Move over, Google Maps, there’s a new navigator on the road, and it’s Made in India. The buzz around Mappls, a homegrown navigation app by MapmyIndia, is growing fast after endorsements from Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Zoho’s founder Sridhar Vembu. Vembu recently praised the app on X (formerly Twitter), calling it “very nice” and saying it reflects “decades of RD, much longer than Google Maps.”
His words came after Vaishnaw publicly encouraged citizens to try the “Swadeshi ‘Mappls’” app, even sharing a video of its features. The endorsements have sparked curiosity, what exactly is Mappls, and how does it stack up against global mapping giant Google Maps? What is the Mappls App Developed by MapmyIndia, a digital mapping company established in 1995, Mappls is being positioned as India’s homegrown alternative to Google Maps. It offers step-by-step navigation, live traffic updates, real-time safety alerts, and precise digital addresses through its Mappls PIN and DigiPIN systems. Each Mappls PIN represents a specific location, even in rural areas, allowing users to find places faster and share addresses more easily.
The app’s DigiPIN feature, built in collaboration with India Post, aims to provide verified, digital addresses across the country for more accurate deliveries and navigation. How the app works Mappls is built on nearly three decades of on-ground mapping data collected by MapmyIndia. It provides 3D junction views, showing detailed visuals of flyovers and intersections, helping drivers make smoother turns. It also supports indoor navigation for locating shops or offices inside malls and buildings. Other features include live traffic light countdowns, toll cost calculators, speed and safety alerts, and real-time route updates, all designed to make commuting smarter and safer. Bengaluru becomes the first city to go live with signal timings In a first-of-its-kind feature, Bengaluru has become the first Indian city where users can see live traffic signal countdowns directly on the Mappls app. When you’re approaching a signal, the app shows how many seconds are left before it turns red or green, making driving decisions faster and more predictable. Rohan Verma, Director of MapmyIndia, shared on X. Collaboration with the government MapmyIndia isn’t stopping there. The company is working with the Indian government to integrate Mappls’ geospatial data into railway systems and other public services. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indian Railways is also on the way, which will enable Mappls’ mapping technology to support train route planning and infrastructure management. By partnering with India Post for DigiPIN integration, the app is also helping digitise postal addresses across the country, improving accuracy and bridging logistical gaps between cities and villages. Why Mappls over Google Maps While Google Maps dominates globally, it’s not without its flaws in India. The app has faced criticism for misguiding routes, including incidents where users were led onto incomplete or unsafe roads. Mappls, on the other hand, claims to offer a more India-focused experience, with maps built on local data, frequent updates, and features that reflect on-ground realities. It also ensures data privacy, storing all user information within India — a major contrast to global platforms that host data overseas. This aligns closely with India’s growing push for digital self-reliance under the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ vision. Backed by ISRO for better accuracy In 2021, MapmyIndia partnered with ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) to combine its mapping expertise with ISRO’s satellite imagery and Earth observation data.
This partnership has helped Mappls deliver more accurate, detailed, and indigenous map data across India, enhancing coverage and precision in both urban and rural regions. How to download and access Mappls Getting started with Mappls is easy. The app is free to download from mappls.com, the Google Play Store, or the Apple App Store. It’s compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, meaning users can access it directly from their car’s dashboard or smartphone. Standout features of Mappls Here’s what makes Mappls stand out from the crowd: All of this data is developed and hosted entirely in India, ensuring that your navigation stays local, private, and precise. The map ahead The rise of Mappls fits neatly into India’s broader digital strategy, promoting Swadeshi technology and reducing dependence on foreign apps.
As Sridhar Vembu puts it, Mappls represents “decades of RD,” a testament to how far Indian innovation has come.
And with government support, local partnerships, and cutting-edge features, India’s very own mapping app might just be ready to give Google Maps a run for its money.
The post ‘Mappls’, India’s answer to Google Maps:Know what it is, its features, and how it compares with global competitors appeared first on Tri-Cities India.
