There’s no excuse for getting lost these days. Navigation systems now come as standard equipment in many cars—both new and used—and are also available as stand-alone GPS devices or apps—like Waze and Google Maps—that you can download for free to your phone. All of these provide turn-by-turn directions and real-time traffic data to help you find the best and fastest route to wherever you’re going. Some, however, are better than others, depending on your priorities and budget.

“The navigation systems in a lot of newer cars have features that aren’t available in a phone-based app or stand-alone GPS device, and often work with your car’s cameras, instrument displays, and other in-car technology to make navigation easier and less distracting,” says Kelly Funkhouser, associate director of vehicle technology at CR’s Auto Test Center. “But there’s still a place for phone-based navigation apps and dash-mounted GPS units, especially if you drive an older car with no nav capability but would like some of the latest navigation features.”

Below, we explain the various navigation options to help you decide which one is right for you.