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Manifold VS Google Maps

Compare Manifold VS Google Maps and see what are their differences

Manifold logo Manifold

Manifold GIS is a combination of mapping, CAD, DBMS and image processing.

Google Maps logo Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.
  • Manifold Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-19
  • Google Maps
    Image date //
    2024-01-08

Manifold features and specs

  • Speed
    Manifold is known for its high-performance capabilities, enabling rapid data processing and visualization, even for large datasets.
  • Scalability
    The software efficiently handles a wide range of data sizes, from small datasets to extensive geographical information systems (GIS), without compromising performance.
  • Integrated Tools
    Manifold offers a comprehensive suite of integrated GIS tools, allowing users to perform various analytical tasks within a single platform.
  • Cost-Effective
    Compared to other GIS software, Manifold provides robust features at a relatively lower cost, making it accessible for small to medium-sized enterprises.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    Manifold can run on various operating systems, including Windows and Linux, providing flexibility in the choice of deployment environments.

Possible disadvantages of Manifold

  • Learning Curve
    Due to its richness in features and tools, new users may find Manifold challenging to master without proper training or extensive use.
  • User Interface
    Some users may find the user interface less intuitive or visually appealing compared to other modern GIS software, potentially hindering usability.
  • Limited Community Support
    Unlike more popular GIS platforms, Manifold has a smaller user community, which can result in limited community-based resources, tutorials, and third-party plugins.
  • Documentation
    While Manifold provides documentation, some users report that it can be insufficiently detailed or difficult to navigate, which impacts the ease of learning.
  • Platform Specific Features
    Certain advanced features may be optimized or more readily available on specific operating systems, limiting uniform functionality across all platforms.

Google Maps features and specs

  • Detailed Information
    Google Maps provides extensive details about locations, including photos, reviews, operating hours, and contact information.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The platform boasts an intuitive design that is easy to navigate for both casual users and professionals.
  • Real-Time Updates
    Offers real-time traffic updates, accident reports, and road closures to help users avoid delays.
  • Multi-modal Directions
    Supports directions for driving, walking, cycling, and public transportation, offering flexibility for different commuting needs.
  • Street View
    Provides 360-degree panoramic views of streets, enabling users to virtually explore neighborhoods before visiting.
  • Offline Maps
    Allows users to download maps for offline use, which is useful in areas with poor or no internet connectivity.
  • Integration with Other Services
    Easily integrates with other Google services like Google Calendar, making it convenient to plan trips and appointments.

Possible disadvantages of Google Maps

  • Privacy Concerns
    The service collects extensive user data, raising privacy issues regarding how this information is used and shared.
  • Battery Consumption
    Real-time features and GPS usage can significantly drain the battery life of mobile devices.
  • Inaccuracies
    Despite frequent updates, some information may be outdated or inaccurate, such as business hours or road conditions.
  • Data Usage
    Uses a considerable amount of data, which can be problematic for users with limited data plans.
  • Overreliance
    Users may become overly dependent on the service for navigation, potentially reducing their ability to navigate without digital assistance.
  • Ad Integration
    Contains sponsored content and ads, which can sometimes disrupt the user experience.
  • Complexity
    Additional features and layers of information can make it overwhelming for users who just need basic navigation.

Analysis of Manifold

Overall verdict

  • Manifold is considered a good platform for those interested in prediction markets and interactive forecasting. It caters well to data enthusiasts and those looking to engage in a community-centric forecasting tool.

Why this product is good

  • Community
    It boasts a vibrant community focused on sharing insights and data, making it a socially engaging platform.
  • Innovation
    Manifold is recognized for its innovative approach, combining elements of social media, prediction markets, and gamification to provide a unique experience.
  • Prediction market
    Manifold is known for its prediction market platform, where users can participate in, create, and bet on the outcome of events, which helps improve forecasting and decision-making.

Recommended for

  • Analysts and data enthusiasts seeking a community to discuss predictions and outcomes.
  • Individuals interested in betting and forecasting the future via a well-structured platform.
  • People who enjoy engaging in social, interactive environments centered around predictive analytics.

Analysis of Google Maps

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Google Maps is widely regarded as a good and effective tool for navigation and location-based services.

Why this product is good

  • Google Maps is considered to be a highly reliable and comprehensive mapping service due to its extensive database, regular updates, user-friendly interface, and integration with other Google services. It offers real-time traffic updates, various map views, and detailed directions for driving, walking, biking, and public transportation.

Recommended for

  • Individuals seeking reliable directions and navigation.
  • Users needing real-time traffic and transit updates.
  • Travelers looking for local business information and reviews.
  • Anyone requiring integration with other Google services like Calendar or Contacts.

Manifold videos

Manifold Garden | Review in 3 Minutes

More videos:

  • Review - Manifold Garden is Infinitely Entertaining | Review
  • Review - Manifold Garden | Review

Google Maps videos

New Apple Maps Features That Beat Google Maps!

