Gaia GPS solves this by allowing you to directly to your phone’s internal storage while you are still connected to Wi-Fi or cellular data. Once these maps are saved, your phone uses its internal GPS chip (which works independently of cell service) to pinpoint your location on those saved maps.

Gaia GPS utilizes the same GPS satellites as dedicated handheld units (like a Garmin). Your device communicates with these satellites to pinpoint your coordinates on top of the map tiles you have pre-saved.

: If you do not download maps beforehand, the app will only show a blurry, low-resolution version of the map in areas without service. Essential Requirements for Offline Use