Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Waze VS Google Maps

Compare Waze VS Google Maps and see what are their differences

Waze logo Waze

Waze is the world's largest community-based traffic and navigation app. Join other drivers in your area who share real-time traffic and road info, saving everyone time and gas money on their daily commute.

Google Maps logo Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.
  • Waze
    Image date //
    2024-01-08
  • Google Maps
    Image date //
    2024-01-08

Waze features and specs

  • Real-Time Traffic Updates
    Waze utilizes data from other users to provide real-time updates about traffic conditions, accidents, and hazards, allowing users to choose the quickest route.
  • Community-Based Reporting
    The app thrives on user-generated reports, making the information particularly accurate and timely. Users can report accidents, police traps, road closures, and other events.
  • Frequent Map Updates
    Because Waze relies on community input, maps are updated more frequently than some other navigation apps, keeping information accurate and current.
  • Customization and Gamification
    Waze offers a gamified experience and several customization options, including mood icons, which make navigation more engaging.
  • Voice Commands
    Users can use voice commands to interact with the app, making it easier and safer to use while driving.
  • Gas Price Updates
    The app shows current gas prices and can direct users to the nearest or cheapest gas stations, helping save money.

Possible disadvantages of Waze

  • Battery Consumption
    The app's constant updates and GPS usage can drain your smartphone battery quickly.
  • Data Usage
    Real-time updates require a constant data connection, which can be costly and problematic in areas with poor cellular coverage.
  • Distractions
    The frequent notifications and updates can be distracting for drivers, possibly leading to unsafe driving conditions.
  • Privacy Concerns
    Since Waze collects a lot of real-time data about user locations and movements, there are potential privacy implications.
  • Ad Insertion
    The app displays ads, which can be intrusive and annoying for some users.
  • Learning Curve
    New users may find the plethora of features and user interface somewhat overwhelming at first.

Google Maps features and specs

  • Detailed Information
    Google Maps provides extensive details about locations, including photos, reviews, operating hours, and contact information.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The platform boasts an intuitive design that is easy to navigate for both casual users and professionals.
  • Real-Time Updates
    Offers real-time traffic updates, accident reports, and road closures to help users avoid delays.
  • Multi-modal Directions
    Supports directions for driving, walking, cycling, and public transportation, offering flexibility for different commuting needs.
  • Street View
    Provides 360-degree panoramic views of streets, enabling users to virtually explore neighborhoods before visiting.
  • Offline Maps
    Allows users to download maps for offline use, which is useful in areas with poor or no internet connectivity.
  • Integration with Other Services
    Easily integrates with other Google services like Google Calendar, making it convenient to plan trips and appointments.

Possible disadvantages of Google Maps

  • Privacy Concerns
    The service collects extensive user data, raising privacy issues regarding how this information is used and shared.
  • Battery Consumption
    Real-time features and GPS usage can significantly drain the battery life of mobile devices.
  • Inaccuracies
    Despite frequent updates, some information may be outdated or inaccurate, such as business hours or road conditions.
  • Data Usage
    Uses a considerable amount of data, which can be problematic for users with limited data plans.
  • Overreliance
    Users may become overly dependent on the service for navigation, potentially reducing their ability to navigate without digital assistance.
  • Ad Integration
    Contains sponsored content and ads, which can sometimes disrupt the user experience.
  • Complexity
    Additional features and layers of information can make it overwhelming for users who just need basic navigation.

Waze videos

5 reasons you'll use Waze over Google Maps

More videos:

  • Review - Waze App Review | 3 Reason why to use Waze
  • Review - Waze App Review(In Depth)

Google Maps videos

New Apple Maps Features That Beat Google Maps!

More videos:

  • Review - Unhelpful Google Maps Reviews - Sub Safari
  • Review - Epic Google Maps Reviews by Local Guides | The Review Review Episode 3

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Waze and Google Maps)
Maps
16 16%
84% 84
Web Mapping
17 17%
83% 83
Travel & Location
22 22%
78% 78
Mapping And GIS
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Waze and Google Maps

