Best (and a Free) Campervan SatNav App? Tomtom, CoPilot, Magic Earth. Motorhome, Caravan, RV, Truck.

[@barrydonaldson]

I started using Copilot a while ago and it's superb! Where possible it avoids narrow roads, tight turns etc and the "Avoid tolls where possible" is amazing! One time it dropped us onto the autoroute to get through Dijon and then off again on the other side for just 1.5 Euros... Brilliant!!

[@davidmarek72]

Thanks for doing this, I wasn't aware of Magic Earth but will give it a go and compare against what we currently use - Sygic, which is OK but sometimes takes us off a motorway just to guide us back on it at the same junction!

[@mapsnavigation]

Magic Earth is a very good all rounder. Vehicle profiles, pedestrian and cyclist routing, 3D terrain and sattelite aerial view, report events, traffic information, dash camera, global coverage, OSMaps. Ticks a lot of boxes. The driving layout need a bit rearanging to be more symetrical and will top. And all this for FREE

[@simonmiddleton4977]

Great in-depth review thank you! 👍😃

[@robertpate1303]

Hi good video well explained. We went for the Garmin and have been all over Europe this summer and not had a problem. Rob

[@ExploreVanUK]

Thanks, glad you think it’s useful. Do Garmin do an App? Or is it a Garmin Standalone SatNav you use?

[@robertpate1303]

Yes it's the standalone motorhome one which we got through the caravan motorhome club.. can I ask you we are thinking of getting a smart TV in the motorhome we have the maxview WiFi. Would it be worth getting a fire stick as well as we don't have a roof TV Ariel fitted. Rob

[@Persis10tUser]

Thank you for this video mate 👍🏻

[@MrSantaclaus112]

Im using Navigator truck pro, about ok, also with normal car use before Sygic APP, what i like

[@ifell3]

Think I'm going to give magic earth a go. In a car I decided to try Waze this year for a camping holiday. Automatically it takes you the most scenic and narrow route. User error I think aha. Also Here Wego is great, but no features for adding in vehicles dimensions.

[@ExploreVanUK]

It’s worth trying out, especially as it’s free!

[@A-fy7vt]

Some of your complaints aren't right, e.g. when you said the Magic Earth voice was not that good. It uses TTS from your iPhone, so you can change it directly in the settings app (to maybe Siri voice or another one of choice). And also this app shows overhead signs but not everywhere (only at bigger junctions and most of the exits of motorways). Also try using different search prompts, like adding "camping" in front of it.

[@ExploreVanUK]

Thanks for sharing, for others, I have it as set to use text to speech Daniel, but still found it lacking the flow of the others. We didn’t see an overhead sign come up in all the time we used it including lots of motorways. So whilst it may have some where we were they were definitely lacking. I’m sure they are making improvements and as it’s free there are still loads of positives!

[@A-fy7vt]

@ True, but here in Germany it works quite well, but some features aren’t that great like the traffic and road closures - obviously all the features differ from region to region

[@jasonmiller7941]

Great video and very informative. We use Cygic and find it really good. Any reason you didn't include that in this test?

[@ExploreVanUK]

Simple answer is I hadn't heard of it - so thanks for flagging it. I had a quick look and it seems to be priced between CoPilot and TomTom at £59.99 for the year but also gives the option of a Lifetime licence including 3 years of map updates for £79.99 Looking at the specs there are some features which sound very interesting. I'll have a closer look and try it out on some trips and if it is a challenger for the top spot from my perspective, look to share it in a future video! Thanks again!

[@outwithjack7973]

Hi... Ive downloaded a trial of co pilot and I've had issues not having audio but not for intro and route preview ! can you advise me ?

[@GedandMichele]

Recently bought an Ohrex on your recommendation.Limited use but impressed so far.Do you think Co Pilot software is better than the Ohrex?

[@ExploreVanUK]

Pros and Cons of both I would say. Ohrex good if you want a dedicated screen, for a not too bad one time payment including lifetime map updates. Co-Pilot has advantage of live traffic not having to have a separate device, but you have to pay for the subscription each year. I’d still recommend either depending on which fits best for what you want.

[@kimmyksbro3116]

If traffic information dosent matter Osmand, Guru maps, also an option

[@makemray1]

Hi, I have just watched your video. I am not keen on using data from my phone to run navigation. I read that CoPilot Caravan navigation can be used off line. Is this really the case will it really get you to where you need to be without data , wifi and GPS ? Ray

[@ExploreVanUK]

Hi, yep that’s right you download the maps to your phone so no need for a mobile connection while you use it. You do need GPS but that doesn’t need your data. Worth noting you won’t get the benefit of the live traffic info without using data.

[@naveedkanji1]

Question about magic earth.. If you are traveling down a road and find that there is an accident and need to detour or need an alternative path to the destination, how do you do this?

[@ExploreVanUK]

Hi - I've never needed to try it, but if you hit the speech bubble with the Exclamation mark on the driving screen you can "report an event" - one of these is Road Closure. I don't know if this will just report it or actually reroute you, but worth a try!

[@mapsnavigation]

Also has another option to block the route ahead of you, just for your routing, starts with 250m

[@barryscott1729]

Can you use copilot on more than 1 unit I.e mobile and iPad??

[@ExploreVanUK]

I believe so if they are signed in with the same Google / Apple Account and you subscribe through the App store.

[@barryscott1729]

@@ExploreVanUK Thanks

[@manwithnovan]

Have you tried tge Garmin satnav?

[@ExploreVanUK]

No - we've not tried that one.

[@vicedgson1886]

How is it a comprehensive test if you don't include Garmin?

[@ExploreVanUK]

I wasn't aware that Garmin do a SatNav App - do you have a link?

[@MarkN67]

Garmin don’t have a sat-nav app.

[@robww5921]

Does really feel like any are great. A sat nav you need to trust. Giving you wrong speed limits for your vehicle, routes which are not permitted....seems pointless and no better than google maps / Waze. Heard great things about garmin camper. Shame not a phone version

[@ExploreVanUK]

To be fair speed limits should always be a guide on them as I’ve never had one that always gets it right. TomTom did well but it struggled in wales with the change to 20 mph but you can’t blame it for that. It could also be said that it represents speeds wrong too, as in UK for Motorhomes it’s the unladen weight of 3050kg that dictates the speed limit not the MAM of 3500kg I’d never fully trust any SatNav as the changes can take months to filter down to the maps so you always have to pay attention to what’s around you. None sent us down an unpermitted route, I just felt TomTom and Magic Earth didn’t pick the most appropriate and CoPilot generally did. All 3 were far better than those that can only route as if you are a car Google / Apple Maps /Waze etc. getting around Paris was a doddle where as Google maps obviously tried to send us through height restricted roads. I wouldn’t be without at least one of them now.

[@SSpiTfiReeee]

I use IGO and never had any problems.