Free Service - Google My Maps - Review

 

Many people use Google Maps for GPS navigation planning, but much less popular is Google My Maps. We will offer you brief review of this useful free service for travel planning.

Google My Maps is a powerful, free tool that allows users to create custom maps with multiple locations, routes, and layers. It’s an excellent choice for planning multi-stop trips, mapping out itineraries, and organizing geographical data for personal or business use.

Key Features:

✅ Customizable Maps: Add multiple points of interest, color-coded markers, and notes.
✅ Multiple Layers: Organize different categories (e.g., attractions, hotels, restaurants) into separate layers.
✅ Route Planning: Create custom driving, walking, or biking routes.
✅ Collaboration: Share and edit maps with others in real time.
✅ Integration with Google Drive: Save and access your maps from your Google account.

How Google My Maps Differs from Google Maps

Feature	Google My Maps	Google Maps
Custom Map Creation	Yes, users can create and save their own maps.	No, only allows saving locations (lists) but not full custom maps.
Multi-Stop Planning	Unlimited stops and routes can be manually added.	Limited to 10 stops per trip.
Layered Maps	Supports multiple layers for different categories.	No multi-layer support.
Navigation	Cannot provide turn-by-turn navigation directly.	Provides live GPS navigation.
Offline Access	Limited—maps can be accessed but require an internet connection for full functionality.	Allows offline map downloads for navigation.
Collaboration	Users can share and collaborate on maps.	Mostly limited to location sharing and list sharing.
Customization	Custom icons, colors, and notes for locations.	Limited customization—basic pins and lists.

Best Use Cases for Google My Maps:

• Trip Planning: Create an itinerary with all planned stops, hotels, restaurants, and attractions.
• Business & Logistics: Mark locations for deliveries, customer sites, or real estate listings.
• Event Planning: Organize locations for a wedding, festival, or conference.
• Educational & Research Purposes: Create maps for history projects, geographic studies, or field research.

Limitations:

• No live turn-by-turn navigation (must export to Google Maps for this).
• Requires manual input for routing and optimization.
• Less intuitive for real-time use compared to Google Maps.