Waze Reviews

The Best Travel Apps for 2025
While Google Maps tells you about officially reported problems on the road and whether there's traffic, Waze knows the nitty-gritty details, like the location of police traps and potholes. This free community-driven app for traffic and road conditions is popular among taxi and car service drivers, although it's equally useful for everyday drivers. Waze can also tell you the...
Source: www.pcmag.com
7 Alternatives to Google Maps for Navigation
Actually, Google now owns Waze. But it’s still an alternative! The key to Waze is that it’s a crowdsourcing app. Users can report accidents, traffic jams, speed traps, and other hazards. Then, their reports are shared with other drivers in the area.
Going Beyond: The Best Alternatives to Google Maps in 2024
This allows you to avoid traffic jams and get to your destination faster. In addition, Waze offers features such as speed camera alerts and gas stations with the lowest prices, making it a handy app for drivers. Due to its considerable popularity, Waze was purchased by Google in 2013. However, it is still a standalone app, not part of Google Maps.
Source: stratoflow.com
Top 15 Google Maps Alternatives (2024 Edition)
Waze is another popular free Google Maps alternative. You will get the best directions to work from Waze, as it relies on crowdsourcing to warn you about traffic, police, and hazards.
9 Google Maps Alternatives to Use in 2022
Waze is a crowd-funded map service for desktop, Android, and iOS devices. The intuitive and highly interactive system also allows you to alert your fellow drivers about the traffic changes, speed cams, congestion, and hazards on the road. Due to its immense popularity, Wave was purchased by Google in 2013 and still exists as a stand-alone application and not a part of Google...
Source: geekflare.com

Google Maps Reviews

Best Tools for Planning a Vacation to Ireland in 2025
Google Maps has been a popular navigation assistant for many years and offers not just driving directions but help finding local restaurants, accommodation and more.
8 Best Alternatives to Google Travel Trip Summaries
If you appreciated the ability to sync Google Trip Summaries with Google Maps, the closing of Trip Summaries doesn’t mean you can no longer sync itineraries to Google Maps. Wanderlog allows you to export any itinerary you create within the app to Google Maps, allowing you to see the location of every attraction you want to visit and gain information on how to travel between...
Source: wanderlog.com
The 8 Best Bike Navigation Apps Ridden & Rated
UX-wise, we’ve given Google Maps a near-perfect nine. The clutter-free layout and recognisable graphics. How would they score a ten? We’d love Google Maps to expand its immersive view (a flyby 3D model of a given route) beyond major cities like London.
Source: loop.cc
The Best Travel Apps for 2025
My number one go-to travel app is Google Maps. On the ground, it shows you where you are and how to get to where you need to go, whether by foot, public transit, car, or bicycle. Google Maps is equally helpful when you want to explore what's around, including hotels, restaurants, and gas stations. Often, the listing for sites and businesses include hours of operation,...
Source: www.pcmag.com
7 Alternatives to Google Maps for Navigation
Google Maps is often the go-to navigation app for many of us. But what if you’re looking for something a little different? There are many alternatives to Google Maps that provide similar features and functions.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Waze seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 12 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Waze mentions (12)

  • Best app, like, ever?
    Waze (Free) - Would have said Google Maps but Waze helps me get places AND tells me where speed cameras are. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Is someone using my API key or am I being stupid?
    Had the exact same thing happen to me, including waze.com as referring domain and same billables. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Alexandria to Chantilly
    I would suggest using waze.com from wherever you currently are over the next few days. At the time you expect you would actually leave Alexandria for Chantilly, use waze.com's "Live Map" feature to see the route. It will show you a remarkably accurate estimate of the best route and the time it will take. It will also show you a couple of alternatives. Source: over 2 years ago
  • How is the commute from Ashburn to Arlington?
    If you want to get pretty accurate actual times for your commute, after next Tuesday (when traffic is getting back to normal levels after the holidays), use waze.com AT THE TIME you would commute to view their "live map" of the trip. It will show you a pretty accurate estimate of the time it would take right then. Source: over 2 years ago
  • There is a water main break on Belair Rd
    We are updating Waze with live closures and detours. Source: over 2 years ago
View more

Google Maps mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Google Maps yet. Tracking of Google Maps recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Waze and Google Maps, you can also consider the following products

HERE WeGo - HERE WeGo - Maps - Routes - Directions - All ways from A to B in one

Mapbox - An open source mapping platform for custom designed maps. Our APIs and SDKs are the building blocks to integrate location into any mobile or web app.

MAPS.ME - Fast, detailed and completely offline maps for mobile devices

OpenStreetMap - OpenStreetMap is a map of the world, created by people like you and free to use under an open license.

OsmAnd - Global mobile map viewing and navigation for online and offline OSM maps

OSGeo - QGIS is a desktop geographic information system, or GIS.

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