Waze, Google Maps, or Apple Maps – Which Should I Choose?

 

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The Best Navigation Apps

Need to discover the best navigation apps?

Drivers of a certain age probably remember a backup road atlas (for emergencies), directions that were printed, and the days of patiently checking your odometer to track the miles until the next turn to help guide you. Now, computerized NAV is optional on almost every brand-new vehicle and mobile phone. While nearly all NAV applications provide the same general info, what and how the info is shown can vary greatly. With so many apps available to choose from, how can you know which is the best NAV app for your car? We’ve concluded that our top 3 choices are Google Maps vs. Waze vs. Apple Maps. Apple CarPlay® may seem like the frontrunner because it is available in so many brand-new vehicles, but Waze and Google Maps have their own built-in advantages.

Google

The most robust NAV app in this comparison is Google Maps since all of the data is provided by the massive Google search engine.

Google Maps Biggest Benefits

• Cars are just the start – If you want to take a train, walk, or bike then Google Maps is ready.
• Instant updates – See how much time that traffic jam is going to add to your trip.
• Google Exclusive: Street View – See actual pictures of your desired location on the map.
• Download capable – No cellphone service, no worries. Download your map.

Apple Maps

Thanks to the CarPlay® integration with many brand-new cars, Apple Maps could very well be the easiest navigation app to use available today. ​The one issue with Apple Maps is that it’s only available on iOS devices.

Apple Maps Biggest Benefits

• Several unique options for Navigation – Get maps for public transportation, driving, and even walking.
• Apple Pit Stops – Find fuel stations that are nearby and other attractions.
• Look Around by Apple – See both images and a map of your area. This feature can be very helpful if you get lost.

Waze

While other navigation applications now have some form of crowd-sourced traffic info, Waze was the first to really use the tech too.

The Biggest Benefits

• Facebook integration – Share your road trip with friends and family by posting your location.
• Not just directions – Get information about road closures, incidents, and even speed traps.
• Updates as they happen – User input information as they are driving, that info is then used to calculate the quickest path to your destination.

Our Results Are In, The Winner of Waze vs Google Maps vs Apple Maps is:

It should be no surprise, but the best Navigation App really depends on how you use it. If you get lost easily, drivers can use the Look Around option on Apple Maps. If you use NAV to follow your next big cycling road trip, then Google Maps has you covered. But, if you just need to get somewhere in the shortest time, then Waze is your best choice. Waze, Google Maps, and Apple Maps all have their own features and you truly can’t go wrong, no matter which one you select.