Use google maps offline in an app

Question

I'm trying to develop and app that overlays some information on a google map.

I was wondering, if it is possible to cache at least a portion of this map, so that it could be used offline.

Answer 1

You can use an OpenStreetMaps controller (like osmdroid) and Google Maps tiles. According to the Google Maps TOS (10.1.3.b), it seems that you can use a portion of maps if you cache it temporarily and securely. Read more at this tutorial.

Answer 2

You won't have the permission to do that, as stated in Downloading/Caching Google Maps for Offline Use. However you could use the maps of OpenStreetMap or other providers who will allow this.

Answer 3

A status update in 2016:

Things have moved on in OSM world, and you can now get maps that are at least as good as the ones Google Maps provide using various SDK's. One of those is Mapbox Android SDK, which is vector based, and allows you to both cache things offline, and use them with a data connection.