Man compares Waze and Google Maps and ends up conceding it's barely even a debate as one is just miles ahead
Published on Apr 13, 2026 at 4:39 PM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Apr 13, 2026 at 4:39 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
The Waze and Google Maps debate has been going on for a long while now, but it’s not even close as far as one journalist is concerned.
Jordan Minor, a senior software writer at PCMag, decided to give his take on the seemingly eternal discourse.
It’s a discussion that plenty of drivers have waded into over the years.
But after a recent update, Minor is convinced that one app is leagues ahead of its rival.
Google Maps and Waze – this writer thinks that one is way ahead of the other
Writing for PCMag, Minor drew direct comparisons between the two navigation apps.
First up, he looked at how the platforms worked with offline downloads.
While he praised Google Maps for allowing users to download, he noted that Waze is ‘much less helpful’ for not providing this option.
“You also must be online when you start a trip. Your trip won’t end if your connection drops, but you will lose access to all the helpful information Waze provides, such as accident alerts and sudden road closures notifications,” he noted.
So, on the first round, Google Maps won.
It also scored a win when it came to Map Details, thanks to its range of features, including Immersive Navigation and 3D routes.
In Minor’s view, Waze simply couldn’t compete.
Fortunately for Waze, it earned a point when it came to helping drivers, thanks to driver-focused features.
But in the final category of Extra Features and AI Tools, Minor awarded a third point to Google Maps.
“Exploring the Google Maps app can be as fun as exploring the world using Google Maps,” he wrote.
“Google Maps integrates with Instacart for grocery delivery and Lyft for hailing a ride. And with the Gemini AI-powered Ask Maps feature, you can speak a question to receive useful answers and photos in an easily digestible manner.”
What were the final scores?
In the end, Google Maps was rewarded 4.5 out of 5, earning it an ‘Outstanding’ rating.
Branded the ‘gold standard’ for navigation apps, it was clear to see how it ended up triumphant over its rival in this showdown.
Waze was rewarded a 3.5, and complimented for offering up ‘top-notch crowdsourced information’.
But ultimately it fell short without ‘the non-driving options of competing navigation apps’.
This debate is still going to rage on for a while yet.
There are certainly those who agree with Minor’s verdict, like the tech editor over at Zdnet.
But it’s by no means unanimous, as a Reddit thread of UK drivers demonstrated.
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Following stints at LadBible, The Sun, The New York Post, and the Daily Mail, Ben joined the team full-time in February 2025. In his role as Senior Content Writer, his sparkling copy, the ability to sniff out a good story at 100 paces, and a GSOH quickly led to him becoming an integral and invaluable member of the writing staff.
