VZ Navigator – Not Just Another GPS Map [iOS/Android/Windows/Blackberry]

Recently, I’ve been getting lost much more often than usual…and that’s a lot! With no sense of direction, I’m extremely reliant on mapping apps to help me get to where I need to go. It all started when iOS 6 for iPhone was released. Those Apple maps were so bad that they even caused my husband to lose his way, which normally doesn’t happen. There were times that we had Apple maps, Google Maps, Tom Tom, Scout, and Waze going and we still ended up in the boonies somewhere. Our location wasn’t even registering on any of those maps – scary! I was more than willing to try VZ Navigator, hoping it would alleviate some of our travel mishaps.

VZ Navigator is a subscription-based navigation app from Verizon. Don’t let that scare you away though. There’s a 30-day free trial for smartphones and then only $2 a month thereafter (if you like it and want to continue the service, of course). This is a great deal as it’s normally $4.95/month. Read on to find out why it’s work trying out.

Right after I installed the app and started it up, I noticed the clean layout. I also had instant access gas price comparisons, the weather, current movies, and events happening near my location. It was easy to figure out how everything worked from the get-to and no fiddling with options was immediately necessary. Options for navigation are short and sweet. For handsfree use, you can use the microphone icon to enter the address or place name verbally, instead of trying to juggle touching tiny keys while keeping your eyes on the road.

What makes VZ Navigator different are the features which make it intuitive and more user-friendly. My favorite feature has to be the WAY it gives you directions. Instead of only saying ‘turn right’ or ‘in 30 meters/feet’, it will tell you which lane to take, if you should turn at a signal or not, and what directions are coming up next. I also found the map to be very clear in showing where I currently was and how to proceed to the next direction with, “Get ready to…”

Real-time traffic is pretty accurate. Even when ‘traffic congestion’ was detected, I arrived at my destination at the exact time originally estimated. Directions are mostly right on and it recalculates routes fairly quickly. A couple times I did notice a slight delay of how close I actually was to a particular street but this was minor and rare. I used the app when taking my dog for a surgery consultation. The area was not a familiar one to me but I found the veterinary hospital with no issues at all.

Comparing it with other apps or devices, VZ Navigator is laid out very nicely with all the information you need and at good sizes as well. Some apps try to cram too much ‘stuff’ onto the screen so it’s hard to focus on the directions and street names get cut off. The green arrow that pops up is EXTREMELY helpful, especially when certain areas have several roads intersecting at one point. The graphics themselves are simple and functional, giving a very sleek appearance. It may be weird but I think the speed limit sign in the corner is so cute. It lights up red when you go over the suggested speed limit but does not ding at you every time you go 1 mph over.

The voice is easy to understand, not bossy, and does not break out into strange altered tones when when trying to say street names. Other apps either say too little or too much, making the verbal directions terribly confusing. Those are some serious issues when you have a little device telling you what to do every few minutes. By the way, my husband likes that the voice is named Michelle, my middle name.

I haven’t had the opportunity to use the app on too many trips so far. Still, the times I have used it, I’ve been very pleased . There are many, many other programs that are free or charge a one-time fee. I can’t really say that those compare equally to this one though. $2 a month is nothing compared to the amount of money I’ve wasted on getting lost and back-tracking oh so many times. If this navigation app can get me to my destination without sending me to Timbuktu and help me arrive at the time estimated, it’s a winner in my book! I just found out that this is PER phone though so keep that in mind so you don’t unknowingly get charged twice each month.

After trying VZ Navigator on just a few trips, you’ll instantly know whether or not it’s right for you. So don’t forget to take advantage of the 30-day free trial and the $2/month deal. You’ll be happy you did!