While both apps are great for quickly navigating city traffic, Google Maps is the most complete navigation service, while Waze is the real-time road assistant. Google Maps is like a traditional GPS: its goal is to take you from A to B using the smartest route. Both services can determine traffic conditions based on the number of users on the road, but Waze actually does something about that. Google Maps will indicate on the screen the traffic or obstacles it knows, just like Waze, but the difference is that Google will gladly indicate the same pre-established route regardless of how things change.
It may ask you if you want to take an alternative route depending on how bad the traffic is, but it's not particularly aggressive about it. Google Maps has always been the reference standard for GPS navigation on smartphones. However, in recent years, Waze has definitely caught up with the competition. From time to time, we also meet people who have undoubtedly used Waze as much as Google Maps.
But is community-powered Waze better than Google Maps? If so, why? Or should you stick with the always-so reliable Google Maps? Find out all the answers in this comprehensive comparison between Waze and Google Maps. Overall, Google Maps has a good and highly functional user interface. And just when we thought there couldn't be anything better, we started using Waze. When we first started using Waze, there was a constant idea: we couldn't believe that we could have fun using a navigation app on our phones.
The color schemes, user interface elements, icons, and general language were a very refreshing change. Maybe we'll realize that we appreciate it because we've only been with one application for years, but it seemed more interesting than Google Maps. So, we have two very good and very functional user interfaces, but Waze takes the win, as it's much more fun and refreshing to use. Both Google Maps and Waze offer precise step-by-step directions.
Google Maps provides directions for driving, biking and walking, while Waze focuses primarily on driving and pedaling instructions. Both apps also do a good job of giving you an overview of traffic. This is where Waze does a better job. First of all, it allows you to choose a route.
Google Maps also suggests alternatives before starting, but Waze offers a better interface to choose from. In addition, when you choose the fastest route in Waze, and if it gets worse midway and is no longer the “fastest” route, you are automatically redirected to a faster route. While we read about this feature before, when we use it in the real world, we found a difference. We found that Waze got us to the destination faster compared to Google Maps, since it could change routes based on traffic in real time.
However, keep in mind that many Waze data points are added by other users and that the datasets are “community-driven”; so if you're in a region with few Waze users, you might not have a great experience. That said, we can conclude that Waze does a much better job of minimizing delays and getting you to your destination faster. This is where Google Maps gets Waze out of the water. Planning a trip on Waze is a hassle.
On the one hand, it doesn't offer any information about public transport. Seen and considered: That the public transport information on Google Maps is excellent, with accurate times and estimated arrival times for trains and buses. Google Maps also provides information on the app-based taxi services available in the city, along with the estimated price and travel time. Both apps also provide information about electric vehicle chargers, but Waze shows the locations of electric vehicle chargers in the U.S.
only. UU. However, if you're driving or traveling on your own, Waze offers a trip planning tool that uses historical data to determine traffic over a specific time interval and provides an overview of what your trip will be like. This feature is also available on Google Maps.
Overall, we think that Google Maps does a better job of helping you plan a trip, and Waze's features in this regard are pretty basic. We want Waze to add some features. So, if you're looking for an app that will be your local guide, use Google Maps. No, don't even try Waze for this.
However, in terms of nearby road conditions, Waze does a good job. It doesn't show more information than Google, but road conditions are better presented and are easy to see and locate on the map. Both apps also have a parking location feature, where they help you locate your parked car. For example, Waze helped us avoid some bumps while we were pedaling, and this was only possible thanks to the way it was highlighted on the road, since it focuses on community-driven data.
Thanks to the users who added such information to the application. Waze informs you about speed controls, crashes and road closures, and also offers roadside assistance. So Waze does a good job here, but it doesn't make up for the lack of other features we mentioned. But Waze has quite a few fun features.
While Google Maps has icons for your car on the map, Waze takes it to a higher level with many more fun options for it. The next one is the football commentary feature, in which the voice-guided navigation is in the form of a football commentary and we would like the Waze product management team to receive a raise. It's quite fun and it's great to get you in the mood for the next World Cup. These were some of the features that stood out and caught our attention in Google Maps and Waze.
However, if you think we haven't been able to add or mention any features, see the overview in the next section. Bad word games aside, here's the truth: we can't recommend Waze as a standalone app. Sure, it can give you directions to drive faster, but Google Maps does much more. And it's not that Google Maps lacks alternative routes, it's just that it doesn't change automatically.
This is all we have to say about the comparison between Google Maps and. However, if you still have more questions, you can take a look at our FAQ section below. Yes, Waze has a web version that is also free to use. Waze and Google Maps collect real-time traffic data from users who are already traveling.
Both apps are known to drain the battery quickly and, in our experience, Waze ran out of battery a little more than Google Maps. Yes, Waze detects speed cameras based on data obtained by the community. Yes, Waze can tell you where the police are based on data obtained by the community. In most cases, I prefer Google Maps because of its accuracy in measuring traffic, public transport and offline downloads.
We can't understand why anyone would want to uninstall Google Maps, since it's a lifesaver, and it's proven so many times. Waze has few graphics for most of these cameras and shows an on-screen warning every time I walk past one. Google Maps has a small advantage in cars with the Android Automotive operating system, since it is one of the applications pre-installed on all Android TVs other than televisions. In the past, controlling traffic and road hazards was a matter for Waze, but Google Maps has been catching up to date.
While Waze has a lot going for it, that lack of historical data and traffic sensors doesn't work in its favor. Google Maps focuses on data, with years of collecting information to be used to get you from A to B. By contrast, Waze often only shows a brief description of the company, a web address, or nothing at all. In other words, reports from higher-level users are published faster than those using Waze for the first time (personal experience).
You'll have to get used to the slight differences in distance and time between directions or how Waze suggests which lane to use, but in the end, getting to my destination faster and without a speeding ticket or hitting a hazard on the road makes it worthwhile. However, it is capable of offering a service that Google Maps cannot match, which is quite strange considering how long it has been part of the Google family. It uses historical data to guess what the conditions will be like at any time of the day, but it can also obtain real-time information from traffic sensors and Google Maps users. With Waze, users can report the situations mentioned in the reporting section and, like Google Maps, they get points for reporting.
Google is known for getting its hands in all the figurative cookie jars, which is why Google Maps and Waze are widely available. .
