In 2014, Google changed their maps product and made it really crappy. So I wrote a post titled “Revert to Classic Google Maps,” which quickly became one of my most popular posts.
You might think that when all these people switched back to the old version, Google would realize they liked it and keep it around. Unfortunately, you’d be wrong. If you had made the switch, when you go to Google Maps now, you’ll instead find something called the Lite version. You can tell if it’s rolled out to you by the lightning icon at the bottom right. When you click on it, it tells you you’re in Lite mode and gives you the option to switch back to the Full version.
According to Google, the Lite version is designed to work faster. While I appreciate speed, I’m not happy with some of the functions they’ve removed, including setting a Home location and measuring the distance between places.
See the full list of unavailable features in Google Maps Lite. >>
As I mentioned above, you can switch back to the full version of Maps by clicking the lightning icon. Unfortunately, that takes you back to the “new and improved” version of Maps, which may be new but is anything but improved. It’s slow, cluttered, unintuitive and is still missing a lot of important features including several views, the full map/street view split-screen, and the ability to add more than 10 destinations in a plotted route.
Note: I’ve received notes from some people about missing features but they’re only missing in the Lite version. (eg. Search Nearby Places) So make sure you’ve switched over to the full version before deciding the feature is completely missing.
If there’s one sure sign that Google knows that people aren’t happy with the new Maps, it’s the fact that they felt the need to put up a page explaining why you’re better off with the version you don’t want. They say you can send them feedback, but I think this entire debacle demonstrates clearly that they’re not really concerned about what their users want… Sigh.
Alternative Mapping Options
While none of these alternative sites are perfect replacements for Classic Maps, they’re what we’ve got for now. I haven’t checked most of these out personally, but I’m linking to them anyway in case you find them helpful for your purposes. If you know of other sites you’d like to add to the list, please post a comment below.
General Maps Based on Classic Maps
Note: Google has changed their API so that all maps now have the new-style controls. However, this doesn’t affect most of the underlying features.
Google MapMaker
This site is designed to let people make additions and corrections to Google Maps. However, it uses Classic Maps as its base map and provides some of its features including Directions (under the Edit menu), a variation of Street View/Maps split screen, and 2D satellite view.
Classy GMap
An excellent alternative to Classic Maps with some of its most popular features, this mapping solution has undergone some changes since first developed. Check out this post for the most recent update (01/18/16).
Google Maps Streetview Player of Brian Folts
A reader emailed me this link with some detailed instructions about how to use it. There’s not enough room for me to write them up here, so I’ve copied them into a comment on the original Google Maps post.
Instant Street View
Thanks to reader Sappy for sharing this find that has a lot of Classic Maps’ features (searchable, zoom, 2D satellite view). However, it doesn’t have a full split-screen Street View or directions.
Meteomodel
Thanks to reader Szymon for sending along this link for a Polish site. The map has Street View (not split-screen) but doesn’t have search or Directions.
Falk
Thanks to reader Dave for sharing this German site.
Wareko Map
T4L reader Wareko is also developing a map based on Google Classic, available in Japanese and English!
Specialty Maps Based on Classic Maps
TennisMaps
Thanks to reader James for sharing this website that he maintains to help people find tennis courts around the world.
SolarGIS
Thanks to reader S.H. for sharing this Google-based map that includes solar radiation and temperature data.
Thanks to reader John for sharing a whole slew of URLs that incorporate Classic Maps.
www.theaa.com/route-planner/index.jsp
shipspotting.com/ais/index.php
www.sunearthtools.com/dp/tools/pos_earth.php?lang=en
www.heywhatsthat.com/
www.westernhvdclink.co.uk/map-of-route.aspx
Maps Based on Other Platforms
MapQuest
One of the original mapping applications.
Bing Maps
Microsoft’s mapping site.
Yahoo Maps Directions
While Yahoo! has shut down its main Maps site, this implementation is currently still working.
OpenStreetMap
Open-source mapping software. A reader adds, “OSM is just the database: It’s up to someone to read the data and build actual maps, and possibly provide a router such as OSRM for directions.”
Wikimapia
Thanks to reader Metal for sharing this site, which describes itself as “a multilingual open-content collaborative map, where anyone can create place tags and share their knowledge.” Has both map and satellite views, but does not include a street view or directions feature.
Cycling-Focused Maps
Thanks to reader Frederic for sending me these links. Descriptions in quotations are taken directly from the site.
Ride with GPS
“Ride with GPS makes it easy to drag and draw your own custom routes with lightning fast elevation profiles to help you anticipate (or avoid) those big climbs.”
Bike Route Toaster
“BikeRouteToaster.com is a course creation application primarily aimed at Garmin Edge/Forerunner owners although other users without a GPS may also find it useful for planning rides.”
Cycle.Travel
Pretty straightforward-looking route planner built with OpenStreetMap.
Ride with GPS
From their About page: “Ride with GPS was founded by two guys that love writing cool software and riding their bikes: Zack Ham and Cullen King.”
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Comments
The way Google changed their mapping F…. Sucks, I was able to see my property in Qld Australia now for some reason the burnett river is now 126 meters below sea level, but the mountain range next to it is even lower now. Someone pleaser tell Google earth to come back while it wasn’t brilliant it was a shit load better than this crap
I used google mapmaker for street view when google maps classic was taken off line because it was faster than street view on the new google maps since it was based on the classic version but then google killed mapmaker back in March. Street view is still slow on all the alternatives listed here because they’re all based on the new version of google maps. I have tried everything to get street view to move quicker to no avail. I’m wondering if google even wants street view to be as quick as it used to be.
So sad. Tried to use the current “wonderful” google maps, a total piece of trash.
Totally worthless and not worth anyone’s time.
They had a nice product, to bad to trash it.
I will most probably NOT be using Google maps again, it has no value any more.
It is about as useful as an outdated road map.
To bad, they are getting rid of the features that made it a good product.
Well guys have another beer at your board meeting because future decisions like this will make you like RCA and Microsoft and such, a footnote in history and not anything relevant for serious work.