Google Maps vs. Waze: Which navigation app is better?
Google Maps vs. Waze: Which navigation app is amend?
Google Maps or Waze? Deciding betwixt the two navigational apps isn't easy, least of all because both of them are owned and run by Google. There are a lot of similarities betwixt the two, with both getting more and more alike with each passing update. So how exercise you decide between them?
Fortunately Google Maps and Waze accept a clear distinction, since they're designed to operate very differently. Equally such Waze has a loyal following of drivers that swear it'due south unique navigation is the best way of getting you from A to B equally quickly as possible, despite Google Maps' enormous brand recognition.
Saying which service is the best ane is non a elementary question, thanks to all the pretty subtle differences betwixt the ii services. In all likelihood information technology will depend on your own needs and preferences. Simply, if you throw both apps into the ring for an all-out brawl of Google Maps vs Waze, which ane is going to come up out on superlative?
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Google Maps vs Waze: Availability
Google is well known for keeping its hands in every figurative cookie jar, then Google Maps and Waze are both widely bachelor. Both apps are available on iOS and Android devices, and are compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. And so information technology doesn't matter what device y'all use, or what car y'all bulldoze, y'all've got the option of using both.
At that place are even versions available in desktop browsers, though they are limited by the fact you tin't get any live navigation that fashion. Still you tin look up directions, locations and save things to your account, which you can pick up on your telephone afterwards on.
Winner: Necktie
Google Maps vs Waze: Navigation
At their core, both Google Maps and Waze volition get y'all where you desire to go. That being said, despite both being operated by Google, they are pretty different. To the point where the "winner" depends entirely on how you get around.
Google Maps is your traditional navigation app. You dial in a location, and information technology will find a way to get y'all there, no matter how you programme on doing it. You could walk, drive, cycle, or take the motorcoach, and Google Maps has something to offering. Google can fifty-fifty alert yous to obstacles or traffic along the way, and requite yous the selection of taking a dissimilar path.
Waze, on the other hand, is built exclusively for car and motorbike users. Rather than finding the quickest single path to your destination and leaving you to it, Waze is always analyzing conditions to try and get y'all in that location the fastest possible fashion.
Both services tin determine traffic weather from the number of users on the route, but Waze actually does something about it. Google Maps volition flag traffic or obstacles information technology knows about on-screen, as does Waze, just the difference is Google volition happily transport you on the same pre-set up road regardless of how things change. It may ask if you want to take an alternating route depending on how bad the traffic gets, but information technology's non particularly aggressive about it.
But last twelvemonth Google Maps changed the mode information technology calculated its calculates its routes. The service will now use a number of factors, including real time traffic atmospheric condition and number of traffic lights, to make the proposed route safer, and more than eco-friendly. That way you salve on fuel, and are less likely to get into an blow.
In other words Google Maps will take more just your final ETA into business relationship when it tells you lot where to go. And more recently information technology even started showing you exactly how much a particular route volition cost, should you laissez passer through any tolls. A feature information technology pinched from Waze, we might add.
Waze is built around i matter, and one affair only: minimizing your time on the route and getting you to your destination every bit quickly as possible. So doesn't ask permission to modify your route mid-trip, and automatically offers upward directions that go yous around obstacles that have popped upwards. All in the name of getting y'all somewhere in the shortest corporeality of time. For that reason Waze users oftentimes find they get sent to some very random places, as the app works to get them where they need to go.
A dandy example of this is when I looked upwardly directions to my parents' house. Waze said it would exist a 213 mile trip that would have 3 hours and xix minutes. Meanwhile Google Maps provided a shorter road (211 miles), simply would take 3 hours and 32 minutes to brand the trip. That'due south travelling the same basic route, and not avoiding cost roads.
Too, Waze said driving to our London office would be a 45-mile trip taking 1 60 minutes and 12 minutes. Google Maps sent me on a 46 mile journeying that was two minutes longer.
The downside to Waze'due south system is that it'south reliant on other agile users on the road. So if you're the merely Waze user for hundreds of miles, the app has no idea what'southward going on upwards alee.
Fortunately both services let you relieve maps offline for later use, though Google Maps is more upfront about it. Google Maps' Offline maps feature lets you select an expanse of the map, and download all the available information within it. Previously y'all could save individual routes, though this no longer appears to exist the case.
