Apple Maps may have had an inauspicious start, but over the years it has improved dramatically. Today, Apple Maps is as good as or better than Google Maps, with stunning visuals, incredibly detailed topography, and turn-by-turn directions and traffic updates. The only problem (besides a secret Duck Duck Go integration) is that it only works on Apple devices.
The secret is out. Apple on Wednesday launched Apple Maps on the web in beta, allowing anyone to use the service in a browser. Now, you won’t need an Apple device to use Apple Maps, and a host of features are already available, including driving and walking directions, information about points of interest including photos, hours, ratings and reviews, ordering food directly from the Maps location card, and curated guides for discovering places to eat, shop and explore in cities around the world. Additionally, Apple says the Look Around feature, which lets you explore 360-degree panoramic views of select locations, will be available in the coming months.
Apple Maps on the web joins Apple Music and Apple TV on the web, but those services are subscription-only. Apple Maps will likely remain a free service available as an alternative to Google Maps. It’s currently available in English with Safari and Chrome on Mac and iPad, and Chrome and Edge on Windows PCs. Support for other languages, browsers, and platforms will expand over time, Apple said.
There is no timeline for the release of the beta version of the service.
