Archive · 8 Oct 2026
Lake Name Backlash Drives Interest in Google Maps Alternatives
Google and Apple changed the name of a lake on their maps after President Trump ordered a new name.
Some people objected, especially because the companies had previously changed the Gulf of Mexico's name on their maps too.
This made more people curious about other map apps.
MapQuest, TomTom, and HERE WeGo are some choices.
Some apps are made for drivers, while others help people walk, bike, or use public transportation.
A number of apps let users save maps to use when they are offline.
Some European services emphasize privacy, and their business models can differ from advertising.
Citymapper helps people plan trips around cities.
Waze shares traffic reports from drivers, but it belongs to Google.
Google and Apple relabeled Lake Ontario as Lake America after President Donald Trump ordered the change.
The map changes sparked backlash among some users and renewed interest in alternatives to major tech companies.
MapQuest app downloads surged in early September, and the app reached the top of Apple's free-app charts in the U.S. and Canada.
Alternatives include driver-focused TomTom, multi-mode HERE WeGo, privacy-oriented European apps, and public-transit planner Citymapper.
Waze offers crowdsourced traffic information but is owned by Google, which bought it in 2013.
- Who
- Google and Apple changed the map label; some users reacted by looking at alternatives.
- What
- The name change prompted backlash and increased interest in map services outside major tech companies.
- When
- After President Donald Trump ordered the name change; MapQuest downloads surged in early September.
- Where
- The map change was reflected in digital maps; MapQuest's app topped free-app charts in the U.S. and Canada.
- Why
- Some users objected to the renaming, while lingering privacy concerns also encouraged interest in alternatives.
- Map label
- Google and Apple relabeled Lake Ontario as Lake America.
- MapQuest app availability
- The app is available in the U.S. and Canada; its website can be used in other countries.
- MapQuest download surge
- Downloads surged in early September, and it topped Apple's free-app charts in the U.S. and Canada.
- HERE WeGo
- Offers routes for cars, public transport, walking and cycling, among other modes; downloadable country maps support offline use.
- Citymapper coverage
- The app covers 430 cities around the world.
- Waze ownership
- Google bought Waze in 2013.
- Privacy context
- The article says some European map services operate under the EU's GDPR framework and do not rely on extensive user-data collection for targeted advertising.