The launch of Ovi Maps 3.03 last week shook up the satellite navigation industry, offering a completely free service for Nokia users. With all the interest generated, it’s easy to forget that decent paid for services still exist, such as the excellent ViewRanger app. Here we put them head-to-head, to see if Ovi Maps can offer all you’ll ever need, or if it’s still worth paying for sat-nav software. Read on to find out which comes top…

As we found in our Ovi Maps review, there are a number of things that impress us about the latest version of Ovi Maps, not least the speed at which it runs, and the time it takes to find your location. The revised menu is a model of simplicity, and also looks contemporary and stylish. When it comes to menus, ViewRanger struggles to compete, with a more clunky list-based menu, rather than the icon driven interface of its rival.

Offering full Ordinance Survey mapping, ViewRanger is intended for a life outdoors, letting you find your exact position on the side of a mountain, offering navigation, and acting as a compass. Aesthetically, the OS maps are beautifully rendered, and are more visually appealing than those found on Ovi Maps. That said, the maps on Ovi Maps are simple and well presented, and are easy to follow at all times.

Read our Ovi Maps 3.03 review

When used in a rural setting, ViewRanger comes out on top, with details such as contour lines making it an invaluable resource. Surprisingly, considering its more traditional sat-nav aspirations, Ovi Maps comes a close second. Sure, the maps are nowhere near as detailed, but here it’s possible to switch into satellite mode, offering a photo image, and if you’re working alongside a paper map it’s easy to work out your exact location.

The roles are reversed when it comes to use in a town environment, as although ViewRanger boasts details of roads, Ovi Maps is designed to excel in this area. Used as a navigation device, Ovi Maps can easily stand toe-to-toe with dedicated sat-nav products, offering full voice guidance, traffic updates and the ability to reroute around congestion, full pedestrian support and a whole lot more. It’s by far the best mobile sat-nav software we’ve come across, and that it’s now free is a major bonus.

Read our ViewRanger review

Overall then, it’s a close-run thing. Sure, there’s a slight overlap between Ovi Maps and ViewRanger, but that’s the great thing about using your Nokia as a sat-nav device – there’s no need to pick any one application.

If your phone supports it, then we recommend downloading Ovi Maps without delay – it’s arguably the best free app currently available. If you’re a fan of the great outdoors, however, it’s also worth having a look at ViewRanger, as it works well alongside Ovi Maps, and really lets you get the most out of your Nokia.