The iPhone Map App Every Traveler Needs To Download Now

Last night, I picked up pizza from Olio Pizzeria in Santa Barbara. The food is excellent but it’s not an easy restaurant to find if you’re not familiar with the area since the map apps don’t take into consideration the recent street closures that allow for outdoor dining. On top of that, parking wasn’t easy to find, so when I finally found a spot a couple of blocks away, I was all turned around.

I don’t know about you but whenever I use Google Maps for walking directions, I never seem to be able to figure out which way to go at the start. That’s why I whipped out my favorite walking map app that I’ve neglected for over a year. With this simple map, you will never be confused about which way to go.

Google Maps is without a doubt one of the best things to happen to traveling but I can never figure out which way Google wants me to start walking after I tap “start directions.”

That’s one of the reasons I love Mapless. Not only will you never walk in the wrong direction again but it’s simple to use. 

The iPhone-only app, which used to be free but now costs $2.99, uses a compass arrow to point you in the direction you need to go. 

All users need to do is input their destination and Mapless tells you the distance, how many minutes it will take to get there, and your estimated arrival time. That’s it! There’s no map. There are no turn-by-turn instructions. Without steps to follow on your phone, you can look around and enjoy your walk. As the app description says, you are in command of your journey with Mapless.

It’s perfect for those who just want to explore while always heading in the right direction. 

UPDATE:
The creator of the Mapless app commented on this post with some information that you’ll find useful and that answers some of the questions I received from readers. Thanks, Mike! See his comment below:

Hi Johnny, I’m the maker of Mapless and I’m so excited that you are enjoying the app! Thank you for mentioning it and writing about it.

There’s a big new update coming out soon, with Apple Watch support and lots of other new enhancements. I don’t have a specific release date but sometime within the next month is a pretty good guess.

To answer the questions that were asked in the comments:

1/ Sadly, no Android version is available and I’m not aware of any other similar Android apps. I’ve had a few requests and I’d love to make one, but I also want to make a really good app and sometimes that takes more time… stay tuned!

2/ “Dropping a pin” or marking your current location so you can easily get back to it is a feature that several people have requested. I’m not sure if it’ll make it in the next update, but it’s certainly something I’d like to add soon.

3/ Yes, Mapless works pretty much anywhere in the world. It uses data provided by Apple, which includes a variety of sources. The main source seems to be Yelp, which has global coverage.

I am especially excited about the Watch version because it lets you avoid looking like a tourist staring at your phone all the time while walking. ? The direction and the compass work surprisingly well on the Watch and it’s very intuitive.