If you’ve ever wished that Google Maps, Google My Maps, or Google Earth made it easier to draw, annotate, and customize a map, this lightweight mapping tool is for you. It brings the essential features you expect—like paintbrush. draw shapes, draw lines, polygons, and custom routes—into a single, intuitive interface. No complicated setup, no heavy datasets, and no confusing UI. Just open a new map, pick a tool, and start drawing.

Whether you’re planning a trip, mapping ideas for a project, designing an interactive map for a website embed, or simply sketching with a drawing tool on iOS, Android, or desktop, this simple map maker should be useful.

How to Use‍

This tool is built to feel familiar to anyone who’s used Google’s mapping products—yet easier. Here’s a quick step-by-step tutorial:

1. Start with the Map

The map loads instantly with a clean map style and no labels, giving you a clear canvas. You can pan, zoom, or jump to your current location using the standard controls.

2. Choose a Drawing Tool

Use the toolbar to select what you want to add:

• Paintbrush (freeform drawing) — great for quick sketches or curved forms
• Routes — perfect forsimple draw routes
• Polygons — ideal for outlining areas, neighborhoods, or custom regions
• Circle — useful for radius planning‍
• Marker — drop a point at any location
• Arrows — draw attention to anything‍
• Eraser — remove anything with a click
• ... and much more.

Just like in Google My Maps, shapes remain editable (except freeform strokes), and you can change colors anytime.

3. Click to Begin Drawing

Use clicks or double-click to complete shapes. Each overlay becomes part of your custom map, and you can reposition or recolor it at any time.

Share Your Maps

This tool does not currently support saving your map. To save your work, please take a screenshot when you're done.

Helpful Tips

• Use polygons for precision. They’re perfect for outlining service areas, neighborhoods, or boundaries before exporting to KML or comparing in Google Earth.
• Start every custom route with a clear starting point. A clean starting point helps ensure your custom routes and shapes behave consistently.
• Use text sparingly. When building an interactive map or planning an embed, labels make your map easier to read—but too many can clutter the view.
• Switch between tools quickly. If you’re sketching ideas, freeform is fastest. For exact measurements, use draw lines or polygons.
• Use search. The integrated search bar (or your browser’s native one) helps you jump to any location before you start drawing.

And yes—you can do all of this while signed out. No Google account required.

Interactive Maps

If you’re looking to create an interactive map, consider using a tool like Atlist. It offers a variety of powerful features, including:

• Clickable Markers: Clicking on markers opens a detailed modal with additional information.
• Custom Styling: Fully customize the appearance of maps, markers, and modals.
• Advanced Search & Filtering: Enable powerful search options and filter by tags for easy navigation.
• Easy Embedding: Seamlessly embed maps on any website.
• Custom Design Options: Personalize every aspect of your maps to match your brand or aesthetic.
• CTA Integration: Add call-to-action buttons directly to your maps.

Ideal Uses

This simple map maker is surprisingly versatile. Popular use cases include:

Trip Planning

Sketch routes, mark scenic stops, plan detours, or load a rough itinerary. Great for mobile users on Android or iOS.

Business & Projects

Outline delivery zones, draw service areas, highlight properties, annotate territories, or overlay planning diagrams atop real geographic data.

Content Creators

Build a clean custom map for a blog post, YouTube video, classroom tutorial, or article—especially when you need to embed a map without the clutter of labels.

Education & Local Guides

Teachers, students, and local guides often use these tools for class assignments, environmental mapping, or community projects. Polygons, routes, and datasets are easy to create without touching My Maps.

Developers

Play with shapes, colors, overlays, and paths before implementing them in a more advanced API workflow.

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Pricing

This tool is completely free—no ads, no gimmicks, just straightforward functionality.

Support

For questions or feedback, reach out anytime. We're always improving features based on what creators, planners, hikers, teachers, and mapping enthusiasts find helpful. Just email steve@atlist.com.

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