Key Takeaways
- Waze routes are quicker than Google Maps attributable to site visitors avoidance. It additionally has correct hazard reporting
- Waze is community-driven and dependable and allows you to customise your expertise with celeb voices and icons.
- These are a couple of the explanation why I am a devoted Waze person and will not be absolutely switching to Google Maps any time quickly.
There are many navigation apps on the market, from Apple Maps to TomTom GO, however two of the preferred are Waze and Google Maps. Each are free apps, and each are owned by Google, however fortunately, the tech large has saved Waze as a separate app quite than making an attempt to fold its options into Google Maps. It means you get a alternative of which of Google’s navigation apps to make use of, as they’re each very completely different of their approaches.
Personally, I have been utilizing Waze for years, and though I nonetheless use Google Maps once in a while, I at all times discover myself going again to Waze as my go-to driving navigation app. Listed here are 5 key the explanation why I exploit Waze over Google Maps.
I tested Google Maps against Waze to see which is really better
Google owns two navigation apps: Google Maps and Waze. I exploit Waze, however I downloaded Google Maps to see the way it compares.
1 Higher route planning
Get from A to B quicker
Each apps are owned by Google so that you may anticipate them to generate the identical routes for a particular journey. Nonetheless, that is not often the case. That is as a result of Waze is designed to get you to your vacation spot within the shortest time attainable and can fortunately take you by way of a barely unusual route if it means avoiding site visitors congestion or an accident. Google Maps normally generates a extra direct route however one that may find yourself being just a little slower.
For instance, I attempted coming into the identical vacation spot on each apps. Waze gave me a route that was 325 miles lengthy and would take 5 hours and 31 minutes. Google Maps generated a route that was shorter, at 324 miles, however would take 5 hours 53 minutes. Until a route is absolutely loopy, I at all times want to get there as rapidly as attainable, and I’ve discovered Waze to be higher on this regard.
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2 Higher hazard reporting
Get real-time hazard experiences
Waze is constructed on a social community of Waze customers whose knowledge is shared with all different customers. Waze will use details about how briskly different customers are touring to estimate how busy roads are and use this info to construct probably the most environment friendly routes. Nonetheless, customers may also add their very own knowledge, akin to site visitors accidents, pace traps, and different hazards.
These warnings are normally extremely correct. For instance, I recurrently get warnings about autos stopped along side the street, and these are nearly at all times precisely the place the warning says they are going to be. If they are not, I can rapidly faucet the display to point that the hazard is not there. Waze has not too long ago added new hazard reporting options, too, together with pace bumps and toll cubicles.
There may be hazard reporting in Google Maps, however the characteristic continues to be pretty new and depends on different customers profiting from it. Many could also be unaware that hazard reporting is an possibility in Google Maps, but it surely has been a key a part of Waze for years. This makes the hazard reporting in Waze much more correct.
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3 Customization choices
Maintain issues attention-grabbing with new voices and icons
Have you ever ever been driving and so misplaced in your individual ideas that you do not even hear the directions out of your navigation app and sail on previous the flip you are purported to make? It is simple to do, particularly with the identical monotonous voice speaking to you each couple of minutes. Waze shakes issues up a bit by providing you with an enormous alternative of various voices to make use of, together with some wonderful celeb voice.
Numerous these voices are short-term choices which can be used as promotional instruments or only appear for the holidays. For instance, proper now I can get my directions within the voice of Ray Stantz, Dan Akroyd’s character from the film Ghostbusters, which is selling the discharge of the newest film within the franchise. There are many different choices that stick round, too, akin to Zombie, Noir Detective, and 80s Aerobics Teacher.
Alongside the voices, it is also attainable to customise the icon that shows on the map to indicate your location to different Waze customers, which lets you point out your present temper.
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4 Sooner rerouting
Fast route updates if issues come up
The preliminary route that Waze generates is the optimum route primarily based on the present site visitors situations. Nonetheless, issues can change in your journey. Some roads might get busier, slowing you up, or there could also be accidents or different hazards that make the present route much less very best.
If this occurs, Waze will recommend another route, and inform you the way a lot time it can save you by switching to this route. It’s going to accomplish that fairly aggressively; if a faster route is discovered, Waze will normally let you realize, which means the route can change a number of occasions in your journey.
Google Maps will change the route sometimes, but it surely would not appear to take action almost as usually, which might be right down to not having as a lot user-submitted info to go on. In order for you the quickest response to modifications in your route, then Waze is the way in which to go.
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5 In-app gasoline costs
Discover the most cost effective gasoline quicker
Each apps can help you seek for fuel stations and EV charging stations on or near your route. Nonetheless, Waze has one main benefit over Google Maps on this regard. Whereas Google Maps will present the situation of the fuel stations, you will not get any details about how a lot you may need to pay.
Within the Waze app, you will not simply see the areas of the fuel stations, however you too can see the costs, too. This info may be submitted by the fuel stations themselves, or it may be submitted by different Waze customers. This lets you rapidly discover the most cost effective place to refill with out going too far out of your method.
You may see the costs on the map, however beneath the map you’ll be able to see extra info, together with the date that the value was added to the app. It means you’ll be able to disregard the costs that have not been up to date for some time and simply contemplate those who have been up to date not too long ago.
That is one more advantage of the social side of Waze, with customers in a position to share info akin to gasoline costs that may profit everybody utilizing the app.
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FAQ
Q: Is there any cause to decide on Google Maps over Waze?
It is just a little unusual that Google owns two very completely different navigation apps and nonetheless runs them each individually, but it surely does imply you get extra alternative. Above are a few of the key the explanation why I nonetheless use Waze as my navigation app of alternative, however there are some options that Google Maps has in its favor, too.
For instance, Google Maps lets you download maps for offline use as a way to navigate even when you do not have a community connection. Google Maps additionally provides instructions for strolling and biking, in addition to public transport and flight info. Nonetheless, in relation to driving, I am nonetheless sticking with Waze for now.
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