Google Maps vs Apple Maps vs Waze

Which is the best smartphone navigation app?

  • Google Maps

    Votes: 89 63.6%

  • Apple Maps

    Votes: 5 3.6%

  • Waze

    Votes: 46 32.9%
  • Total voters
    140
J

Jamie McKane

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Which is the best smartphone navigation app between Google Maps, Waze, and Apple Maps?
 
For Navigation I find Apple and Google to be about the same. I've never used Waze.

Google has the better maps though.
 
If you've found a detectable difference between Google and Apple maps, you've got way, way more time on your hands than I have. They are both excellent for navigation. Can I vote twice?
 
It looks to me like there are a lot more Android than iDevice users so Google maps will get the most votes most likely.

I also do not own an iPhone so can only vote between Google and Waze (which as pointed out is the same thing!)
 
I'm a iPhone user and prefer Google Maps over Apple Maps, the few times I tried Apple Maps in the past it failed compared to Google Maps.
Way back when I got my first iPhone 4, Apple decided to take some of their Maps capability away from their older phones so the iPhone 4 didn't have spoken navigation so I started using Google Maps and have ever since.
 
My TomTom app was localised for SA so when we went to the UK last month I had an opportunity to test a few other apps. Google Maps dumped me in the middle of nowhere proclaiming I'd arrived at my destination so that was the end of Google Maps. Fortunately Apple Maps was on hand to actually get me to my destination. Next up was Waze which performed pretty well.

In the end though I downloaded TomTom Go and used that for the rest of our stay. I'll probably subscribe to it once my trial ends in 2019. Only problem with it is it takes a fair chunk of storage for the maps.
 
I still use Waze. Although I'm sure Waze and Google maps share data, the traffic info on Waze is much better.
As an example: When I'm stuck in traffic on the highway, it will tell me how long I'm going to be stuck in that section.
 
Waze is better for traffic and accurate ETA prediction (in my experience). Though it does like to take me through dodgy areas at times. I had an issue with Maps crashing which is why I stopped using it, not sure if it still does that.

Google maps likes to find me lovely locations and restaurants in America which is annoying as it's a far drive and out of my budget.
 
Thor said:
Waze is Google maps
Click to expand...

Nope, Google bought Waze and left them as seperate apps. they may share some common backend but they have their own algorithms.
Waze is for driving only where Google Maps has public transport and pedestrian support.

Apple Maps is also great in some areas, like in the US and Europe. I found it great on the US West Coast for instance.

Waze tries to take you the quickest route and seems to avoid major roads where Google Maps does take you on major roads and conventional. Waze therefore has the danger of going through dangerous areas.

A couple weeks back, I used Waze and Google Maps to get from Sandton central to Fourways. Google Maps was pretty much down William Nicol where Waze had me zig zagging around all the roads, it did save me about 2 mins and avoid sitting at some traffic lights. PRoblem would be if everyone used Waze then all the side streets will be clogged, especially resedential areas and everyone will be up in arms with the road noise and safety with everyone speeding down side streets. In many cases those side streets have speed bumps. Therefore putting wear and tear on a car. Sticking to the main roads is probably best for the greater good.

Waze also uses street names in the navigation which Google Maps doesn't.
Google Maps supports Blue Tooth Call navigation, which means I can listen to the radio and get directions over my car sound system as phone call works, where Waze currently doesn't support that, so you need to be in Blue Tooth mode on the sound system or switch to use the phone speaker to get your directions.
 
BrightBlue said:
I still think google maps is better than HERE overall, HERE only excels in the offline department
Click to expand...

Google shows your GPS speed? Shows you the speed limit of the road you are on? (sometimes out of date though) Can be set to ping if exceeding speed limit by a certain amount?

I use it was longer road trips outside of Gauteng, intra-Gauteng Google Maps is enough.
 
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