Any affordable advice on maps/navigation updates?

I tried the factory nav when I got it new, and went back to google maps when it led me astray. So I'm using google maps on road and OSMAnd with the topo addon off road, via Android auto.

 

Not sure separate map updates are even a thing, pretty sure Toyota moved to streaming data via the cellular connection and you pay a subscription but I could also be wrong or it may vary.

If one wants something separate from their phone, a Garmin GPS (with lifetime maps) is the way to go, I got the USB port repaired on my ancient one recently and if Garmin the company keels over I can load it up OpenStreetMap data instead.

 

The factory navigation is clunky and far subpar compared to google maps. I refuse to believe anyone buying a late model 5th gen with factory navigation doesn't already have a smart phone.

 

Another tool for offline maps is OsmAnd which uses open street maps. The interface is different and clunky, but you can download maps from anywhere. I travel and use it all over the world when I don’t have cell service.

free and does not share any data. Can load AllTrails and other tracks, has many of the Offroad trails already, can record and export your tracks for unmapped trails. Fun tool. Not as easy to use as Google, but it is also not an advertising company interested in data.
I use the dash nav in my 2019 and update with the Amazon cards. It is slow to interact with, but I like that it is already there and works reasonably well.

it is interesting to have Google, OsmAnd and the onboard nav going on a long trip to compare routes and arrival times.

I don’t use Google at all myself (my wife does). I use Apple Maps and find they are also inferior to Google, but am willing to use them in favor of Google.

ultimately, it is awesome to have e-maps so readily available and easy to use. I just got some of the national park plastic maps and find I only use them for nostalgia

 

My 2018 4Runner has Entune 2 with the map database on a micro SD card and my 2021 Rav4 has Entune 3 with the map database in the cloud.

I've updated the Entune 2 micro SD card a couple of times via Amazon. I've never used the Rav4 Entune navigation, but opt for Google Maps via Android Auto.

One (of many) annoyances in the Entune system is the inability to upload custom geotagged maps like I can in Google Earth. I can understand (but not forgive) why the Entune map dataset has sparse coverage of backcountry routes, but since Toyota touts its off-road prowess, it would make sense to equip the vehicle with a nav system that's up to the task.