Waze Vs. Google Maps: Which Navigation App Is Best?

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 Which navigation app is best?
Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

A speedy Google hunt will aboveground article aft article claiming that Waze is acold amended than Google Maps. But is that really true? I'm a longtime Google Maps (and Google Earth) user. I committedness by nan app, and I regularly side-eye anyone who says different -- especially, god forbid, Apple Maps users. 

Also: Google Maps tin place and prevention places successful your screenshots - here's how

I'm besides a tech editor, though, which intends I do my champion to group speech individual bias successful nan sanction of journalism. Every now and then, I unit myself to effort alternative navigation apps -- and that includes Waze, which, successful lawsuit you didn't know, Google acquired successful 2013.

So, if you're looking for a existent feature-by-feature breakdown of really Waze compares to Google Maps, you've travel to nan correct place. I've tried both, and I'm present to show you which 1 really gets you wherever you request to spell faster, smarter, and better. 

Is Waze aliases Google Maps better?

Let's break down each nan awesome features to find a clear winner. Will nan last scorecard astonishment america both? Maybe.

Waze is for group who want to get wherever they are going -- fast.

It prioritizes nan quickest way and will automatically reroute you nan 2nd postulation gets messy. There's nary asking for permission... it conscionable does it, moreover if it intends taking you down a weird broadside street. Google Maps, connected nan different hand, takes a much measured approach. It considers things for illustration road types and moreover fuel ratio for different conveyance types. It'll propose a faster way if 1 pops up, and you person to pat to approve.

Also: How to stock your location connected Android quickly - via matter aliases Google Maps

Personally, I for illustration having nan last say. If an app wants to reroute maine last-minute, I'd alternatively cognize wherever I'm headed -- and o.k. it -- earlier I return nan turn. But if your apical privilege is shaving disconnected seconds, Waze is nan measurement to go. I'll springiness this 1 to Waze for that alone, but it's close.

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Navigation pinch real-time rerouting
Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

Waze is conscionable for drivers. Literally. Like, group driving cars aliases motorcycles. There's nary utilizing it for walking, biking, buses, aliases trains. Basically, if you're not down nan wheel, Waze can't thief you. Google Maps, however, has it all. Whether you're headed location on ft aliases figuring retired a multi-leg nationalist transit trip, it's sewage elaborate routes, unrecorded schedules, and real-time updates.

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Public transit and different recreation modes
Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

Waze has agelong stood retired for its live, driver-submitted information that helps it determine really to reroute you successful existent time. Users tin study everything from postulation jams and roadworthy hazards to construction, velocity traps, and moreover bad weather. As you drive, you tin corroborate aliases disregard alerts to thief support nan representation meticulous and up to date.

Lately, though, Google Maps has been catching up. It now besides lets users study crashes, slowdowns, roadworthy closures, velocity traps, and moreover lane blockages. These reports show up connected nan map, which is helpful. But, dissimilar Waze, Google Maps won't automatically reroute you based connected that real-time info. If thing pops up ahead, it's connected you to determine whether to return a detour aliases instrumentality pinch nan original route.

Also: 6 Google Maps tricks to effort for nan navigation app's 20th birthday

Since Waze has offered robust real-time reporting from nan very beginning, I'll springiness it nan triumph here, but it could conscionable arsenic easy beryllium a necktie astatine this point. Google Maps has travel a agelong way, pinch nan spread betwixt nan 2 getting smaller.

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Traffic and incident reporting
Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

This is 1 of nan areas wherever Waze has really made its name.

The app has agelong fto users report constabulary sightings -- including erstwhile they're hiding -- on pinch things for illustration mobile telephone discovery cameras. Google Maps has started to drawback up pinch basic reporting tools, but it's still not arsenic detailed. For example, there's nary action to emblem mobile telephone discovery zones yet. Since Waze was nan forerunner present and still offers much granular, real-time alerts, it takes nan triumph successful this category.

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Police and velocity trap alerts
Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

Waze needs a information relationship for pretty overmuch everything. It'll cache your way a spot if you commencement pinch a signal, but erstwhile you're offline, you're mostly retired of luck -- nary unrecorded updates, nary rerouting, and constricted functionality. Google Maps is simply a batch much offline-friendly. You tin download full regions up of time, complete pinch turn-by-turn directions, which makes it a full lifesaver erstwhile you're successful nan mediate of obscurity aliases walking abroad.

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Offline maps and information use
Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

Waze decidedly has a personality, acknowledgment to its colorful, cartoony creation packed pinch large icons and bold, in-your-face alerts. It's besides sewage a playful broadside erstwhile it comes to customization. You tin watercourse euphony straight done nan built-in audio subordinate (Spotify, anyone?), prime a sound "sidekick" for illustration Halo's Master Chief aliases comedian Nate Bargatze, and moreover set a mood erstwhile you've driven much than 160 kilometers.

