Everyone argues about Google Maps vs Apple Maps vs Waze but this app has made an unexpected return with a feature none of them can touch

In the battle of navigation apps, people usually cite Google Maps, Apple Maps, or Waze as their go-to – but one app has made an unexpected return.

And it’s offering a feature that none of the others provide.

It’s a debate that has long divided drivers.

Now there’s a potential fourth contender, things are only going to get more competitive.

Apple Maps vs Google Maps vs Waze is the debate that seems to have no end in sight

Much like the Cola wars of the 1980s, this is a debate set to roll on and on for a long time.

Drivers all have their preferences when it comes to navigation apps.

And there’s no shortage of comparisons online, in which the big three are pitted against one another.

For one man, there was only one clear winner when it came time to compare the updated versions of each app.

Some people really go above and beyond in testing them out, as this man demonstrated by driving 1,000 miles over the course of a month.

But then sometimes a surprise fourth competitor enters the ring to shake things up.

At one point, it was a Chinese app putting the others to shame.

But now there’s a new kid in town – and let’s just say, it’s a name you may have heard before.

The fourth contender set to shake things up

If you cast your mind back, you may remember MapQuest.

It was a navigation app that seemingly passed into obscurity sometime around 2008.

Well, it’s been around in the years since, just undergoing a lot of ownership changes.

At any rate, it’s back in the headlines with a new feature that its rivals don’t have.

Could this be a game changer?

What does MapQuest offer that Apple Maps, Google Maps, and Waze don’t?

MapQuest now shows drivers the exact locations of Flock surveillance cameras and other license plate readers.

You may recall that Flock cameras are particularly contentious – just look at what this guy created in opposition to them.

Declaring ‘The Roads Have Eyes!’, MapQuest announced its new feature on social media.

The Roads Have Eyes! 👁️ Turn on the Surveillance Layer in Map Options to see known license plate readers from Flock Safety, Motorola Solutions (Vigilant), Genetec, Axis Communications, Axon, Leonardo (ELSAG), Neology, Rekor, PlateSmart, Ubicquia, Verkada, and other outdoor surveillance cameras that watch streets and public spaces.

— MapQuest (@MapQuest) October 15, 2026

Using crowdsourced data, users can pin the location of a camera once they spot it.

And with 100,000 Flock cameras across the US, there’ll be a lot to flag up.

The move has certainly won the app some kudos.

Wheelfront noted: “MapQuest is gaining attention it has not enjoyed in 15 years.”

Is MapQuest the comeback kid of the navigation app world? Watch this space.