Waze doesn't take either option, but saving a road to your favorites does enshroud the relevant information so you can use information technology offline. But because Waze is reliant on live data, if you do lose cell service you lot won't get whatsoever up to date information about what'due south happening on the roads. Basically yous lose the very part of Waze that makes it special.
When information technology comes to driving the two services are practically identical, but Waze's unique manner of navigating around delays makes information technology an invaluable tool for motorists. Provided you're happy taking weird routes, Waze is the way to go.
Winner: Waze
Google Maps vs Waze: Public and Alternating Transportation
This is an easy determination to make. If you're travelling by public send, or some other means of alternate transportation Waze has absolutely nil to offer. Literally nada.
The bespeak of Waze is to redirect you every bit a driver whenever it sees a faster road circular obstacles, but plain you don't have that luxury on public transit because you lot're not the one driving. So you're going to have to use Google Maps.
Google Maps has back up for public transportation, walking and cycling. Attempting to use Waze would just ship you down any sometime route as a car tin can get downwardly at that place, which isn't always a particularly safe thought.
Google Maps, on the other mitt, is packed to the brim with public transit data. For starters it includes total timetables and maps for transit services across the globe, and can integrate them into its directions without hesitation. It also has real fourth dimension updates on delays and other issues you may face on your journey, so you're at least enlightened of issues ahead of time.
Google Maps tin also estimate how busy a particular service or area is going to be, past using a mix of historical data and how many people information technology tin see there at any given time. It even integrates with local ride sharing services and, where bachelor, bike and e-scooter rentals.
Waze can't compete with all of that, but in that location is more than that could exist done where alternative ship is concerned. Specially in areas where those rental services are available.
Winner: Google Maps
Google Maps vs Waze: Interface and Blueprint
Despite being from the same visitor, and doing like things, Google Maps and Waze wait completely dissimilar. While Google Maps has the look of a more traditional app with all the on-screen information that provides, Waze takes a much simpler approach with fewer details and a cartoony design.
That difference comes from the fact these 2 apps are designed for totally different things. Waze is a tool to help motorists get from A to B while avoiding traffic and road hazards, but nothing else. Google Maps is useful for damn-near everything, whether that'southward navigation, discovering new things, or even chatting with businesses.
However, when it comes to actually navigating, the two apps await functionally identical. The apps cut down all the unnecessary ataxia, and but show you what you need to know. That includes your icon, where you demand to be going, plus some extra surplus information like speed limits, and road hazards in your path.
We accept to requite this one to Waze, because it cuts out all the fluff from the kickoff and simply shows y'all what you need to see. It doesn't matter if yous're actively receiving directions or just looking at the map, everything is dainty and clean. While Google Maps' extra information has its uses, it does tend to clutter your view. And frankly it has a tendency to look like a consummate mess at times — especially if y'all're in a big city.
Winner: Waze
Google Maps vs Waze: Advertizing
Both Google Maps and Waze have advertising, though they each differ in how they handle what sort of paid content you really see.
Equally a full general rule, Google Maps is pretty subtle near its advertising, though more than recently it has made changes to make ads more distinguishable on the map. One good instance is using a square icon, rather than a circular one, for a concern or location that's paid to be there. Pretty subtle, as I said.
Meanwhile Waze is very in your face and tin wink distracting banner ads every time you lot stop moving.
The ads disappear when you first moving over again, so you don't take to worry about dismissing them all the time. But they are still big and very noticeable, peculiarly if your telephone'due south screen is on the smaller size. Frankly Waze could do with toning information technology down a scrap, because if it needs to brandish ads the least information technology could practice is try to brand them less intrusive.
Winner: Google Maps
Google Maps vs Waze: Data
Google Maps and Waze are both heavily reliant on data, merely Waze most of all. That's considering Waze'due south entire operation is congenital around user-submitted information. A lot of it is collected automatically, just by the simple fact that you are driving effectually with the app open. Users are besides able to submit reports virtually whatever obstacles or hazards that may impede other drivers.
Analysis of all that data paints a picture of what is going on on the roads, and tin can be utilized to straight or redirect users where necessary. It also helps Waze's algorithms improve the service and its maps.
Google Maps tin can likewise come across a picture of road weather condition, but its organisation is based on a larger pool of data. It uses historical information to guess what conditions will be like at any given point of the day, but is also able to pull in real time data from traffic sensors and Google Maps users. The systems have similarities, though Google Maps is able to make use of a lot more information than Waze does.
