Purpose determines the choice
Google Maps is designed for the general public: getting from A to B by the fastest route, finding a restaurant, planning public transport. MilMap is designed for professionals and enthusiasts who plan, coordinate, and document complex routes in the field.
Coordinate systems
Google Maps: WGS84 decimal degrees. No MGRS support. Coordinates are not configurable.
MilMap: Full MGRS, WGS84, and other formats. Configurable per map.
Route planning
Google Maps: Optimal routes for car, bicycle, walking via roads. Limited editability.
MilMap: Completely free routes anywhere on the map, independent of roads. Unlimited waypoints, colour-coding, equipment settings.
Offline use
Google Maps: Limited offline areas downloadable, but functionality is greatly reduced offline.
MilMap: Full functionality offline, including navigation, route editing, and SALUTE reports.
Export and documentation
Google Maps: No PDF export. Limited KML export via My Maps.
MilMap: PDF route books, KML for Google Earth, SALUTE reports as a PDF timeline.
When do you choose Google Maps?
Use Google Maps for: daily navigation, finding restaurants, public transport, live traffic information, 360° street views.
When do you choose MilMap?
Use MilMap for: military or SAR operations, professional expedition planning, off-road navigation, operational documentation, teams exchanging coordinates in MGRS format.
They complement each other
Google Maps is unbeatable for street navigation and daily use. MilMap is the choice for everything that goes beyond that. They are not mutually exclusive — you can even import KML exports from Google My Maps into MilMap for further operational processing.