Difference Between Google Maps and Waze

Time is the world’s most valuable commodity which you can never reclaim after spending it. Every minute and second is treated as a valuable resource, which is why we are always in a constant rush to get to our destinations as soon as possible. Finding the shortest and the best route from your source to destination, however, can be tough at times. This is where maps come to the picture. Thankfully, the global positioning system (GPS) has solved the outdoor commuting problem quit successfully. Our personal smartphones have become our portable navigating devices because now more than ever, we rely on GPS navigation a lot. Time is still of essence for many when choosing between the best navigation apps, which is why Waze and Google Maps are your go-to navigation apps.

Google Maps is the go-to navigation app for daily commutes and one of the most popular web-based mapping apps developed by Google. Google has been dominating the Internet landscape since its creation in 1998 and it definitely upped the ante by introducing its own mapping app to provide users with a friendly, easy-to-use navigable experience. Then, along came Waze, a community based navigation app, which innovated and improved in several ways that made Google Maps feel stale. Waze was quick to rise to fame, thanks to its crowd-sourced traffic and alert features, and it was so good that Google finally bought the Israeli mapping app, Waze. Well, Google owns both Maps and Waze, but they are distinct.

What is Google Maps?

Google Maps is the world’s go-to navigation app that provides detailed information geographical regions and sites around the world. In addition to real-time traffic updates and route planning, it offers point of interest (POI) search, 360-degree panoramic street view, street maps, satellite imagery, geocoding, mass transit system status and navigation information, etc. It is a full navigation solution which makes traveling more manageable. It is the most popular and widely used navigation app and its extensive data provides best navigation than most other GPS based navigation apps. It provides users with a friendly, convenient navigable experience so that you can get to your desired location in no time.

What is Waze?

The Israeli-based startup, Waze is the largest community-based traffic and navigation app made for smartphones and tablets. Created in 2006, Waze provides navigation and turn-by-turn directions similar to Google Maps. It utilizes floating car data (FCD) obtained from the driver’s smartphone in order to generate real-time traffic information similar to Google Maps. It provides turn-by-turn information along with user submitted travel times and route details, and allows a carpooling option that sees riders and drivers being connected that ride on the same route without any disruption. Waze is a community based navigation app that relies on daily commuters to contribute real-time data, and the application passively collects GPS data from active users to provide real-time driving information. In addition, it also allows users to manipulate maps by adding real-time updates such traffic incidents, accidents, speed traps, potholes, diversions, etc.

Difference between Google Map and Waze

1. Basics of Google Map verses Waze 

Israel-based Waze is a community-based traffic and navigation app that provides navigation and turn-by-turn directions for drivers and daily commuters alike. 

Google Maps is the world’s go-to navigation app that is more data-based rather than community-based allowing us to navigate with relative ease. 

Both Google Maps and Waze are the most popular navigation apps around that provide the best navigable experience and they are both owned by Google. 

Waze was formally called Freemap and was developed by a start-up called Waze Mobile and was then acquired by Google in 2013.

2. Navigation ability in Google Map vs Waze

 Google Maps is a much more popular stand-alone application which provides a powerful yet easy-to-use tool to navigate you through the shortest, quickest, and efficient route possible to get you to your destination. It provides a more detailed, informative map view than Waze to make traveling more manageable and easier. 

Waze is a community-driven navigation app that relies on daily commuters or frequent travelers to contribute real-time data along with travel times and route details, so that you can get to your desired location in the less time possible leaving behind traffic hurdles.

3. Alerts  on Google Map vs Waze

Both Google Maps and Waze utilize floating car data (FCD) obtained from the drivers’ and passengers’ smartphones in order to generate real time traffic updates to provide you with the best navigable experience. However, Waze does it more effectively and efficiently than Google Maps. 

In addition to providing users vehicle navigation, Waze allows users to manipulate maps such as adding real-time traffic incidents, reporting accidents and heavy traffic jams, reporting speed limits and speed traps, or any law enforcement activity. The quick alerts by Waze help you navigate the fastest and the efficient route possible.

Google Maps vs. Waze: Comparison Chart

Summary of Google Map verses Waze

Waze is a community mapping service that provides navigation and turn-by-turn directions similarly to Google Maps, utilizing floating car data obtained from driver’s or passenger’s smartphones in order to generate real-time traffic updates. However, Waze feeds you real-time updates more effectively and quickly than Google Maps, informing about accidents, law enforcement activity, constructions, diversions, speed limits, speed traps, traffic jams, and more. Google Maps, on the other hand, is still the most stable and popular navigation app that reigns supreme over other navigation apps because of its extensive set of features such as street view, satellite imagery, 360-degree panoramic view, POI search, ride-sharing, offline mode, and much more.

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