Policies and attributions for Navigation SDK for iOS

This document lists requirements for applications that you develop with the Navigation SDK for iOS.

Acceptable use

You can use the Navigation SDK for iOS to provide drivers with real-time turn-by-turn navigation in a mobile application. You can also use the data that the API generates in other applications to share information related to driver status and to track driver locations generally.

Disallowed use

You can use the Navigation SDK for iOS only for commercial applications. You can't use the Navigation SDK for iOS for the following categories of use cases without express prior written consent from Google:

For heavy or large vehicle routing or navigation, such as for buses, trucks, or vehicles with road restrictions, you must use large vehicle routing with a Google-provisioned project or ensure that the services explicitly specify support for heavy or large vehicle navigation.

Content scraping

The road name and speed limit can be returned to you based on user interactions with your app. If you capture or persist the road name or speed limit for use in any other context outside of the user session, this action constitutes scraping, which isn't allowed by Google's terms.

Acceptable modifications to the Navigation UI

The Navigation SDK for iOS lets you make certain UI customizations, such as customizing the navigation map, adding custom markers, changing the size and content of the header and footer surrounding the navigation viewport, or changing the size of the navigation viewport itself. In some situations, you might also want to overlay content on top of the active navigation screen.

When you do so, you can't introduce modifications that inhibit safe use by drivers. For example, you must avoid the following changes because they can negatively affect driver safety:

  • Showing distracting animations during active navigation.
  • Showing overlays on the navigation screen without explicit driver action.
  • Positioning overlays on the active navigation screen that hide the driver's current location or permanently block important navigation information. This information includes upcoming turns, lane guidance, compass orientation, and all standard UI elements in the navigation experience.
  • Removing the road network from the navigation map or significantly reducing color contrast of map features on the navigation map.

Other implementation requirements

  • You can't modify the Navigation SDK in-product terms without prior written consent from Google.
  • Your app must display the following information to users when they first use the app:
    • The Navigation SDK terms of use.
    • Users should always exercise independent judgment when using navigation, because information from the Navigation SDK service might differ from actual real-time conditions.
    • Users are solely responsible for costs incurred when following the directions provided by the Navigation SDK service, such as for toll fees or high-occupancy vehicle lanes.

Google Maps attribution requirements

This section provides attribution requirements and guidelines for displaying Google Maps and content through your applications.

Display Google Maps attribution

You must follow Google Maps attribution requirements when displaying content from Google Maps Platform APIs in your app or website. You don't need to add extra attribution if the content is shown on a Google Map where the attribution is already visible.

Included Google Maps attribution

Follow these rules for Google Maps attribution that's already provided by Google Maps Platform in the user interface:

  • Don't remove included attribution regardless of where it's displayed. Don't alter, hide, or obscure the attribution, and make sure it's clearly visible against the background.
  • Always visually distinguish Google Maps Platform content from other content by using UI cues such as a border, background color, shadow, or sufficient whitespace.
  • When making visual modifications, you must follow all Google Maps attribution requirements.

Attribution takes the form of the Google Maps logo whenever possible. In cases where space is limited, the text Google Maps is acceptable. Make sure that it's always clear to users which content is provided by Google Maps.

Logo attribution

Follow these requirements for using the Google Maps logo in your app.

Acceptable variations for Google Maps logo attribution
Acceptable variations for Google Maps logo attribution

Download Google Maps logos

You can download the official Google Maps logo files and follow the guidelines in this section.

Download the Google Maps attribution assets

When using the Google Maps logo, follow these guidelines:

  • Don't modify the logo in any way.
  • Maintain the aspect ratio of the logo to prevent distortion.
  • On a busy background, such as a map or image, use the outlined logo.
  • On a plain background, such as a solid color or subtle gradient, use the non-outlined logo.

Logo size specification

Follow these size specifications for the Google Maps logo:

  • Minimum logo height: 16dp
  • Maximum logo height: 19dp
  • Minimum logo clear space: 10dp on left, right, and top, 5dp on the bottom

For more information about pixel density, see Pixel density on the Material Design website.

Google Maps logo showing minimum clear space and acceptable size range
Google Maps logo showing minimum clear space and acceptable size range

Logo accessibility

Follow these accessibility requirements for the Google Maps logo:

  • Maintain an accessible contrast between the logo and the background.
  • Include an accessibility label with the text Google Maps.
Unacceptable variations and accessibility issues for Google Maps logo attribution
Unacceptable variations and accessibility issues for Google Maps logo attribution

Text attribution

If the size of your interface doesn't support using the Google Maps logo, you can spell out Google Maps in text. Follow these guidelines:

Acceptable variations of the Google Maps text attribution
Acceptable variations of the Google Maps text attribution
  • Don't modify the text Google Maps in any way:
    • Don't change the capitalization of Google Maps.
    • Don't wrap Google Maps onto multiple lines.
    • Don't localize Google Maps into another language.
    • Don't let browsers translate Google Maps; use the HTML attribute translate="no".
Unacceptable variations of the Google Maps text attribution
Unacceptable variations of the Google Maps text attribution
  • Style Google Maps text as described in the following table:

    Google Maps text-styling requirements
    Property Style
    Font family Roboto. Loading the font is optional.
    Fallback font family Any sans-serif body font already used in your product or "Sans-Serif" to invoke the default system font
    Font style Normal
    Font weight 400
    Font color White, black (#1F1F1F), or gray (#5E5E5E). Maintain accessible (4.5:1) contrast against the background.
    Font size Minimum font size: 12sp
    Maximum font size: 16sp
    For more information about sp, see Font size units on the Material Design website.
    Letter spacing Normal

Example CSS

The following CSS renders Google Maps with the appropriate typographic style and color on a white or light background.

@import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Roboto&display=swap');

.GMP-attribution {
font-family: Roboto, Sans-Serif;
font-style: normal;
font-weight: 400;
font-size: 1rem;
letter-spacing: normal;
white-space: nowrap;
color: #5e5e5e;
}

Visual requirements

Follow these requirements for the visual treatment of Google Maps attribution.

  • Position attribution near the top or bottom of the content, and within the same visual container. For a single line of content, attribution can be positioned to the right or left.
  • Visually distinguish Google Maps Platform content from other content by using UI cues such as a border, background color, shadow, or sufficient whitespace.
  • Don't misrepresent Google Maps by attributing it with non-Google Maps Platform content.
  • Verify that the attribution is always visible and legible. Don't remove, hide, obscure, or modify it.