By now, Pokémon Go trainers have accepted that they have to actually get up, go outside and walk around in order to catch 'em all. Thankfully, fans have created several Pokémon-tracking maps for the game to help players figure out which Pokémon can be found in their areas and elsewhere.
There's already a variety of browser- and app-based map tools available for free, and many of them are the result of community collaboration. Poké Radar, an iOS app that currently sits in the second-place spot on the App Store charts, is a map that's populated by player submissions. It includes icons of the various Pokémon found across the nation, showing where certain Pokémon cluster and when. There are species and time of day filters allowing Pokémon Go players to define their searches, as well as ratings to determine the likelihood of a player encountering that rare find in that spot.
Although its website is regularly down, Poké Radar users are hopeful about the app. The average App Store review gives it three stars, with most calling it good for now but in need of further improvements, like timestamps and finer Pokémon pinpointing tools.
For Android users with the technical know-how, Pokémap is a free download whose location data comes straight from Google Maps. As lead developer Ahmed Almutawa told our sister site The Verge, Pokémap has attracted tons of contributions after just days in existence. That's because the map populates in real time, showing Pokémon's exact locations alongside those of gyms and PokéStops. There are filters to allow for specific searches too, and users have praised the application's accuracy thus far.
Location data comes straight from Niantic in some cases
Unfortunately, Pokémap isn't a simple install. It requires Python and a basic understanding of coding to configure. Those who can comprehend its instructions are welcome to download it to their computers and Android devices from Almutawa's GitHub page.
For others, there's Pokévision, which is browser-based and has a similar, if less thorough, function to Pokémap. Pokémon Go hunters can enter any location to find which Pokémon have spawn in the area in real-time. A countdown timer of each Pokémon's availability helps for planning when to head out, and in our experience, the location data is accurate. The rarer the Pokémon, the shorter the window. Players can re-scan every 30 seconds for up-to-date information.
Pokévision's FAQ suggests that its data comes straight from Niantic, just like Pokémap. Although the search feature doesn't get more specific than general location, players can scroll and zoom across the map to see clear pictures of the Pokémon currently found around the world. These exclude the ones that spawn due to Lure Modules and Incense, items that generate more Pokémon specifically for the player who uses them.
Less specific is developer Anthony Negron's Pokémon Go map. This uses players' data to show every single Pokémon ever found in your area. This map also points to gyms and PokéStops, which is nice, but it serves as a reminder that there are people near you who have managed to find an Aerodactyl while you're still out there throwing Poké Balls at Pidgey. Still, it's encouraging to know that areas have more Pokémon diversity than it might seem.
There are other ways to find Pokémon Go's stops and monsters, including through Niantic Labs' earlier game, Ingress. For more Pokémon Go tips, consult our guide or visit our hub below.