Waze -v- Google Maps

[Sterillium]

I've used Waze for around a year now, and when it comes to getting a preemptive warning about plod or potholes, it's excellent.

However, it has a really irritating tendency to send me down a farm track for three miles, to save 30 seconds of driving time, which is not ideal. And this is despite me having "unmade roads" switched off.

Can Google Maps do the "multiple users plod warning" thing, or is Waze the best solution for that particular aspect?

(Or any other platform I'm not aware of!)

[mudster]

I use Google Maps because you can download the maps to the phone and then just use a small amount of data for the traffic information. The routing is generally pretty good including re-routing to avoid traffic problems, but what it doesn't appear to do is the police warnings.

Doesn't bother me really so I haven't really used Waze much.

[2Btoo]

Watching with interest; I use Waze as I think it's better in every respect (po-po warnings particularly, as well as the speed display) and haven't had the problem with it using very minor roads, but that could be down to the parts of the country that I drive in.

[Far Cough]

Use both. Have Google maps for the navigation and run Waze in the background which will still give you the alerts and warnings

[untakenname]

I was under the impression that speed camera alerts on Waze appear on Google Maps since they bought Waze out?

I don't like the Waze UI and find it hard to navigate roundabouts compared with Google Maps.

[nordboy]

I sort of prefer Waze, but end up using google maps, mainly because often I like to plot a route with multiple 'via' locations. On Waze, this is difficult and I only get the option of one waypoint, GM can do 7 or 8.

[Phil.]

The TomTom app is £19.99 a year and it’s mapping is far superior to Waze’s. I use TomTom for directions and have Waze on in the background for plod alerts.

[Buzypea]

Far Cough said:

Use both. Have Google maps for the navigation and run Waze in the background which will still give you the alerts and warnings

I found this works by accident the other day. I always use Waze but thought I would try Google Maps the other day as I’ve got the CoolWalk update that allows split screen with Spotify. (Waze doesn’t support this yet). I had already opened Waze earlier in the journey so must have still been running in the background. Anyhow, I get a “Police reported ahead” warning even though Waze is not showing on screen.

[AMC243]

Like yourself, I've experienced Waze sending me down single track roads because 'they're NSL so you'll be doing 60 all the way, therefore it's faster'. I found that after overriding it a few times it would learn not to send me down those roads on a given route. I find it easy to use and the real-time traffic information is a real boon, so it's what I default to. In my experience both Waze and Google both have the trouble of being overly talkative, which my Garmin satnav doesn't struggle with. The Garmin has free maps for life, and you can tap on specific roads you want to take, or avoid certain areas. Google maps allows a similar 'drag to select route' on desktop, but on mobile it's a convoluted waypoint system, last I checked.

[300bhp/ton]

I have Waze on my phone but never use it. I really like a satellite view for navigation. Which is why I also don’t use Apple Maps.

A shame the iOS Google Maps doesn’t show you speed though. I think the Android version does.

[elanfan]

Doesn’t show motorway junction numbers on myipad anyway.

[Dave.]

Phil. said:

The TomTom app is £19.99 a year and it’s mapping is far superior to Waze’s. I use TomTom for directions and have Waze on in the background for plod alerts.

I use TomTom amigo, which is free.

What's the benefit of using the paid app?

[PurpleTurtle]

I like Waze for the reasons you describe OP, but similarly find its UI clunky and dangerous to use.

To report police/pothole etc required several screen interactions which mean you have to take your eyes off the road for way too long, effectively illegally interacting with the device at speed. Yes, you could pull over and use it legally, but I doubt that hardly anyone does.

I stopped using it because I didn’t want to give them cause to have an ‘accident because a bloke was using Waze to report something else’ button and just stick with Google Maps instead.

[dontlookdown]

I use Waze more than GM, primarily because Waze does traffic avoidance in London better. GM sticks to main roads unless there is a major hold up whereas Waze does its best to keep you moving. It's algorithm can be a bit aggressive though, I don't always follow it religiously.

Much prefer GMs map display and interface however. Graphically Waze is a mess.

[nutsyH]

300bhp/ton said:

I have Waze on my phone but never use it. I really like a satellite view for navigation. Which is why I also don’t use Apple Maps.

A shame the iOS Google Maps doesn’t show you speed though. I think the Android version does.

Yes it does.

[C5_Steve]

If I know roughly where I'm going I'll use Waze as I find it's quicker with traffic and alerts as you mentioned, but it does tend to want to send you on a 10 mile detour sometimes (usually in the countryside down a backroad) to save 3 mins of traffic, hence why I only use it if I kind of know the area to avoid that.

For most of the time, I use Google as I find the interface easier to follow. Not sure if it's been mentioned but Google bought Waze a few years ago so they both share the same data in the background. Baffles me why Google hasn't just wrapped up all the good things from Waze into Maps.

[JagYouAre]

dontlookdown said:

I use Waze more than GM, primarily because Waze does traffic avoidance in London better. GM sticks to main roads unless there is a major hold up whereas Waze does its best to keep you moving. It's algorithm can be a bit aggressive though, I don't always follow it religiously.

Much prefer GMs map display and interface however. Graphically Waze is a mess.

Exactly this! The sooner Google dumps Waze's cartoony nonsense and integrates the 'social' stuff (police cameras etc.) into Google Maps the better, but there must be a reason they haven't done so, as they've owned Waze for nigh on 10 years now.

That said, I have seen a couple of instances where GM has flagged up a mobile camera, but not sure how it did so, or if it was just a lucky occasion that there happened to be a camera there and that it was really just highlighting an area where mobile cameras are known to operate.

[300bhp/ton]

nutsyH said:

300bhp/ton said:

I have Waze on my phone but never use it. I really like a satellite view for navigation. Which is why I also don’t use Apple Maps.

A shame the iOS Google Maps doesn’t show you speed though. I think the Android version does.

Yes it does.

Sorry, yes it does to which bit? Thanks.

[dontlookdown]

JagYouAre said:

Exactly this! The sooner Google dumps Waze's cartoony nonsense and integrates the 'social' stuff (police cameras etc.) into Google Maps the better, but there must be a reason they haven't done so, as they've owned Waze for nigh on 10 years now.

As other have said too, it's a bit of a mystery why Google keeps Waze going when they could amalgamate it into GM and have the best of both worlds. A better product than either is at present and a cheaper business to run as only one platform to manage.

[NomduJour]

Phil. said:

The TomTom app is £19.99 a year and it’s mapping is far superior to Waze’s. I use TomTom for directions and have Waze on in the background for plod alerts.

Does TomTom give multiple route choices these days, like Waze?