For that reason it doesn't matter if you stray into an area with few Google Maps users. The app will be able to run into what's going on based on other factors, and continue you lot relatively well informed.
Of grade Google Maps and Waze utilize their data very differently. While Waze will actively redirect your journey based on the information it receives, information technology'south a feature that still hasn't been ported to Google Maps, even though both services are owned and operated by Google.
You can keep tabs on upcoming route conditions if you pay attention to what Google Maps has on screen, but it's upwards to you to select those alternate routes if they're ever bachelor. Google Maps volition not automatically ship yous downward a dissimilar path the same style Waze does. Just more than on that later.
But years of data collection and analysis come with a lot of advantages. Google Maps knows how many people employ particular routes at any given period of the day, and even areas where people typically become over the speed limit.
Barring any external factors that become in the way after y'all've already ready off, Google Maps always has a pretty good idea of which road you should have and how long information technology's going to accept you lot to reach your destination. While Waze has a lot going for it, that lack of historical and traffic sensor information does not work in its favor.
Winner: Google Maps
Google Maps vs Waze: Discovery
Despite the fact Waze is primarily a navigational app, it has surprisingly robust discovery features that match those found in Google Maps.
Both apps have a number of similar features helping you find of import businesses and locations in the surface area around you. They include a search bar and specialized buttons that take out near of the intermediary steps and show you what's what. Whether you're looking for a gas station or a supermarket, yous have the tools to chop-chop find them and get there.
But every bit often seems to be the example, Google Maps is all about giving y'all more than. Information technology features a larger number of specialized buttons. So if you need sporting goods or an electronics store, Google Maps' list of discovery buttons has something. Waze, on the other paw, keeps it unproblematic.
You could easily argue less is more when information technology comes to finding stuff, especially when you lot can always utilise the search bar to do roughly the same job. All the same, Waze's location cards don't take quite as much data as Google Maps does.
My local Chinese eatery is a swell example of this. Google Maps has the address, opening hours, contact data, reviews, photos of the food people have submitted, and even icons telling me what services they're currently offer.
Waze had data on the nearest motorcar park, which was not bad, merely beyond that information technology only had the basics: address, phone number, and website. Other smaller businesses around me had similar issues, but at that place'south a lot more to be seen for large chains.
My nearest McDonalds had opening hours and onsite-service icons (bulldoze thru only right at present), simply no contact data — including the website. Yous'd have thought it was the to the lowest degree they could include. The TGI Fridays five miles up the route was the same.
Both services are also able to let you search for EV chargers, thank you to the latest Waze update, though Waze'southward offer is currently only available in the U.Due south.
Google Maps doesn't have everything for everyone, but information technology still manages to pick upwards a lot. One of the takeout places well-nigh me has zero online presence — non even a website telling you where they are. Despite that Google Maps still has a lot of data, including when they're open, what their phone number is, and fifty-fifty when they go busy.
So Waze is very hit and miss with extra information, while Google Maps has well-nigh everything y'all could hope for considering it collects so much information from then many different sources.
Information technology'due south also not articulate whether Waze's discovery options will be getting the same improvements that were appear for Google Maps back in May. Those recommendations are going to be a lot more focussed, with time of day factoring into what Google Maps has to show you. So nosotros'll accept to wait and see.
Winner: Google Maps
Google Maps vs Waze: Traffic and hazards
Back in the day, having a handle on traffic and road hazards was all on Waze, but Google Maps has been communicable up. Right now the 2 are functionally the same in all but a few minor areas.
Waze is very aggressive at getting you round obstacles other users take reported. To the indicate where you lot tin find yourself driving down foreign winding streets just to shave a few seconds off your ETA. You take to adore its dedication. Google Maps notwithstanding doesn't go to such extreme lengths which is fine.
While Google Maps and Waze both let you report those hazards as you come up across them, they don't always friction match up, especially if you're using Google Maps. For instance the stretch of freeway that takes me into London is almost completely covered in speed cameras. There has to be at to the lowest degree one camera every mile enforcing a strict 50mph speed limit. Waze has little graphics for well-nigh of those cameras, and flashes upwardly an on-screen warning every time I drive past 1.
