Below is a link to an article published by a person who has compared the three apps for several years and came to his conclusion:

https://supercarblondie.com/man-test...r-three-years/

Do you agree with his verdict? If not, please explain and show your own preference. Thanks.

 

Even though I’m an Apple person (iPhone, iPad, I watch) I have never liked Apple Maps. I don’t like their visual appearance or their lack of updates sometimes.it just seems flaky. Has taken me the longer route many times over the years. People say it is better now. I will still pass.

Many urban commuters I know say they love Waze. But, I’m a country boy and have very little use for it.

Google Maps is my go to. Simple, reliable and easy to use. More visually appealing to me also. I’m a real fan of Google (everything from Google Maps to Earth, Drive, Photos, etc).

 

Does Google Map have red light cameras/speed traps/cops warnings, just like Waze? I don't use Google Map in the car often, but frequently use Waze instead because I believe it has lots of users and the warnings are dependent on crowdsource reports, which may be comparatively less frequent in Google Maps. On a separate matter, I hardly use Lexus in-car navigation app, which I believe also uses Google data.

 

None of the above for me as I don't use CarPlay. I used the on-board Lexus navigation. It meets my needs just fine.

 

Waze for me. It gives me a choice of routes, traffic issues, red light cameras, etc. Around here so many people are on it that it stays pretty up to date regarding backups, etc.

 

I use Waze the vast majority of the time. I download Google offline maps and use that if I know I'm not going to have reliable internet, and when Google lets me down in those situations, I use Sygic, which I purchased over 15 years ago and is lacking, but always works, internet service or no.

 

I’m loyal to Waze because it has save me from running over objects in the road a bunch of times. I’m also very happy with their routing. It has saved me from a few accident traffic jams.

 

Google Maps has integrated those Waze features of people-reported stuff on the road and cops waiting to ticket etc into Google Maps itself, since Google acquired Waze.

Is there anything unique to Waze different from Google Maps at this point in time ?

 

I guess Waze loyalists, as opposed to Google Map users, are so accustomed to reporting incidents such that Waze is more "up-to-date" in terms of giving you timely alerts. Just my guess, even when taking into account the integration of Waze features.

 

Its not about the Waze users - the data at the backend is all owned by Google - so they can send the alerts/notifications irrespective of the reporter or user is of Waze maps or Google Maps.

And Google maps has all integrated all the reporting featues in it as well - so Google is pretty much merging Google Maps and Waze at this point.

 

Waze and Google Maps still use their own maps and routing algorithms.

 

While I understand interface-layer remains different, unsure how much separate algorithms and mapping data can be truly truly different, if its literally the same group of people building both Apps - can you share any reporting or data to back up your statement above ?

I see this report - seems like they are just using this "separation" fig-leaf to prevent anti-trust rulings and are very much cross-copying user-facing features for certain: https://www.engadget.com/google-merg...104557592.html

 

Here's my POV from someone who drives about 300-400 miles per week and use both Google Maps & Waze through AA.

My default is Waze because it gives me alerts faster. Just yesterday, i tried to default on Maps and while on the freeway, i see cops on the shoulder pulling people over and Maps didn't show any alerts, I switch to Waze and the cop alerts show 3 in the area.

My problem with Waze is that it doesn't seems to update traffic conditions as fast as Maps. So when driving to work (100 miles round trip), i would switch to Maps just to check the traffic conditions and which routes are better.

Switching is done using 'Hey Google' so everything is hands free.

In Waze, you can say 'Hey Google, report stalled vehicle' and it will mark it. Saying the same command in Maps gets me that command is not avail. In Maps, I've never gotten the red light camera warning that i get on Waze on the same intersection.

So, yes there are still differences and if you like alerts faster, Waze will notify faster, from my experience.

 

be careful using waze for police reports of speed traps .

police frequently move intentionally since they know users report their location.

there are reports of police deleting the waze reports of their sightings too .

i use a uniden r8 detector and found that waze does not agree a lot of times with where the traps are

 

When I got my RX three years ago, I found out that the directions of Google Maps does not project onto the windshield via the heads-up display. So I got used to AppleMaps which does. Has that changed? Does Google Maps now project? I live in Pittsburgh...old narrow streets...and found that Google Maps and Apple Maps avoids the narrow residential streets but Waze uses them if a shorter trip. This vehicle is too wide for many of them. Anyway, I got used to AppleMaps and now like it and use it as "go to", even in our new Subaru Crosstrek.