Google Maps Go as a lightweight alternative to Google Maps

Google unveiled Android Go some time ago. Android Go is an optimized version of Android designed specifically for low-end devices and infrastructure.

As is the case with these "lite" versions, they are not availably everywhere. The main reason for limiting access is simple: Google, and other companies, want users to use the main applications.

However, lite applications have several advantages over full apps. They don't use that many system resources which is useful for operating the app and battery live, network consumption, and operating times.

Google Maps Go

Google launched several Go-optimized versions of its services for Android Go. Google Maps Go is one of the recent ones that it launched. While listed on Google Play, it is not available for download and installation unless an Android Go device is used.

While you cannot install Google Maps Go directly on regular Android devices, you can access it anyway as it is nothing but a Progressive Web App. What that means is simple: if you know the URL of the Google Maps Go service, you can access it using any browser on your device and benefit from its low resource usage even without installing it as an app on the device.

All you have to do is open this link in a web browser to access Google Maps Go. You may need to load the URL in a new tab in your browser to avoid opening the installed Google Maps application on the device.

Google Maps Go supports many features of Google Maps. You can look up places all around the world, check out what is in the vicinity of a location, check opening and closing hours, user ratings, and reviews.

You can check out traffic, and get directions just like you would on the regular version of Google Maps or in Google Maps applications. If you sign in to a Google Account, you do get access to your places and other account related data.

What Google Maps Go does not support right now is turn by turn navigation.

Closing Words

Google Maps Go is a handy lite version of Google Maps that anyone can access without installing an application on an Android device. In fact, you can also use it from any computer or other Internet powered device, regardless of whether it runs on Android or another operating system.

The service is handy if you notice slow downs when using the main Google Maps application and prefer a more fluent experience.

Good, I'll give a look at this one. I can't stand when these apps that are taking too much system memory space.