Which is better waze or google maps. Waze vs. Google Maps: Which One Is Better Overall?.
Google Maps and Waze are the two largest navigation apps, and both are very similar – perhaps because both are owned by Google. But despite their similarities, there are some significant differences between the two that can help you decide which navigation app is best for you.
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In this article, we’ll cover the main differences between Waze and Google Maps, and where each app stands out. After reading this article, you will know exactly which navigation app suits your needs and driving style.
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What Are Waze and Google Maps Available On?
Both Google Maps and Waze are available for Android and iOS. They are also compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This way, regardless of your device or vehicle, you can use any application.
Google Maps and Waze are also available through the browser for route planning and can send those routes directly to your phone.
How Do Waze and Google Maps Plan Your Route?
Google Maps and Waze are robust navigation apps that take you easily to your destination. However, they do it a little differently, and these nuances can affect which routes you take. Whether you prefer a particular car depends a lot on your driving style.
Google Maps has several options that can change the route they give you. By default, it will send you the fastest route and only change the route if the traffic is particularly bad or if the path is blocked by danger. But it’s pretty easy to set up with settings that allow you to add conditions like avoiding toll roads and highways.
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You can also tweak Google Maps to take you the most economical route. Using data from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Google Maps can calculate your fuel efficiency based on local averages and help you drive a cleaner driver.
On the other hand, Waze seems to be much more concerned with estimated arrival times. Waze users report that he is much more aggressive in avoiding traffic. Waze often sends you on side roads or “weird” routes to avoid time-consuming traffic, focusing on estimated arrival times over everything else.
Perhaps because of this, Waze also has some configurable options, including a request to avoid dirt roads or difficult intersections. This can be very helpful depending on your location, as Waze is known to advise people to take very interesting routes.
However, keep in mind that in the absence of traffic or limited data, both apps will most likely guide you on the exact route.
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Waze Vs Google Maps: Versatility
Whether you’re using public transit, walking, or cycling, Google Maps is the only option of the two.
Google Maps has a complete set of public transit timetables and maps for dozens of countries. It can also easily combine transport types. If you need to take the bus to work, but need to walk between stops, this is not a problem.
Even more impressive, Google Maps can include information about bike and e-scooter rentals and some ride-sharing services, depending on location.
In contrast, Waze only supports three types of vehicles: private car, taxi, or motorcycle. So, when it comes to versatility, Google Maps is the clear winner.
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App Design
Google Maps and Waze have completely different interfaces and designs. Their differences reflect their different goals: Waze is designed to get to your location as quickly as possible by car, while Google Maps is designed for much more.
Google Maps looks like traditional GPS. It has a simplified 2D view, satellite view, or terrain view, and each can be customized to include different map details. On the contrary, Waze is much more minimalistic and a bit cartoonish.
Both apps display the map data in the same way. When you zoom in, more information is displayed (for example, street names, place names, and smaller roads). Both apps also display a compass and can display a speedometer.
In addition, both Google Maps and Waze are very similar when navigating. Both of them minimize the information displayed on the screen and show your location, traffic data, speed limits and road hazards. Interestingly, by default, Waze also displays other nearby Waze users as small emoticons. It’s cute, but seems pretty much unnecessary.
Waze Vs Google Maps: Which Has Worse Advertising?
Google Maps and Waze display ads and paid content in the app. The difference is how they display them.
Google Maps shows a few nondescript banner ads, and they mostly appear when you search for or click on a location. It also has paid Promoted Pins (which display a company logo) and various other features to help businesses be more visible in the app, including customizable business pages.
Waze advertisements tend to be much more aggressive. They appear as large banners when you stop moving and disappear when you start moving again. These ads are location-based, which means you are likely to see content about nearby businesses.
Some users have complained that Waze advertisements appear while driving and have to swipe them to see the next turn, which gets in the way and distracts the driver. It’s important to note that this is a bug that most users shouldn’t have.
Is Google Maps or Waze Better At Finding Locations?
Both Google Maps and Waze are equally good at finding what you’re looking for with their search bar. Both will show the closest locations of a certain type, but Waze has fewer options and only shows them after you ask. Google Maps constantly displays all nearby locations and many more categories to choose from, making it easy to find what you’re looking for.
With a much simpler design, Waze often displays less information about places and businesses near you than Google Maps. When you select a location – say your local McDonalds – Google Maps will provide you with information including opening hours, website, phone number, reviews, occupancy, and more. In contrast, Waze often shows only a brief description of the company, a web address, or nothing at all.
Both Google Maps and Waze have offline GPS modes, although Google Maps has more features, allowing you to download entire areas to your phone.
Traffic and Road Hazards
Google Maps and Waze display traffic very similarly. Both show a red or yellow line depending on traffic levels, and both offer alternative routes if traffic is heavy (although Waze will do this much faster than Google). Both can display the same information including road works, accidents, conditions and speed cameras. Most of this information comes from user reports, especially for Waze.
When it comes to displaying hazards and other road conditions, Waze seems to be the winner. Waze displays these hazards in very clear and easily visible icons. This is very useful when planning your route (and when bypassing speed cameras).
In short: Both apps account for traffic, hazards (including accidents), police traps, blocked roads and weather conditions, but Waze displays them more clearly. Waze focuses more on ETA, while Google Maps provides the most efficient route. Waze is for cars / motorcycles only, and Google Maps has walking, cycling, and public transit modes that can be combined into one route. Both Waze and Google Maps are great for finding locations, but Google Maps provides more information about them. Ads on it are less intrusive than Waze. Google Maps provides much more information about places and businesses.
So, Which Is Better: Waze or Google Maps?
Regardless of which of these two navigation applications you use, you will move from point A to point B. The differences depend a lot on your preference.
If you want to reach your destination as quickly as possible and only use a car or motorcycle? Use Waze. If you need more location information, take public transit and don’t mind a few extra minutes in traffic? Use Google Maps. If you don’t like something, check out the alternatives!
Which one do you prefer? Let us know in the comments below.
Waze vs. Google Maps: Which One Is Better Overall?
Waze vs. Google Maps: Which One Is Better Overall?