A navigation app that’s been around since 2009 has raced to the top of Apple’s U.S. and Canadian App Store charts, dethroning Google Maps as the most popular travel app. It also now tops the Android charts in both countries for Maps & Navigation apps.
MapQuest started to see a surge in downloads shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump announced he was using an executive order to rename Lake Ontario as Lake America following a breakdown in trade talks with Canada.
While Google Maps — and Apple Maps for that matter — renamed the body of water between the U.S. and Canada as “Lake America” for U.S.-based users, MapQuest responded to Trump’s move in a post on X, saying simply: “We’re not changing it.”
The team even poked fun at the name change, creating a webpage where you can enter your own name for Lake Ontario and share the work.
As of September 3, MapQuest is sitting pretty at the top of Apple’s App Store charts for free apps in both countries. Before the surge in downloads, the app was reportedly at 128th spot before topping the chart on September 1.
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In a post online, Google explained that it labels its maps according to the official naming authority for each country, so it’s “Lake America” to U.S. users, while those in Canada will see “Lake Ontario“.
MapQuest is actually one of the pioneers of online mapping. The Los Angeles-based team launched the software on the web in 1996 before creating a version for the iPhone in 2009.
Following years as a leading online map provider, MapQuest was eventually overtaken in popularity by Google Maps, or until just recently. The two apps actually compare in several ways.
At the heart of both MapQuest and Google Maps is navigation and route planning, but each has its own strong points. MapQuest, for example, focuses on driving, offering turn-by-turn navigation, live traffic, alternate routes, and multi-stop planning, making it useful for everyone from occasional road users to professional drivers.
Google Maps offers a wide-ranging experience, including lots of information on businesses and attractions, along with photos and user reviews.
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It may ultimately come down to how you like your lakes named. For instance, MapQuest’s decision to retain the original name of Lake Ontario may be seen as a more neutral approach, whereas Google Maps decision to change the name may be viewed as a more politically driven move.
MapQuest has used its decades of experience to create a compelling alternative that excels in certain areas, particularly driving directions.
In contrast, Google Maps offers a range of features, such as satellite imagery and Street View.
It is now at the top of the charts.
