Waze and Google Maps are different, but similar: that’s why it’s a good idea to use both
Google Maps is the navigation app that has now become part of our everyday life, but Waze is being continuously evolved and is becoming more and more powerful also thanks to its unique strength: the community of 140 million “wazers” who contribute to the development and updating of maps with continuous traffic alerts and alternative routes.
Both apps, to tell the truth, are developed by Google: Big G, in fact, bought Waze in 2013 but never decided to integrate it inside Maps, preferring to keep a separate app so as not to lose the very richness of the community. Yet Google Maps has a little bit of Waze inside of it, just as Waze has a little bit of Maps inside of it: the two navigation apps complement and enhance each other, in a combination that is unknown to most but very effective. Here’s how Waze and Maps are similar, how they differ, and why, all things considered, it’s not a bad idea to use both when you need a navigation app.
Google Maps: strengths
The main strength of Google Maps is its ubiquity: it’s now difficult to find a point in the world not covered by Google Maps. It’s even hard to find areas where Street View isn’t available, since Google has sent its explorers around the world by all possible means, even on foot.
In recent years Maps has also been enriched with an augmented reality layer, Live View, which was further enhanced just a few days ago. There is no shortage of real-time traffic information and alternative route suggestions on Maps. And here we find the first point of contact between Waze and Maps: most of the reports on accidents and delays that Maps needs to formulate the directions we find on the map come, in fact, from the wazer.
On Google Maps, then, it is possible to plan a complete trip thanks to indications not only on the roads to be covered by car, but also on local public transport and air and rail transport.
Waze: the strengths
You can’t say Waze without saying wazers: there are 140 million of them in 185 countries around the world and every month they make over 60 million reports on traffic delays and accidents. More than half a million editors make over 53 million changes to Waze maps every month.
And here again Waze and Maps meet: to edit maps, in fact, editors can also use information from Street View, which is very useful to verify the correctness of the information shown on the maps.
Waze is available in 56 different languages, thanks to the work of 550 translators, and it is always up-to-date, thanks to the feedback of 30 thousand Android beta testers and 20 thousand iOS testers.
Better Waze or Google Maps?
Google Maps and Waze, then, are similar and different at the same time and they interpenetrate improving each other. But which is better to choose, between one and the other? Probably it’s better not to choose at all: by downloading and using both, you’ll get the best you can ask for in a navigation app.