Waze vs. Google Maps: What's the Best Navigation App for You?

Who needs an old-fashioned paper map when you have stellar navigation apps like Waze and Google Maps? Indeed, these software solutions provide on-the-go navigation assistance, warnings about traffic hazards, and other services to help you plan your next trip.

But you can only use one navigation app at a time. So, which is better, Waze or Google Maps?

Here, we’ll take a close look at Waze and Google Maps and explore how they are similar, how they differ, and which is ultimately better for your needs.

What Is Waze?

Waze is a navigational app that quickly rose in popularity after it launched in 2008. Google acquired the company for about $1 billion five years later. 

Since then, Waze has focused on growing its community of drivers who are fundamental to how the app works. 

Waze largely relies on its users to submit traffic information such as hazards, speed camera alerts, and police traps, then displays these warnings prominently within the app. 

One of the most striking visual distinctions between Waze and other maps like Google Maps is the playful icons that populate Waze’s map. 

These symbols represent points of interest, such as the approximate location of other users (aka Wazers), construction zones, and stopped cars. Once the app receives these alerts, Waze’s community updates the information until it’s no longer relevant to other drivers.

Waze isn't just about warnings, though. It’s also great at finding the best routes. By crowdsourcing data from drivers using the app, Waze learns the fastest ways to get around and compares different journeys to suggest the optimal route for your trip, often updating as traffic builds to help you find alternate ways to get to your final destination as quickly as possible.

While Google Maps also uses crowdsourced information, it's implemented differently in its app. 

What Is Google Maps?

To say Google Maps is “popular” does not do it justice. The app comes preloaded on Google phones and most Android phones, and as of 2023, it was the most downloaded navigational app in the United States — by a margin of more than 10 million. 

Its popularity is likely due to the slew of features outside of navigation packed into the app. Along with route planning, Google Maps offers business reviews, a “Popular Times” graphic that shows when a place is busiest, and the ability to browse menu items or book reservations at participating restaurants. 

Unlike Waze, which is limited to drivers, Google Maps can show routes for driving, walking, and public transit. 

Google Maps is like a Swiss Army Knife compared to Waze's simplicity.

When it comes to predicting traffic, Google Maps combines historical traffic patterns with live traffic conditions to predict how busy roads will be.  

However, like Waze, Google Maps also collects user data to improve navigation, suggest alternative routes, and show real-time traffic updates in its app. According to Google, this data is collected the moment a user starts turn-by-turn navigation and ends once they arrive at their destination.  

Though Google uses this crowdsourced data, it also relies on satellite imagery and its Street View cars to keep its maps current. 

While Google Maps users can also submit incident reports warning other drivers of construction, speed traps, and crashes, these alerts aren’t as prominent during use as they are in Waze — and we’ll detail more about those differences below. 

How Do Waze and Google Maps Compare?

Both Waze and Google Maps are user-friendly navigational services that help you plan your arrival time, monitor potential traffic hazards, and steer you away from paying tolls if desired. 

However, there are some key differences between both apps, even if owner Google is increasingly merging their features as time goes on. 

Let’s compare the services across several categories to decide which is the best navigation app for you.

Waze vs Google Maps: Availability

Waze and Google Maps can be downloaded for free from Apple’s App Store or the Google Play Store for Android devices.

Google Maps and Waze are fully compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, which let you integrate your phone apps into your vehicle's infotainment display (if your vehicle has such a display).

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You can use Google Maps and Waze interchangeably, the only requirement is a compatible internet-connected device like a smartphone or smartwatch.

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Waze vs. Google Maps: Navigation

Waze and Google Maps share the same primary function: getting you where you need to go. However, they display navigational results and additional information differently.

With Google Maps, you tell Google where you want to go, and it will route you to your destination based on how you plan to get there, whether you’re walking, taking the bus, or driving.

Waze offers fewer options. The app is primarily tailored to vehicle and motorcycle users, not people traveling by foot. That means there are no bus, train, or subway routes. Additionally, unlike Google Maps, Waze cannot show offline maps and needs a constant data connection to work as intended. 

