With navigation apps for smart phones gaining in number and popularity, Consumer Reports checked them out to find the best.
Sales of portable GPS units have fallen, but plenty of people are downloading navigation apps to get where they're going. Consumer Reports tested some of the latest.
If you own an Android phone, you're in luck. It comes with free Google navigation built right in. It has turn-by-turn directions, just like on a regular GPS.
If you are an iPhone user, you'll need to download an app.
"There are plenty of free options available, but we've found you tend to get what you pay for," said Jim Travers of Consumer Reports
You can't go wrong buying an app from one of the GPS giants; TomTom, Garmin, Navigon and Magellan, according to Consumer Reports.
"It's no surprise that the companies whose GPS navigators do best in our testing also make some of the top apps for the iPhone," Travers said.
Expect to pay up to $60 for a quality name-brand app. Also, the download can eat up a chunk of your iPhone's memory.
No matter which phone you have, the screens are generally smaller than those of a GPS unit. You'll also have to factor in the cost of a mount and a charger.