Reviews of Magic Earth Navigation & Maps

By: Magic Lane International BV App

List of user reviews and ratings for Magic Earth Navigation & Maps

Total ratings

1.76 (Rating count: 42,115)

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Review summary

Users praise the app’s core navigation/GPS and its privacy-focused positioning, with some reporting good Android Auto compatibility. However, sentiment is dominated by paywall-driven changes after the latest update, widespread bugs and regressions (search/input issues, lag/crashes), loss/degradation of offline maps, activation/support hurdles, and privacy concerns. Overall, the app can be solid when it works, but the paid model and reliability losses have driven many users away.

Pros

Strong core navigation and GPS performance when the app is functioning.
Privacy-focused approach appeals to some users.
Works well with Android Auto.

Cons

Big shift to a paid subscription model with offline maps, live traffic, and other features behind a paywall; users view it as expensive.
Bugs and regressions after update: unreliable destination search, input issues, lag, and crashes.
Offline maps/degradation: loss of free offline functionality or maps behind paywall.
Activation/support issues and slow responses from support.
Privacy concerns: data sharing with third parties after the update.

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User Reviews

Recent rating average: 1.30

All time rating average: 1.76

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62% (181)

Date	Author	Comment
2026-08-11	R *****	The app was great but they changed it. Now you have to put your info in to make it work.
The app was great but they changed it. Now you have to put your info in to make it work.
2026-08-09	Va*****	the app was really good before, and I was fine with it getting a premium version, but I would prefer either a one-time purchase, or for the subscription cost to be lowered... as it is way too high for me to even consider it when there are alternatives like Comaps, Organic Maps, Osmand, Here WeGo, etc. it was my go to navigation app, but I haven't used it in a while now due to these changes, and I doubt that will be changing any time soon given the direction the app has gone
the app was really good before, and I was fine with it getting a premium version, but I would prefer either a one-time purchase, or for the subscription cost to be lowered... as it is way too high for me to even consider it when there are alternatives like Comaps, Organic Maps, Osmand, Here WeGo, etc. it was my go to navigation app, but I haven't used it in a while now due to these changes, and I doubt that will be changing any time soon given the direction the app has gone
2026-08-07	da*****	Downloaded app and put in starting point and destination. Unable to get navigation started. Uninstalled.
Downloaded app and put in starting point and destination. Unable to get navigation started. Uninstalled.
2026-08-06	Jo*****	they want you to purchase it before trying it. How do you know if it works first. Greedy MFs.
they want you to purchase it before trying it. How do you know if it works first. Greedy MFs.
2026-08-05	To*****	The worst - not much working unless you open your wallet and pay for the most basic functions.
The worst - not much working unless you open your wallet and pay for the most basic functions.
2026-08-04	Do*****	Tested and given wrong route. Return back to Google Maps & Waze
Tested and given wrong route. Return back to Google Maps & Waze
2026-08-04	Da*****	You need to pay for all the useful features which is understandable but unfortunately it seems that this company mostly focuses on iOS and not Android. Give us a shout when you're supporting the biggest mobile operating system as a priority....
You need to pay for all the useful features which is understandable but unfortunately it seems that this company mostly focuses on iOS and not Android. Give us a shout when you're supporting the biggest mobile operating system as a priority....
2026-08-03	An*****	Paid version : 👍 Good pathfinding 👍 Reliable live traffic / live events 👍 Human-readable TOS / data retention policy table 👎 The free-tier is too limited 👎 Only one device per subscription 👎 Closed-source, need to trust they respect their privacy policy 👎 No auto-updates on degoogled Android phones ⚠️ Doesn’t sell data to third parties but may for “any members of our group, subsidiaries and branch offices” (vague, did not answer my inquiry so idk) 🟠 No cloud backup, OSM contribution...
Paid version : 👍 Good pathfinding 👍 Reliable live traffic / live events 👍 Human-readable TOS / data retention policy table 👎 The free-tier is too limited 👎 Only one device per subscription 👎 Closed-source, need to trust they respect their privacy policy 👎 No auto-updates on degoogled Android phones ⚠️ Doesn’t sell data to third parties but may for “any members of our group, subsidiaries and branch offices” (vague, did not answer my inquiry so idk) 🟠 No cloud backup, OSM contribution...
2026-08-02	Da*****	Was recommended this as a Google alternative, tried it for an evening and didn't even bother using it when I went out, setting up a route was a pain, the biggest reason being that it constantly opened a simulated route display when I was trying to do something else in the app. I can't imagine why I would want to pay for this app if the UI is so clunky and the basic experience of trying to set up a route with a couple of stops was so frustrating.
Was recommended this as a Google alternative, tried it for an evening and didn't even bother using it when I went out, setting up a route was a pain, the biggest reason being that it constantly opened a simulated route display when I was trying to do something else in the app. I can't imagine why I would want to pay for this app if the UI is so clunky and the basic experience of trying to set up a route with a couple of stops was so frustrating.
2026-08-01	Ig*****	My original review (5⭐): "great navigation, doing exactly what I need, user friendly and is working offline what is very important for me👍" UPDATE: Already uninstalled. Extremely dissatisfied with the recent updates, the new pricing model, and the terrible UI changes.
My original review (5⭐): "great navigation, doing exactly what I need, user friendly and is working offline what is very important for me👍" UPDATE: Already uninstalled. Extremely dissatisfied with the recent updates, the new pricing model, and the terrible UI changes.