But both apps tell you your ETA, real-time traffic information, traffic jam alerts, and speed limit data. They also alert you to obstacles, speed traps, or hazards along your route. This way, you can choose the best path to your destination based on how quickly you need to get there. If things change during your drive, Google Maps and Waze may also suggest alternative routes for you to take if it saves time.

Google Maps also comes with a fuel-efficient route option that calculates the best way to get to your destination while conserving gas.

Waze, however, prefers to choose the fastest route to a destination, regardless of whether that particular route is more complicated, like having more turns.

Both apps' users can also customize the settings to avoid ferries, freeways, and toll roads when providing directions. 

Waze and Google Maps show navigational results similarly, with directions displayed at the top of the screen and ETA and other info at the bottom. But Google Maps will highlight more businesses and points of interest along your path, whereas Waze takes a more minimalist approach by primarily showing street names and public areas.

That's not to say Waze's map isn’t interesting. Its map is filled with dynamic icons showing incident alerts, traffic cameras, and nearby Waze users, whom the community calls "Wazers". 

Users can change their icons to represent moods like “Bright,” “Joyful,” and “Feisty,” as well as other pet and astrology-based symbols. (You can turn off the ability to see other Wazers in settings.) To encourage users to participate in reporting incidents, Waze awards users achievement “badges” that are shown on their profiles for hitting certain milestones. 

While Google Maps does not have this feature, Google announced in July 2024 that the app is getting more of Waze’s incident reporting features. Previously, Google Maps had basic options for reporting crashes and slowdowns. Now, it includes alerts for law enforcement, which was exclusive to Waze.

In that update, the company added another feature to Google Maps to help you quickly find building entrances. The app highlights the entrance in red as you approach, making it easy to spot.

Waze also received a few additions, and users can now report a wider variety of traffic cameras, including those that monitor bus and HOV lanes, seat belt use, and even texting while driving.

Additionally, Waze has introduced a feature that warns about road closures for local events like marathons, concerts, or sporting events. You'll get a push notification when an event causes a road closure near places you frequent, like your home or workplace. 

Waze vs. Google Maps: Printable Maps

Sometimes, having a printed map and directions feels better than squinting at a phone screen, especially for long road trips or when you're heading somewhere new. In that case, Google Maps will be your only choice between the two services since Waze does not include a print option.

Thankfully, it's easy to print directions from Google Maps.

Here's How to Print Directions from Google Maps:

Waze vs. Google Maps: Public Transportation Routes

As far as choosing between personal or public transportation Routes, Google Maps is the only way to go.

With a recent update, Google Maps can now report accessibility issues at public transit stations. This includes broken elevators or escalators, which could disrupt travel plans for those who use wheelchairs or anyone taking large items like luggage or bicycles. 

As of July 2024, the feature is only available in Boston, New York, and Seattle in the U.S. It's also available abroad in cities such as Paris, Budapest, and Brisbane. 

Waze redirects you as a driver whenever it calculates a faster route around hazards or traffic obstacles. But it doesn’t support traveling by public transit at all, so you only have one option for a navigation solution if you like to take the bus or train frequently.

Waze vs. Google Maps: Ride-Sharing Integration

If you're unsure whether you’d like to drive yourself or use a ride-sharing service, Google Maps can show you the estimated wait times of Uber and Lyft drivers right from the app. 

You need only install either of the two apps on your device. While this adds convenience, you’ll still need to open the Uber or Lyft app to book a ride. Waze does not have a similar feature.

Waze vs. Google Maps: Interface and Design

When it comes to the interface and design, Google Maps and Waze look significantly different from each other. 

Waze features a simplified interface to help motorists and motorcyclists get from point A to point B while avoiding as many traffic hazards as possible. Its cartoonish icons also diverge from the more “serious” style of Google Maps, which has a detailed and comprehensive interface with more options than Waze. 

But this can clutter your view, as Google Maps automatically displays things like local landmarks, businesses, and sponsored content.

All that extra information may not be handy if you are on a motorcycle, for example, and want to know whether you're going in the right direction down a busy metropolitan road.

However, if you’re planning a trip to somewhere new, Google’s Street View option within Google Maps is a great way to familiarize yourself with the area before you start your journey. 

Street View shows you interactive photographs of places from the perspective of someone on the ground. Waze does not have a similar option. 

