Popular GPS Brands - Which Are Worth Buying?

If you've heard of GPS devices but don't know how to make sense of all of the brands you've heard about, you've come to the right article.  It can be difficult to differentiate between names like Magellan, TomTom, and Garmin, but it won't take you long to learn about them and start making some decisions about the type of GPS you'd like to have in your car.  We're all aware of shoe brands like Reebok and Nike, so the GPS world has a little catching up to do.  Here are some of the most popular GPS brands available.

Garmin. Billed by Consumer Reports as "by far the biggest selling brand" in the GPS world, Garmin controls about half of the GPS market today.  Pretty hefty!  That's why you'll see Garmin devices constantly as you search for GPS products you can buy - if you want it, there's a good chance that Garmin makes it.  You'll often see Garmin compared with other large brands like TomTom.  Speaking of TomTom...

TomTom. TomTom creates GPS devices that are easy-to-use, even for the technological "novices" out there.  If you want to get started with a simple GPS device in your car, you probably won't go wrong when you order a TomTom.  A quick perusal of their products list will show you the variety of devices they offer, so don't think that all TomTom products are for the GPS beginners.

Magellan. The appropriately-named Magellan series of GPS devices takes its name from the famous explorer and navigator who initiated the first trip around the world.  Based out of California, Magellan supplies navigation systems to Hertz rental cars, which means you might have used a Magellan product without noticing it! The next time you use a Hertz, keep tabs on how you enjoy your Magellan.

Nextar. This is a more recent addition to the GPS market, and Nextar is making its mark by trying to make GPS devices more affordable.  Consumer Reports' quick review of Nextar products says that you might want to stick with the bigger-name brands like Garmin, but the Nextar series might be one to keep an eye on in the future.

While these GPS devices aren't necessarily household names, you should now have a better idea of the different brands available out there, and what they're known for.  The next time you look up different GPS devices to buy, remember these names.