Waze vs Google Maps vs Apple Maps

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The Best Navigation App for your Car or Truck

Which is the best navigation app for your car or truck?

Drivers of a certain age may remember the days of patiently checking the odometer to track the miles until your next exit, a backup road atlas (for emergencies), and pre-printed directions to help guide you on long drives. Nowadays, digital NAV is optional on nearly every single new car and cell phone. While most navigation applications give the same general info, what and how the info is displayed can vary greatly. With so many different choices available to select from, how can you know which one is the best? We’ve narrowed it down to our top 3 suggestions, Waze vs Apple Maps vs Google Maps. Apple CarPlay® may appear to be the leader because it is an option in so many new cars, but Waze and Google Maps have their own unique built-in advantages as well.

Google Maps

The most powerful navigation application in this comparison is Google Maps as all of the information is provided by Google itself.

Google Maps Biggest Advantages

• Traffic in an instant – See how much time that traffic jam is going to add to your trip.
• Not just for cars – If you want to take a train, walk, or bike then Google Maps can handle it.
• Street View, a Google Exclusive – View real pictures of your desired location on the map.
• Offline availability – Download your map. No cellphone reception, no worries.

Apple Maps

Apple Maps might be the most used NAV app, since CarPlay® is an option in many new vehicles. ​Apple Maps has one minor flaw, it is only found on iOS devices.

Advantages of Apple Maps

• Pit Stops from Apple – Find fuel stations that are nearby and other attractions.
• Several options for NAV – Get map options for walking and public transportation, along with driving routes.
• Look Around – See both images and a map of your area. Very useful if you are lost.

Waze

Even though other NAV apps now feature some sort of crowd-sourced traffic information, Waze was the first NAV application to really use the tech as well.

The Top Benefits of Waze

• Get more than directions – Receive data about detours, roadside incidents, and even police alerts.
• Facebook integration – Update your timeline and share your road trip with friends and family.
• Updates in real-time – User update information while they are driving, that information is used to update your route to give the quickest path to your destination.

The Winner is:

It shouldn’t be a surprise, but the best NAV App really depends on what drivers need. If you happen to get lost easily, the Look Around option on Apple Maps will be beneficial. If you use Navigation to plan your next cycling trip, then Google Maps is for you. However, if you just need to get somewhere in the shortest time, Waze is your only choice. Google Maps, Apple Maps, and Waze all have their own features and you truly can’t go wrong with any of them.