just like you would at home. Just try not to drop it in the sea.