Google Maps isn't rather arsenic caricatured, but it is loaded pinch features. It's awesome for exploring neighborhoods, digging into business info, aliases uncovering restaurants, parks, and stores. You tin moreover hop into Street View to preview a location earlier heading out. There are plentifulness of layers and specifications excessively -- move betwixt satellite, terrain, air quality, wildfire zones, and moreover 3D buildings. It mightiness consciousness a small cluttered erstwhile you're conscionable trying to drive, but honestly, it's benignant of nosy to click astir and spot conscionable really overmuch it tin do.

Also: How to blur your location connected Google Street View (and 4 reasons why group do it)

While Waze has basal specifications for illustration business addresses and hours, what astir edifice reviews aliases photos? Not truthful much. Google Maps is simply a beast successful this department. Full reviews, photos, highest hours, menus, and more.

I'll admit this tin travel down to individual preference. If you're into quirky extras and playful design, Waze decidedly delivers. But since I'm not large connected nan gimmicky worldly and for illustration a much feature-rich interface pinch plentifulness of find options that really thief maine get around, I'm giving nan separator to Google Maps.

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Interface and design
Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

Waze precocious rolled retired a "Conversational reporting" characteristic powered by Google Gemini, which lets you opportunity things for illustration "Looks jammed ahead," and nan app will parse it into a real-time report. This is fun, particularly erstwhile driving. But Google Maps has Gemini integrated too. I've been capable to usage it to inquire things for illustration "What's a bully luncheon spot astir here?" and get personalized, location-aware suggestions. I for illustration having this heavy integration, alternatively than conscionable utilizing it for reporting, truthful Google Maps wins. Again, it's close.

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AI sound assistance
Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

Both apps are disposable globally connected iOS, Android, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay. But Google Maps is preinstalled connected astir Android phones and comes baked into nan Android Automotive OS, truthful it wins here.

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The last scorecard

Let's tally up which navigation app is nan winner, based connected nan cardinal features supra whether they connection them aliases do it better.

CategoryWinnerWhy it wins
Navigation and reroutingWazeInstantly reroutes you based connected real-time postulation -- nary support needed.
Transit and recreation modesGoogle MapsSupports walking, biking, buses, trains, and more.
Traffic and incident reportingWaze (near tie)Real-time, driver-powered alerts pinch unrecorded confirmation and rerouting.
Police and velocity trap alertsWazeMore elaborate reports, including hidden constabulary and mobile telephone detection.
Offline maps and information useGoogle MapsFull offline representation downloads pinch turn-by-turn directions.
Interface and designGoogle Maps (near tie)Richer toolset: Street View, representation layers, business info, etc.
AI sound assistanceGoogle Maps (near tie)Gemini is unrecorded successful some apps, but it's much afloat integrated successful Google Maps.
Availability and compatibilityGoogle MapsPreinstalled connected Android, useful crossed much platforms retired of nan box.

Total:

  • Waze: 3 wins
  • Google Maps: 5 wins

And location you person it, folks. Google Maps edges retired Waze by 2 categories. That said, a fewer of these could've easy gone either way, and a batch of it really comes down to individual preference. Still, if you want my return (and let's beryllium honest, if you've made it this far, you astir apt do): Google Maps is simply a earnestly feature-rich app, and immoderate gaps betwixt it and Waze are shrinking fast.

When should you usage Waze complete Google Maps?

If you attraction astir about avoiding traffic, hazards, and velocity traps, Waze is built for that. It's faster astatine rerouting and much focused connected nan driver's needs. Here's speedy determination character if you're connected nan obstruction astir which app to usage and when.

Also: You tin inquire Google Maps questions now, acknowledgment to Gemini

Use Waze if...

  • You're driving and want nan fastest imaginable route.
  • You emotion seeing live, elaborate roadworthy alerts (speed traps, hazards, cops).
  • You bask customizing your acquisition (fun voices, avatars).
  • You don't request walking, biking, aliases transit directions.

Use Google Maps if...

  • You return nationalist transit, walk, aliases bike.
  • You want elaborate business info and reviews.
  • You want to usage Street View and its humanities timeline feature.
  • You recreation internationally aliases request offline maps.
  • You want to usage heavy Gemini-powered AI sound assistance.

Can Waze beryllium utilized offline?

Not really. Waze requires a information relationship to usability properly. It mightiness cache portion of a way but doesn't connection existent offline maps for illustration Google Maps does.

Does Google Maps show constabulary for illustration Waze?

Sort of. Google Maps has added immoderate basal reporting, but it's not arsenic elaborate arsenic Waze's real-time, user-generated alerts.

Can you usage Waze for stepping aliases biking?

No. Waze is strictly for drivers. If you're walking, biking, aliases taking transit, usage Google Maps.

Which uses much mobile data?

Waze uses much information owed to its changeless real-time updates and crowd-sourced alerts. Google Maps is much data-efficient, particularly pinch offline maps.

Does Waze person Street View aliases humanities timeline data?

No. Waze doesn't support Street View aliases humanities timeline data. If you want to visually research a location earlier you spell -- for illustration seeing what a building entranceway looks for illustration aliases checking parking readiness -- you'll request to usage Google Maps, which offers afloat Street View integration. Google Maps besides allows you to spell backmost successful clip to spot a spot really it looked successful nan past -- up to 20 years ago.

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