Updated June 25, 2026
Google Maps is great for finding and saving places, and Google's My Maps can build a custom shared map. Neither is made for planning a trip together in real time. Here's how Places compares, and when each one is the right tool.
Where Places wins
- Real-time editing. Google's My Maps lets several people edit a custom map, but it isn't live: everyone has to refresh to see changes. In Places, edits appear the instant they happen. Saved lists in the Google Maps app have no shared editing at all.
- Vote to decide together. The group votes on places right on the map to pick the winners. Neither saved lists nor My Maps has voting.
- Every place comes filled in. Search or paste a link and each place arrives with a photo, a description, and a color, ready for your note. In My Maps you add all of that by hand.
- Import from TikTok and links. Paste a TikTok, a Reel, or an article and Places pins the spots. Google has no social or video import.
- Share a public link, made for your phone. Share a read-only link anyone can open, no account needed, and edit it from a mobile-first app. My Maps is really a desktop tool and is awkward to edit on a phone.
Where Google Maps lists wins
- Already on your phone. Google Maps is installed everywhere, with zero signup.
- Navigation. Best-in-class turn-by-turn directions and live traffic.
- Offline maps. Download whole areas for offline use.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Places | Google Maps lists |
|---|---|---|
| Real-time sync of edits | Yes | No, My Maps needs a refresh |
| Vote on places | Yes | No |
| Auto photo and description per place | Yes | No, manual |
| Notes and colors per place | Yes | My Maps, manual |
| Import from TikTok and links | Yes | No |
| Share a public link | Yes | Yes |
| Turn-by-turn navigation | Export to Google Maps | Yes |
Which should you choose?
Google Maps is where you go once you've decided; Places is how you decide together. My Maps can make a shared custom map, but it is desktop-first with no live sync or voting. Plan and vote in Places for free, then export to KML (a Pro feature) to open the finished map in Google Maps for navigation.
