I have tried a few different apps for navigation and each has pluses and minuses. Google maps still remains for me the go-to app and that has to do with its accuracy with traffic info, generally excellent information on hotels, the necessity and ease of downloading maps for offline use, and the audio directions for coming into and leaving cities (no matter what country). Sometimes the walking route navigation has been useful rather than the car directions. Bicycle directions are not yet available for most countries.
Sometimes it isn’t clear in google if a “hotel” is just a restaurant or a place to stay for the night. The photo in google usually will indicate which it is.
I have found cycling in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh that smaller highways are invariably nicer. But there are also rude surprises. Usually I prefer the rude surprises to be beautiful 4 lane highways rather than potholed mud but that isn’t really indicated in Google Maps.
I wish I were less intent on getting from A to B and more relaxed about the tour no matter how much longer it takes.
As a “credit card” cycle tourist I do have to plan to arrive at a town big enough to have some kind of lodge. I have been caught out a few times in Europe and India, but those are stories for another time.
Another app I used to use is maps.me. It has routing for bicycling but I have found it sometimes directing me on nonexistent roads. I still consult it.
For me Komoot, very popular with cycle tourists has not really been useful. Maybe it is particularly not good in South Asia.
One of my Warmshowers guests recommended Mapy.cz and I also consult it but have not gotten used to using it regularly. Also Pocket Earth was recommended and it also seems good.
Ride with GPS is also a great app for planning ahead. I used it more in South India.
I spend hours on the navigation apps the night before especially when there are multiple route options. I think it is one of the most interesting aspects of cycle touring.
