Apple Maps does not have a Street View feature like Google Maps does
Apple Maps lacks the street-level photography that Google Maps offers through Street View. When you open Apple Maps and zoom into a street address, you see a map and satellite imagery, but you cannot click to walk down the sidewalk and see what the location looks like from ground level. If you need to see a business storefront, check what a neighborhood looks like, or preview a walking route before you arrive, Apple Maps will not show you that view.
Apple has built other visual tools into Maps instead. The app includes a 3D city experience in select cities, showing buildings and landmarks in three dimensions from above. You can also use Flyover, which provides aerial 3D views of certain cities and landmarks. Neither of these replaces Street View's ground-level perspective, but they do give you more than a flat map.
Key Takeaways
- Apple Maps does not offer Street View or any ground-level street photography feature.
- Google Maps Street View lets you see street-level photos and walk virtually down sidewalks; Apple Maps does not have this.
- Apple Maps includes 3D city views and Flyover for aerial perspectives, but these show buildings from above, not from the street.
- If seeing a location from street level matters for your decision, you will need to use Google Maps or another service that includes Street View.
What Apple Maps shows you instead of Street View
Apple Maps displays satellite imagery, which shows a bird's-eye view of streets, buildings, and landmarks. You can zoom in and see rooftops, parking lots, and the general layout of an area. This works well for understanding the shape of a neighborhood or spotting a building's location, but it does not show you what you would see standing on the sidewalk.
In major cities including New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, London, and Toronto, Apple Maps also includes 3D city views. These show buildings rendered in three dimensions so you can tilt and rotate the map to see building facades and street-level details from an angled perspective. You can see the height and shape of buildings and get a sense of how crowded or developed an area is, but you are still looking down at the scene rather than standing in it.
Flyover is Apple's aerial 3D feature that covers landmarks and city centers in hundreds of locations worldwide. It provides a cinematic, bird's-eye view of famous sites and neighborhoods. Like 3D city views, Flyover shows you the landscape from above rather than from street level.
How Google Maps Street View works differently
Google Street View captures ground-level photographs along streets and displays them in a way that lets you look around as if you were standing on that spot. You can see storefronts, street signs, sidewalk conditions, and what the neighborhood actually looks like to someone walking there. You can move forward and backward along the street to explore an area virtually.
Street View coverage varies by location. Google has photographed most streets in cities and towns across North America, Europe, and many other regions, but rural areas and some countries have limited or no coverage. Google updates Street View periodically, so the images you see may be months or years old depending on when that street was last photographed.
When you might need Street View instead of Apple Maps
Street View is most useful when you want to see what a location looks like in person before you visit. If you are meeting someone at a specific address and want to know what the building looks like, Street View shows you the storefront or entrance. If you are considering moving to a neighborhood, Street View lets you virtually walk the streets and see the surroundings.
Street View also helps when you are trying to find a business entrance or parking area. Many businesses have multiple entrances or are set back from the main street, and Street View shows you which door to use and where to park. For accessibility planning, Street View lets you check for curb cuts, ramps, and sidewalk conditions before you arrive.
Apple Maps' 3D views and Flyover can give you a sense of an area's density and layout, but they do not replace Street View's ground-level perspective. If seeing the street-level view is important for your decision, you will need to switch to Google Maps or another service that includes Street View.
Other mapping services with Street View
Google Maps is the most widely used service with Street View coverage, but it is not the only one. Bing Maps includes Streetside, which is Microsoft's version of street-level imagery. Streetside coverage is smaller than Google's but includes many cities in North America and Europe.
Some specialized services also offer street-level views. Mapillary is a crowdsourced street imagery platform where users upload photos from their phones and cameras. Coverage is uneven but growing, and you can see real-time images from many streets. OpenStreetMap, a free mapping platform, sometimes links to Mapillary imagery for locations where it is available.
Why Apple Maps does not have Street View
Apple has not built Street View into Maps, likely because it would require massive investment in photography infrastructure and ongoing updates. Google spent years and significant resources photographing streets worldwide, and maintaining that coverage requires continuous work. Apple has instead focused on satellite imagery, 3D rendering, and Flyover as alternatives that require less constant updating.
Apple's approach prioritizes privacy differently than Google's. Street View requires photographing public streets and buildings, which raises questions about privacy and consent that vary by country. Apple may have chosen to avoid those complications by not collecting street-level photography at all.
How to use Google Maps Street View if you need it
If you are using an iPhone or iPad, you can open Google Maps in Safari or download the Google Maps app from the App Store. Search for an address, then look for the Street View thumbnail in the bottom left corner of the screen. Tap it to enter Street View mode. You can swipe to look around, and arrows on the street show you which directions you can move.
On a computer, go to Google Maps, search for an address, and drag the Pegman icon (the small figure) onto the street you want to see. The map will switch to Street View. You can click and drag to look around, or use the arrow keys to move forward and backward along the street.
If you need Street View for a location that does not have coverage, you can check Bing Maps Streetside or Mapillary to see if they have images of that area. Coverage varies, so one service may have photos where another does not.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see street-level photos in Apple Maps on my iPhone?
No. Apple Maps on iPhone, iPad, or Mac does not include street-level photography. You can see satellite imagery and 3D city views in some locations, but not ground-level Street View photos. To see street-level photos, you will need to use Google Maps or another service that includes that feature.
Does Apple Maps have anything similar to Street View?
Apple Maps includes 3D city views and Flyover, which show buildings and landmarks in three dimensions from an angled or aerial perspective. These give you more detail than a flat map, but they show the scene from above rather than from street level like Street View does.
Will Apple add Street View to Maps in the future?
Apple has not announced plans to add Street View to Maps. The company has focused on satellite imagery, 3D rendering, and Flyover instead. If that changes, Apple would likely announce it publicly, but there is no indication that is coming.
What is the best alternative if I need Street View?
Google Maps is the most complete option, with Street View coverage in most cities and towns across North America, Europe, and many other regions. Bing Maps Streetside is a smaller alternative with coverage in many cities. Both are free to use.
Can I use Google Maps Street View on my iPhone if I have Apple Maps?
Yes. You can download the Google Maps app from the App Store or use Google Maps in Safari on your iPhone. Both let you access Street View for any location that has coverage. You can switch between Apple Maps and Google Maps depending on which features you need.