Google Maps, Waze, or Apple Maps – Which Should I Choose?

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The Best Navigation Apps

Need to discover the best navigation apps?

Depending on your age, you may recall the days of directions that were printed out, patiently watching the odometer to count down the miles until the next exit, and an emergency road atlas to guide you. These days, digital NAV is an option on almost every single cell phone and vehicle. While most navigation services produce the same kind of information, how and what information they present can be very different. With so many unique apps to choose from, how can you know which one is the best navigation service for you? We have narrowed it down to our top 3 choices, Waze vs Apple Maps vs Google Maps. Apple CarPlay® is an option in a bunch of new cars that it may feel like the frontrunner, but Google Maps and Waze have their own unique benefits as well.

Google

The most robust navigation application in this comparison is Google Maps since all of the information is provided by Google itself.

The Advantages

• Updates in real-time – See how much time that traffic jam is going to add to your trip.
• More than just vehicles – If you want to take a train, walk, or bike then Google Maps is ready.
• Street View – View real pictures of your location on the map.
• Offline availability – Download your map. No cellphone service, no worries.

Apple Maps

Thanks to the CarPlay® integration with many brand-new cars, Apple Maps might be the most prevalent navigation app on the market. ​Apple Maps has one minor flaw, it’s only found on iOS devices.

The Advantages of Apple Maps

• Navigation options – Apple has maps for walking and public transportation, along with standard driving routes.
• Pit Stops from Apple – Find unique attractions and nearby gasoline stations.
• Look Around by Apple – See both a map of your location and images. This feature can be very helpful if you get lost.

Waze

Waze was the first to have some form of crowd-sourced traffic information, though other NAV apps now use the info too.

Advantages

• Get more than directions – Get information about construction, accidents, and even speed traps.
• Integration with Facebook – Share your road trip with friends by posting your location.
• Real-time traffic info – Waze users input information as they drive, which is then used to update the route to give the fastest way to your destination.

The Winner is:

It should be no surprise, but the best Navigation Application depends on how you use it. If you happen to get lost easily, you can use the Look Around feature on Apple Maps to help find your way. If you use Navigation for your next cycling road trip, Google Maps is for you. But, if you just need to get somewhere in the quickest time possible, Waze is your only choice. Waze, Google Maps, and Apple Maps all have their own features and you really can’t go wrong, no matter which one you pick.