Best GPS Options in 2024

Where GPS models differ the most is in ease of use and features. For our ratings we factor heavily the qualities that make it easy to input destinations and give the most helpful directions. Our recommendations break out the best-performing models overall, and those that perform core navigation chores well and do so at an attractive price.

Using phone-based phone GPS apps eats up precious data from your monthly plan, and some conk out during phone calls or when your cellular signal drops. (Some apps work around this by saving maps to your phone, so you won't lose your way even if you lose phone service.) Whichever option you choose, you ll likely need to purchase a mount, car charger (since navigation can quickly deplete a battery), and possibly a data plan for your phone (if you don't already have one).

Hop in the car with your smartphone and choose a pre-loaded app such as Google Maps or Apple Maps (or download the likes of Here, Waze, or Mapquest) and your phone service gives you multiple options for a smoother trip, complete with traffic views, alternate-route suggestions, and warnings if you're going too fast. The often-bright displays of these apps can make them easy to read on a sun-drenched dashboard. Plus, you don't have to buy any other GPS device because you already have the smartphone nor do you have to worry about carrying around a portable navigation device (PND).