Waze vs. Google Maps: Ads

Both of these apps, unfortunately, feature in-app advertisements and sponsored content. 

Google Maps ads are typically displayed while exploring the map itself or within its search pages. The ads try to show relevant businesses or information. 

Waze, in contrast, typically shows flashing banner ads when your vehicle stops moving. While the advertisements vanish when you start moving again, it can distract from the navigational experience.

Waze vs. Google Maps: Discover Features

Google Maps prioritizes the discovery of landmarks, businesses, and other points of interest as you navigate. Waze is much more focused on simply getting you to your destination. 

Because of this, Google Maps is a much better choice if you want to see everything an area offers or if you are interested in detours along the way.

If you want a hands-free navigation system that automatically tells you the best route to your destination, Waze is the way to go.

Waze vs. Google Maps: Traffic and Hazard Alerts

While Google Maps and Waze both let you report traffic updates and hazards, Waze is better for warning you about traffic cameras or speed traps.

Of course, even Apple Maps now displays some road hazards for iPhone users, and it’s far from the best navigation app. Between the Waze app and Google Maps, Waze has the edge in helpful notifications about things like speed cameras. Still, both are going to deliver hazard alerts.

Waze vs. Google Maps: Hands-Free Controls

Both apps allow hands-free operation to different degrees. You can use Google Assistant to control Google Maps without using your hands.

Android phones come with Google Assistant already installed, making this even easier to use. Alternatively, you can use Apple’s AI assistant Siri if you have an iPhone device.

Waze and Google Maps both allow you to change your route, close the app, or start navigation completely hands-free.

Waze vs. Google Maps: Voice Customization Options

Google doesn’t provide nearly as many customization options as Waze, as it only offers a single voice option per region or country. 

Waze lets you choose between many different celebrity voices, like Roger Federer and the Jonas Brothers, especially if you use Waze in English:

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Waze and Google Maps: Pros and Cons

To summarize, here’s a quick rundown of the pros and cons of each app:

Waze Pros and Cons

Pros

• Waze’s app takes a fun and participatory approach to navigation
• The app offers a sense of community 
• Passionate userbase provides real-time updates
• Constantly updates new routes to find the fastest option
• Customizable voices for audible directions 

Cons

• May choose a faster but more complicated route (like more turns)
• No offline maps feature
• It needs a constant data connection
• No option for walking or public transportation 
• It does not offer additional information about landmarks and points of interest 

Google Maps Pros and Cons

Pros

• More options outside of navigation
• Provides Google Street View access
• You can view restaurant menus and book reservations from the app
• Offline map availability 
• Use both historical and crowdsourced data to plot routes

Cons

• Sense of community is not a focus
• Ads and sponsored content are obvious and distracting
• There is no option to change the app’s voice

Which Is Better, Waze or Google Maps?

Waze might be better if you prioritize real-time, frequently updated information from a consistent user community. However, Google Maps is a better pick if you want information along the route to your destination and local businesses, like where you might stop to eat on the way to your final stop.

The Bottom Line

Is Waze better than Google Maps? Ultimately, both Waze and Google Maps are excellent navigational apps.

However, you might prefer one or the other. Google Maps is probably the best choice if you want a traditional map look and feel and traffic insights from a combination of sources. It’s also the clear choice if you’re walking or taking public transportation.

If you’re looking for a community-focused app that may provide more real-time updates regarding traffic stops or hazards, Waze is the way to go.

• Download Waze from Google Play
• Download Google Maps from Google Play
• Download Waze from Apple's App Store
• Download Google Maps from Apple's App Store

Either way, you’ll need an excellent phone that can display critical information and run these apps capably.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the disadvantage of Waze?

One disadvantage of Waze is that it can feel distracting, with pop-ups, ads, and prompts to report incidents, which isn't ideal when driving on busy roads. It also relies heavily on active users, so in areas with fewer people using the app, it might not have the most up-to-date information. 

Is Waze owned by Google?

Yes, Waze is owned by Google, which acquired it in June 2013 for $1.3 billion. Although Waze operates independently with its own team and unique features, it's part of Alphabet, Google's parent company.

Do you need a subscription for Waze?

Waze is completely free to download and use. Just keep in mind that using it on the go will still count against your data plan.