HERE WeGo

HERE WeGo gives you turn-by-turn navigation, public transit directions, and downloadable offline maps in one free app. It is built by HERE Technologies, a Dutch company owned by a consortium of European car makers including BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz. The app covers driving, walking, cycling, and public transport across more than 100 countries.

The offline maps are the standout feature. You can download entire countries or regions and still get full address search, navigation, and point-of-interest data without any internet connection. If your connection drops mid-route, the app switches to offline mode automatically. Public transit routing covers 1,900+ cities with real-time departure info where available.

Trip planning lets you compare driving, cycling, transit, taxi, and walking options side by side for any destination. Traffic data feeds into route calculations, so estimated arrival times stay accurate. The app runs on iOS, Android, and as a web app at wego.here.com.

On privacy: HERE deletes your location data when each navigation session ends. The company makes its money from selling mapping services to car manufacturers and logistics firms, not from advertising or trading personal data. Everything runs under GDPR from a Dutch legal entity.

Worth knowing

HERE WeGo is less polished than Google Maps in some areas. Recent app updates have drawn complaints about reduced map visibility during navigation and low contrast in day and night modes. The point-of-interest database is smaller than Google's, so you may find fewer reviews and business details. Offline map downloads can run between 200 MB and 1 GB per country, which adds up if you travel often. Still, for a completely free app with strong offline capabilities and EU-based privacy protections, it fills a real gap.