[dandv]

Maps has been improving at an amazing rate, and some people are quite excited about it:

https://www.justinobeirne.com/google-maps-moat

[sorenjan]

At least where I live (Sweden) Google Maps is often worse than OpenStreetMap, and there are several other sites with both better aerial photography and map data. I also think Google Maps' white on gray color scheme is hard to read.

I made this as an example [0]. It's Google Maps, OpenStreetMaps, a local competitor (Hitta), and the official government map agency (Lantmäteriet) that Google used to buy their map data from according to their copyright info. Notice several features missing in Google's data, and how bland and low contrast it is in comparison. Speaking of which, try finding this road on Google Maps using your phone when the sun is shining: [1]

Google's aerial photos in the same area is from 2014 and is both lower resolution and older than the two alternatives I looked at.

I still use Google Maps quite a lot, but in my opinion they're slipping and doesn't seem to care about keeping data updated as much as having local guides reviewing restaurants and grocery stores.

[0] https://imgur.com/a/DxImF

[1] https://imgur.com/a/aPtiD

[elaus]

Google Maps is much more than just a map display though: Things like routing, current/expected traffic or business info (opening times, busy hours, ...) are so much better than anything OSM-related services have to offer right now, especially to non-technical users. Smartphone map apps that use OSM are a lot more technical or convoluted than Google Maps sadly.

[jessriedel]

Agreed. The "search along route" feature during navigation was a long time coming, but when they finally implemented it they did it perfectly.

[wils1245]

That's a superb writeup. Really uncovers differentiators that I could feel but not put my finger on.