TomTom GPS navigation device
Hacker ApprovedGPS navigator in Cars & transport
People recommend it as a GPS navigator that works offline without tracking through Google. Critics say it isn't great, and it is aimed at driving rather than walking.
People recommend it as a GPS navigator that works offline without tracking through Google. Critics say it isn't great, and it is aimed at driving rather than walking.
15 people gave an opinion
- recommend it
- 11
- criticize it
- 4
- approval share
- 73%
Recommended in 6 of 13 months
- November 2025: recommended
- December 2025: not recommended
- January 2026: not recommended
- February 2026: recommended
- March 2026: recommended
- April 2026: not recommended
- May 2026: recommended
- June 2026: not recommended
- July 2026: not recommended
- August 2026: not recommended
- September 2026: recommended
- October 2026: recommended
- November 2026: not recommended (month in progress)
Why it carries the badge
- 11 people recommend itNeeds 10 or more, met.
- 2.8 recommenders for every criticNeeds 2 to 1 or better, met.
- Recommended in 6 of 13 monthsNeeds 4 or more, met.
The same three rules apply to every product, and the badge can’t be bought. How the badge works
What people say about it
The reasons people give, with the number of comments that give each one. Open a reason to read what they said.
Why people recommend it
Each mark is one comment
Works offline without Google tracking
“The day I bought a TomTom (GPS that you could use without telling Google where you were going -imagine that!) was lifechanging.”
Comment from 10 May 2026 in “The Intolerable Hypocrisy of Cyberlibertarianism” “Seems a regression from the offline TomTom devices from the past.”
Comment from 1 May 2026 in “Rivian allows you to disable all internet connectivity” “Only navigation that I can find that has a good offline mode.”
Comment from 2 Oct 2026 in “Apple's smart home camera reportedly won't record video” Dedicated device, not tied to phone
“Seems a regression from the offline TomTom devices from the past.”
Comment from 1 May 2026 in “Rivian allows you to disable all internet connectivity” “instead of being able to just throw TomTom on 'em”
Comment from 18 Nov 2025 in “Israeli-founded app preloaded on Samsung phones is attracting controversy”
What people said
14 of the 15 comments that mention it, newest first. Each links to the original comment.
“Only navigation that I can find that has a good offline mode.”
“explicitly advertised for driving, not walking, so it's optimized to get you to places”
“TomTom and HERE WeGo are better alternatives.”
“A major update took away the feature that most made me use it in the first place”
“The day I bought a TomTom (GPS that you could use without telling Google where you were going -imagine that!) was lifechanging.”
“Apple Maps just shows whatever TomTom or MapmyIndia or another provider has”
“Seems a regression from the offline TomTom devices from the past.”
“TomTom is missing a lot of addresses”
“they are very active in OSM communities now”
“TomTom isn't great, but it's not like Maps has been great over the last few years either.”
“as long as you also carry a Garmin/TomTom”
“I believe TomTom also sells navigation apps that will work fine under these conditions.”
“all the Garmins and Tomtoms available now have "built-in wifi for updates"”
“instead of being able to just throw TomTom on 'em”
Counts come from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026. How we count. Report a mistake.