At a glance
| Shows your speed | Posted limits / alerts | Cost & ads | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ClearSpeed GPS | Yes — full-screen, MPH/KM/H/knots, HUD | No | $3.99 once, no ads; Data Not Collected | A big speed readout anywhere, including water and offline |
| Waze | Yes — optional speedometer | Yes — shows limits and can alert when speeding | Free; App Store listing notes ads; Data Linked to You | Road trips with navigation, traffic, and limit warnings |
| Google Maps | Yes — “Show speedometer” in navigation settings | Yes, where the Speed Limits feature is available | Free; App Store listing notes ads; Data Linked to You | Navigation with speed context |
| Apple Maps | Not documented by Apple | Shows the speed limit during driving directions (toggle in Settings) | Built into iOS | Posted limit while navigating, nothing to install |
What the help pages say
- Waze: you can turn on the speedometer “to see how fast you’re driving,” choose when to show the speed limit, and turn on “Alert when speeding”; the speedometer turns red over the limit. Waze Help.
- Google Maps (iPhone): the speedometer “shows you how fast you’re driving,” and where Speed Limits is available it lets you know if you’re driving too fast. Google describes it as for informational use only. Google Maps Help.
- Apple Maps: the iPhone User Guide describes turning Speed Limit on or off under Settings → Apps → Maps → Driving; it doesn’t describe a current-speed readout. Apple Support.
When a dedicated speedometer still makes sense
- You aren’t navigating. Built-in speedometers live inside turn-by-turn navigation; a dedicated app shows speed without a route.
- You want a bigger number, or a mirrored HUD reflection at night.
- You’re on water or trails, need knots, or have no cell coverage — road-limit data doesn’t apply there anyway.
- You want trip totals (distance, average, max) saved privately on the device.
- Privacy: ClearSpeed’s App Store label is Data Not Collected; the navigation apps above list Data Linked to You.
When you should just use Waze or Google Maps
If speed-limit warnings are the reason you want a speedometer, use a navigation app — ClearSpeed doesn’t know posted limits. Both are free and work with CarPlay, which ClearSpeed does not.
Driving safely
Set units, mode, and brightness while parked. Mount the phone securely where it does not block your view and where local law allows, then leave it alone while the vehicle is moving. ClearSpeed is an informational display; your vehicle's speedometer and posted signs remain the reference.
ClearSpeed GPS
$3.99 once in the U.S. App Store. No subscription, in-app purchases, ads, or account. View on the App Store.