Meanwhile Google Maps does a pretty terrible job of both. Google Maps lets you report speed cameras, and other serious road hazards, but on the 45 mile trip from my business firm to London it showed a k full of two cameras. Waze doesn't seem to take them all, merely it has a heck of a lot more Google Maps. Yous'd recollect Google'due south information collection machine would be more authentic than Waze's crowdsourced arroyo.
Granted Google Maps isn't far behind, but Waze does have the edge on account of the fact its user base isn't quite equally passive.
Winner: Waze
Google Maps vs Waze: Hands-gratis control
Both Google Maps and Waze operate their easily-costless controls in the same way. Your options are to tap the on-screen microphone each time you desire to say a control, or rely on Google Banana's "Hey Google" feature to do information technology for y'all.
If you're on Android that's easy, because Google Assistant is already installed. iPhone users have to become through some extra steps. Siri will send commands to both apps, simply information technology besides defaults to Apple tree Maps if you lot don't specify. So ask for "directions home with Waze," and not just "directions domicile." Alternatively you can tap the on-screen microphone to toggle voice command fashion, or download Google Assistant to do everything for you.
There doesn't appear to exist whatsoever difference between the ii apps in terms of commands, and you tin can utilize an assistant to navigate to new locations, alter your current route, see what's upwardly ahead, what traffic is like, and and so on. Yous tin can even use vocalization commands to report road hazards, traffic, and other bug you lot come across on your travels. These features are also available on iOS if yous have the Google Assistant app installed.
And then information technology doesn't matter which option y'all take, or which device you lot use, your experience should exist pretty much identical.
Winner: Necktie
Google Maps vs Waze: Customization
Waze has a lot of customization options, particularly in the voice section. While Google typically only has one vocalization option per country or region, Waze has several of them, especially if you speak English language.
Glory voices are also available, merely those are typically there for promotional purposes and aren't permanent additions to the app. Similar the time Microsoft and Waze added the voice of Halo'due south Master Primary. Plus, if you decline to have orders from a random robot, Waze will let y'all record your own voice to use instead.
Waze will also permit you pick ane of 10 vehicle icons that evidence on screen when you're actually navigating, including a Formula One race car, a motorbike, or the irksome-old pointer. Plus yous can change your "mood" which substantially lets y'all customize the avatar other people will see on their ain maps. Bulldoze enough, or contribute enough to Waze'due south dataset, and you can unlock a special mood that features a golden crown.
Google Maps lets you alter your on-screen icon to i of three cars if you like, and y'all can switch the voice to a different language or region. Only that'southward nearly all it has in terms of actual customization options. Merely if you lot fancy driving around with a kindly British robot telling you where to become then that'due south an selection for you lot.
Customization is a very pocket-sized office of what both apps can do, merely if you want to improve limited yourself through your navigation app then Waze is the manner to get. Also Waze is the best option if you want to mix things up and swap out the boring default voice.
Winner: Waze
| Google Maps | Waze | |
| Availability | ten | x |
| Interface and Design | x | |
| Navigation (Driving) | ten | |
| Public and Alternating Transportation | x | |
| Advertising | x | |
| Data | ten | |
| Discovery | x | |
| Traffic and hazards | ten | |
| Hands-free control | ten | x |
| Customization | 10 | |
| Full | 6 | half-dozen |
Bottom Line
There's no denying the fact that Google Maps is the more comprehensive navigation service. Not simply does it offer a considerable amount more than Waze, information technology's more detailed and has a lot more resource at its disposal. More to the betoken, it doesn't matter how you lot choose to go around, Google Maps has the tools to assistance you lot do it.
Waze is very express by comparison, only offering navigation for motorists. And nonetheless it'due south able to offer a service that Google Maps tin can't friction match, which is pretty damn weird considering how long information technology's been office of the Google family. Why? It's not entirely articulate what Google has to gain from keeping both services alive, and not offering Waze'south breakout feature equally function of Google Maps. But that is how things are.
If yous're a driver who wants to get to their destination every bit quickly as possible, and don't care how you get there, you lot'll want to use Waze. Google Maps may be able to meet and conceptualize road conditions, but it isn't every bit proactive about sending you downward a different route when things get dicey.
But if you're not driving a motorcar or motorcycle, Waze is completely useless. It has a very narrow use-case, which is a void Google Maps fills very easily. So in many cases, Google Maps isn't but the winner, it'due south your simply choice.
- More: Here's how to download offline Google Maps
Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/face-off/google-maps-vs-waze
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