Android is a powerful platform that provides us with a great deal of functionality. One of its most popular uses is as a satellite-based navigation system or GPS. The only problem is choice; Android users shopping for a sat nav app may find themselves overwhelmed by the sheer amount of it. In order to help, here are five of the most popular options currently on the market.

Google Maps Navigation

Google Maps Navigation is a set of advanced sat nav features included in Google Maps. Google Maps, which is completely free, is one of the most comprehensive map systems available. Despite offering it free, Google updates the software regularly and also provides a high-level of customer support, this is something that not all pay-for GPS apps can boast about. The app provides multiple layers, an innovative search mechanism and both audio and visual turn-by-turn navigation. The one downside to this app is that the navigation logic is not sophisticated.

Copilot Live 8

The reason that the Copilot Live 8 is so popular is that it’s able to store its maps and related data locally. So unlike with Google Maps Navigation, if you lose your Internet connection, you can keep on driving and use the navigator just as you would with a standalone sat nav unit. The only drawback to Copilot Live 8 is that it doesn’t have all the search features that Google offers, but the far superior navigation logic more than makes up for that.

Sygic Mobile Maps 10

Sygic Mobile Maps became popular on the Windows Phone platform and then the iPhone before making its way to Android. That wait was certainly worth it. Mobile Maps 9, which boasted one of the better 3D sat nav implementations available, had an immediate positive effect on the GPS segment of the Android market. With version 10, we get an app that continues to be one of the more feature-rich options on the market.

Navigon MobileNavigator

The Navigon MobileNavigator boasts a “reality scanner,” which might just be the coolest feature available on a GPS. Simply aim the camera of your Android device at something, such as a building or landmark, and MobileNavigator will provide you information about that site. Of course, drivers won’t use this kind of feature every day, but it does make MobileNavigator the top sat nav choice for tourists.

Skobbler

Skobbler uses Open Street Maps, and since it’s completely free, it’s a real competitor to Google Maps Navigation. The one area where Skobbler sets itself apart from Google is with the navigation logic. Skobbler may be the best at that among the free apps. Google’s app is still far more polished overall, but Skobbler may be the better free option if efficiency is paramount.