Head-to-head · 2026

HERE vs Google Maps

HERE is a European alternative to Google Maps — same search & internet use case, built under EU data-protection law.

By the EU Alternatives team Last updated 19 April 2026

European alternative

HERE

Netherlands

Jurisdiction: EU / EEA
GDPR by default: Yes
US CLOUD Act exposure: No
Open source: No
Free tier: No

See full HERE profile

Non-EU

Google Maps

Google · US

Google Maps by Google.

Jurisdiction: US
GDPR by default: Requires DPA + TIA
US CLOUD Act exposure: Yes

All European alternatives to Google Maps

About HERE

HERE is a Dutch-headquartered location technology platform providing maps, routing, and automotive-grade location data to automakers, logistics operators, and enterprises. It powers navigation, fleet management, and automated driving with a unified live map covering more than 200 countries and territories.

The platform combines HD Live Map for road geometry, traffic signs, and route profiling with a cross-platform SDK, REST APIs, and tools for automated driving, digital cockpits, and anonymization of location data. Partnerships such as the SDV Accelerator with AWS extend HERE into software-defined vehicle architectures.

Key features:

HD Live Map lane-level geometry for ADAS and autonomous driving
HERE SDK iOS, Android, Flutter, and web development kits
Global coverage maps and routing in 200+ countries
Anonymizer privacy tooling for vehicle and sensor data
Fleet and logistics APIs routing, matrix, and tolls for enterprise fleets

HERE is headquartered in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, and operates under EU jurisdiction with a published Privacy Charter and Responsible AI Charter. The platform emphasises data minimisation and GDPR compliance, and its Anonymizer tool is designed to strip personally identifying information from vehicle location streams before processing.

Ranked number one in the Omdia Location Platform Index and used by more than 90 OEM brands, HERE powers over 238 million shipped vehicles for customers including BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Ford, Bosch, Continental, SAP, Oracle, and Uber, offering a credible European alternative to Google Maps Platform for enterprise and automotive workloads.

Why choose HERE over Google Maps?

The decisive argument is data jurisdiction. Google Maps is headquartered in US, which means personal data processed through it can be subject to non-EU legal regimes — the US CLOUD Act, FISA 702, or similar laws depending on the provider. After the 2020 Schrems II ruling, EU organisations must carry out a transfer impact assessment for every such data flow.

HERE removes that overhead. As a Netherlands-based provider, it operates natively under GDPR, and data stays inside the EU/EEA by default. For regulated sectors — health, public administration, finance — that's not a nice-to-have but a requirement. For everyone else, it's concentration-risk insurance: you avoid depending on a single non-EU jurisdiction that can change the rules without warning.

Frequently asked questions

Is HERE a good alternative to Google Maps?

Yes — HERE is one of the top-ranked European alternatives to Google Maps in our directory, covering the same search & internet use case. It is headquartered in Netherlands, keeping your data under EU law by default.

What's the main difference between HERE and Google Maps?

The biggest difference is jurisdiction: HERE is based in Netherlands and operates under GDPR and EU data-protection law, while Google Maps is headquartered in US and may transfer data outside the EU. For regulated industries or organisations following Schrems II guidance, this difference is decisive.

Is HERE GDPR-compliant?

HERE is a European company based in Netherlands, so GDPR compliance is the default operating model — not a bolt-on. No transfer impact assessment is required for EU customers, unlike when using Google Maps.

How do I migrate from Google Maps to HERE?

Start by exporting your data from Google Maps (most providers offer an export in their settings). Then import into HERE using its native import tool or migration guide. Running both in parallel for a week catches any feature or workflow gaps before you fully switch.

Other European alternatives to Google Maps