More videos:

  • Review - Unhelpful Google Maps Reviews - Sub Safari
  • Review - Epic Google Maps Reviews by Local Guides | The Review Review Episode 3

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Manifold and Google Maps)
Productivity
100 100%
0% 0
Maps
3 3%
97% 97
Project Management
100 100%
0% 0
Web Mapping
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Manifold and Google Maps

Manifold Reviews

Top 7 ArcGIS Alternatives For Your GIS Needs
Outstanding performance: Manifold GIS is a perfect choice for companies that need to perform analysis of large datasets. Known for its fast processing of vast spatial datasets, it runs far faster and comes with superior data science capabilities.Affordable pricing: Manifold GIS offers the lowest cost of ownership: a fully paid Manifold Professional license is available for...
Source: nextbillion.ai
30 Best GIS Software Applications [Rankings]
Manifold System is something you can just pick up and get accustomed to quickly. Its highlights are its intuitive interface, programmability and 64-bit processing. Manifold GIS has a solid set of tools. But without the high price tag.

Google Maps Reviews

Best Tools for Planning a Vacation to Ireland in 2025
Google Maps has been a popular navigation assistant for many years and offers not just driving directions but help finding local restaurants, accommodation and more.
8 Best Alternatives to Google Travel Trip Summaries
If you appreciated the ability to sync Google Trip Summaries with Google Maps, the closing of Trip Summaries doesn’t mean you can no longer sync itineraries to Google Maps. Wanderlog allows you to export any itinerary you create within the app to Google Maps, allowing you to see the location of every attraction you want to visit and gain information on how to travel between...
Source: wanderlog.com
The 8 Best Bike Navigation Apps Ridden & Rated
UX-wise, we’ve given Google Maps a near-perfect nine. The clutter-free layout and recognisable graphics. How would they score a ten? We’d love Google Maps to expand its immersive view (a flyby 3D model of a given route) beyond major cities like London.
Source: loop.cc
The Best Travel Apps for 2025
My number one go-to travel app is Google Maps. On the ground, it shows you where you are and how to get to where you need to go, whether by foot, public transit, car, or bicycle. Google Maps is equally helpful when you want to explore what's around, including hotels, restaurants, and gas stations. Often, the listing for sites and businesses include hours of operation,...
Source: www.pcmag.com
7 Alternatives to Google Maps for Navigation
Google Maps is often the go-to navigation app for many of us. But what if you’re looking for something a little different? There are many alternatives to Google Maps that provide similar features and functions.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Manifold seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 83 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Manifold mentions (83)

  • Jpeg to ECW
    Manifold v9 is much more reasonable and highly capable for dealing with merging image files and exportation to ecw. It is even better than that route in leaving it in the manifold project format. IYKYK. Manifold.net. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Low/no code web map builders?
    Low cost: Manifold. There's a new web/map server that's now part of the GIS for Universal and above editions, $195. If you have a Windows machine that has an externally visible IP (static IP on Internet, or visible IP in your internal network), just install the 31 MB download for Manifold, create the map you want in the usual desktop way, and then it can automatically serve that in a WYSIWYG way using a default... Source: almost 2 years ago
  • I found something even more useless than a "999999" error
    Only if you use lower quality software. Some software, including some GIS software, you can use every day, all day for 20 years and not expect to see a crash, not even once, no matter how complex the task. PostgreSQL is like that and for desktop GIS software, Manifold. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Merging two different DEMs
    An easy way is to use Manifold. The Merge Images dialog which merges any stack of rasters will merge two different DEMS in a couple of clicks. The dialog's page has links to detailed examples and a video showing how to merge DEMs. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Need to join raster and vector data
    Manifold Release 9 - it has a Join dialog that makes this trivial for almost any size data set. Takes a few clicks and less than a minute. Here's an illustrated, step-by-step example with an example video here. Source: about 2 years ago
View more

Google Maps mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Google Maps yet. Tracking of Google Maps recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Manifold and Google Maps, you can also consider the following products

Trello - Infinitely flexible. Incredibly easy to use. Great mobile apps. It's free. Trello keeps track of everything, from the big picture to the minute details.

Mapbox - An open source mapping platform for custom designed maps. Our APIs and SDKs are the building blocks to integrate location into any mobile or web app.

Maptitude - Maptitude is a mapping software that is fitted with GIS features that avail maps and other forms of data regarding the surrounding geographical areas. Read more about Maptitude.

OpenStreetMap - OpenStreetMap is a map of the world, created by people like you and free to use under an open license.

ArcGIS Pro - Explore ArcGIS Pro resources such as tutorials, videos, documentation, instructor-led classes & more. Find answers, build expertise and connect with the ArcGIS Pro community.

OSGeo - QGIS is a desktop geographic information system, or GIS.