Expert compares Waze and Google Maps and declares there's a clear winner in the debate that has raged for years

It’s been a debate that has raged on for years – is Google Maps or Waze better?

Both of these navigation apps will get you where you need to go, but one’s got to come out on top, right?

An expert decided to get to the bottom of the debate and see which one was truly superior.

Elyse Betters Picaro, the tech editor over at Zdnet, put both apps through a feature-by-feature breakdown and came to one clear conclusion.

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Comparing Google Maps to Waze – which one is the better navigation app?

Picaro described herself as a Google Maps user, but like any good journalist, she was able to set aside her preferences in the name of journalistic integrity.

In the spirit of impartiality, she gave the first win to Waze thanks to its ‘real-time rerouting’.

There was a good reason Waze came out on top in this round.

In this category, Picaro hailed Waze as superior, as it rerouted her more efficiently when there was a change in traffic conditions.

She admitted that Google Maps took a more measured approach in this regard.

Fortunately, Google Maps was able to claw a win back when it came to public transit and other travel modes.

“Waze is just for drivers… There’s no using it for walking, biking, buses, or trains. Basically, if you’re not behind the wheel, Waze can’t help you,” Picaro said.

Google Maps, on the other hand, is perfect for all modes of transportation.

How about ‘traffic and incident reporting’?

This essentially came down to which app did a better job of alerting you to issues ahead of you on the road, whether it be traffic, construction work, or bad weather.

And Waze took the win this time around, having offered ‘robust real-time reporting’ from the offset.

Which app racked up the most wins?

That detailed reporting landed Waze the win in another round – ‘police and speed trap alerts’.

Google Maps clawed one back through ‘offline maps and data use’, as it allowed users to download maps ahead of time – a real help when traveling abroad.

Google Maps also scored a point for ‘interface and design’, even though Picaro conceded that Waze ‘definitely has a personality’.

“I’ll admit this can come down to personal preference. If you’re into quirky extras and playful design, Waze definitely delivers,” Picaro wrote.

“But since I’m not big on the gimmicky stuff and prefer a more feature-rich interface with plenty of discovery options that actually help me get around, I’m giving the edge to Google Maps.”

Gemini helped out a ton in the ‘AI voice assistance’ round, scoring Google Maps another point and pushing it into a comfortable lead.

And even though it was ahead, it didn’t hurt that it also won the ‘availability and compatibility’ category too, being preinstalled on most Android phones.

So all in all, it was Google Maps that came out on top with 5 wins compared to 3 for Waze.

If it’s any commiseration for the Waze team, a Reddit thread of UK drivers landed on a different answer when asked a similar question.

Both these apps are worthy contenders, there’s no doubt about that.

And with more updates coming to Maps all the time, they’re only set to improve.

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