Waze vs Google Maps - Which is the better option for you?

Waze vs. Google Maps Australia: What should you consider when deciding which navigation application is right for you?

Gone are the days where you rely on physical map books to navigate your way to a destination, and while orienteering like this is a hard-won skill that I’m grateful to have, it is ridiculously easier to punch in some addresses into a sat-nav system, like Google Maps or Waze.

Google Maps has been around since 2005, back when it was limited to a desktop app and you had to print out your map directions on actual paper. Android phone users got a phone app version from 2008, while Apple phone users had to wait until 2012.

So, what is Waze? Essentially, it’s a Google Maps alternative.

It was initially developed in 2006 as a part of a community project initially called FreeMap Israel before it was renamed Waze in 2008. This might surprise the die-hard enthusiasts out there who are either Team Waze or Team Google, but since acquiring it in 2013, Waze is now a subsidiary company of Google.

While both are owned and operated underneath the Google company umbrella, they do differ in their end-user application. The best way to describe the difference between the two is that Waze is targeted as more of a social engagement app, whereas Google Maps is an information app.

If it’s simply a question on how to get from point A to point B, both apps will more than suffice but is one better than the other?

How do you use Waze and Google Maps?

From a user’s perspective, they’re very similar in how you access and use the navigation services. Each app uses top-down map views, turn-by-turn navigation and satellite imagery, but Google Maps makes excellent use of its route planning and Google Street View option and that’s particularly handy if you’re on foot.

While you don’t technically need an account for either, creating a Waze profile or linking your Google Email to your Google Maps app gives you a more involved experience because for both, you can ‘level’ up.

On Waze, you can earn ‘Achievements’, which are earned by keeping the Waze traffic updates current by confirming or creating notifications about traffic congestion, alerts etc.

Every new ‘Wazer’ starts at the bottom rung, which is adorably named Baby Wazer (the little dude even has a dummy) before you can unlock to the next level.

These little profile icons can be personalised with ‘Moods’ and are what other users see on the Waze map. This is where it differs from Google Maps because other users can’t ‘see’ you as you’re using the app anonymously. On Waze, seeing driver’s icons popping across the map makes it feel like you a part of a social network while driving – some people like that and others find it a distraction, but the icons are pretty cute.

On Google Maps, you can link your Google email to your app, which makes it easy to leave a quick review for a business you’ve visited on your trip. Leaving reviews and participating in the app like this earns you ‘Contributor’ badges. However, like Waze, it’s not necessary and you can be a ‘guest’ on each app. Bonus – both are free to use.

Some people have asked is Waze illegal in Australia? No, the app is fully legal but still requires handsfree use while on the road just like Google Maps.

How does Google Maps make money?

Google Maps generates income by selling advertising space to local businesses. This is linked with Google Ads and it means when you zoom in on a route, you’ll see local business listings for things like hotels and restaurants.

How does Waze make money? Waze used to do something similar but ended the practice in 2023.

How does Google Maps work and how accurate is Google Maps?

To get going, both apps require the user to enter a ‘starting point’ address and a ‘destination’ address, however if you don’t know the actual address, often a text prompt like ‘Westfield Sydney’ will find it for you. Both use your location as the automatic starting point but that can be changed manually, if need be.

You can customise your route preferences in both as well – letting you avoid routes with things like toll roads or freeways.

You can access both apps via voice command, which is great for keeping your attention on the road and keeping it all ‘handsfree’. In both Waze and Google Maps, the voice command is activated by saying, ‘Hey Google’, but if you’re using an iPhone, you can also use the in-built Siri voice assistant to access them as well.

Google Maps is considered fairly accurate when it comes to finding your current location outdoors as it uses GPS satellite data, which can pinpoint your position to within around 20 meters.

How much data does Waze use?

Because of its user-heavy interaction and map design that relies on real-time data collection, Waze typically uses between 20 – 30MB per hour for its top-down view map and turn-by-turn navigation. So, how much data does Google Maps use? For the same type of map style, the app only uses between 3 – 5MB per hour, which is significantly less than Waze.

Using Google Street View chews a lot more data, averaging between 15 – 20MB per hour.

What Waze does better

All routes are calculated using Global Positioning System technology (GPS) and historic traffic data to determine both the quickest route and the average time to get to your destination for their navigation map but Waze takes it a step further.

Traffic updates are ‘crowd sourced’ from the community of Waze users, which means that active users on the app contribute to live traffic updates and alerts. This has the benefit of data being more accurate as the user can update in ‘real time’.

Does Waze show speed cameras … yes! And it’s one of it’s best features, but you can make updates on lots of different types of alerts. Users can note if they are any road or lane closures, bad weather (sudden fog), police, traffic congestion and crashes on your route. As a user, you will get a notification if one of these items has been logged on your route.

Does Google Maps show speed cameras? No, but you can enable a speed limit alert (similar to Traffic Sign Recognition in new cars).

Does Waze show mobile phone cameras? It’s a newer feature, but with the updated laws around mobile phone detection, it’s a welcomed one. Users can log mobile detection cameras so others can use it.

You can also confirm whether or not the alert is still in effect and causing traffic issues or if its cleared. Doing so helps other drivers and makes the data more accurate.

This data then translates to automatic route changes by Waze. Whereas you will get a suggested route alternative from Google Maps which needs user input to implement – this takes the drivers eyes off the road and if you miss the notification, you miss out on the time-saving new route.

Waze shows car parking around your destination, which can help in planning your travel immensely because parking in a city CBD or event can be a nightmare.

What Google Maps does better

The best benefit of using Google Maps is that it works across various modes of transport. So, you can use Google Maps when you’re cycling, walking, driving or taking public transport like a bus or train, but Waze is limited to car routes. The public transport feature is particularly good as it will tell you exactly which bus or train you need to take, including adding the walking distance between stops and which train platform you need to be on. This app is super handy if you’re a tourist and don’t have access to a car but still need to navigate.

You can also pre-download a map area in Google Maps before you leave your home or hotel Wi-Fi, allowing you to access the navigation if your internet drops out. This makes it the best offline navigation app because Waze can’t function without both GPS and cellular data.

Google Maps vs Waze

Is Waze better than Google Maps? If we’re playing a strict numbers game, then *technically* Google Maps has it beat with its two billion monthly users (as of October 2024) compared to the 151 million active Waze users.

The Waze review? Word on the street, at least for the younger generation, is that Waze is the way to go. My cousins and younger brother all swear by Waze (my father didn’t even know what it was). The community-minded spirit of ‘watching each other’s backs’ while out on the road seems to be the biggest scoring factor on favourability. They also like the cute Waze app icons and that you can personalise them.

At the end of the day, both will get you to where you need to go.