Bing Maps comes from Microsoft and offers a range of different services you can use, like satellite images, road views, detailed directions, data from local businesses, insights about traffic, and even 3D maps of various cities.
Thanks to the integration of Maps into the Microsoft Bing services, you always get the most updated information, business listings, and other insights. Even when you search for things with Bing, the way it integrates with maps means your results will be better adjusted to your location.
With Bing Maps, you can use 3D views that have regularly extended coverage so that you are able to access the map on a street level. You can always switch to more standard options like aerial views or bird's-eye perspectives. When you want to get a route to a specific location, you can select from different modes of transportation like walking, driving a car, biking, or even taking public transport. Bing Maps is available both as a web-based service and through dedicated mobile apps.
Why should I download Bing Maps?
Whether you need a tool for daily navigation, planning a route, or exploring a place, with Bing Maps, you get a wide array of location-based features. You can preview places through Road views for navigation or switch to an Aerial View, which includes satellite images. There's also an option to pick a more detailed Bird's Eye or even explore different places from a street level, though that last option is limited to some specific locations.
You can place multiple layers on top of your maps, and they can show things like weather conditions or elevation information. There are also geolocation tools to use, such as measuring distances in metric or imperial units or placing custom pins to save a place.
Bing Maps includes live updates on traffic conditions, and you can select if you're commuting by car, bike, foot, or public transport so that you can get the most optimal navigation. You can also use the service to discover local businesses, check their reviews or when they're open, and even get contact details if needed. Bing Maps uses integrated Bing search and venue mapping to give you the best results, and in some places, you can also access the indoors of a building and explore different floors and rooms.
There's also an ever-growing list of cities that have 3D maps in Bing Maps so that you can view and interact with realistic renders of a given place. This option allows you to rotate, pan, and zoom in and out on famous locations and explore various terrains. You can also use voice navigation in supported locations, which makes Bing Maps more accessible for diverse groups of users.
What's also worth mentioning is that Bing Maps integrates smoothly with other Microsoft services, like Microsoft Bing. This way, you can launch navigation directly from your search results or have the voice assistant Cortana guide you to your target. You can also see results from Bing Maps in Microsoft Teams or Outlook, and your location data will be synced with other apps as long as you're logged in to your Microsoft account.
If you're a developer or a business user, you can integrate Bing Maps into your web, desktop, or mobile services with their API calls. This way, you can embed maps, track location, or visualize data on maps.
Is Bing Maps free?
Yes, for personal users, all the services Bing Maps offers are completely free, even if you're using an integrated service like the Bing search engine or other Microsoft products.
For business purposes, there's a free tier that only limits how many monthly transactions or connections you make, but above that, you can extend your usage by paying for one of the paid tiers.
What operating systems are compatible with Bing Maps?
In order to access or use Bing Maps, all you need is a modern and updated web browser like Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Safari, or Mozilla Firefox, and it supports all operating systems, namely Windows, macOS, and Linux.
There are also dedicated mobile apps if you prefer to use Bing Maps on your phone or tablet. To use the web app, you require either Android or iOS with a web browser. No other download needed.
What are the alternatives to Bing Maps?
The biggest competitor to Bing Maps is, of course, Google Maps. As a default choice for users on various devices and operating systems, Google Maps gives you access to real-time GPS navigation, Street View, checking business listings and reviews, and downloading maps offline. When you launch the app on your mobile phone, it can show precise walking directions, and you can use the built-in compass to adjust the direction you're facing. Google Maps integrates with Gmail, Google Assistant, and Google Calendar, and you can also open it from search results. It's a free service, and you can either access Google Maps through their website or download dedicated apps for your mobile devices.
On the other hand, OpenStreetMap is a project created by volunteers who add and maintain different geographical information. It's perfect if you're looking for very detailed maps or unpopular hiking locations, and the project's open-source nature means it's completely free. You can use the service on all operating systems, such as Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, and all your data will be kept safe and private, as it's one of the missions of OpenStreetMap.
Maps.me is a great option if you know you'll need offline access for longer. Built on the basis of maps provided by OpenStreetMap users, you can download entire cities and countries and generate walking, driving, or cycling step-by-step routes without access to the internet. It's a free service that offers in-app purchases, and you can download it on iOS and Android devices. It's a specially useful option for locations that don't have wide internet coverage or if you have specialized needs and are looking to go hiking or into places that aren't popular or supported by the bigger brands.
