The underdog maps app that’s actually better than Google Maps

I’m a Windows Phone convert, and I started using Android as my primary phone much later than most of my friends.

I was forced to move to Android because Microsoft canned Windows Phone. When I switched, I made a huge mistake. I wasn’t curious enough to learn about the Android ecosystem.

I call it a mistake because it got me used to a bunch of mediocre apps that are preinstalled on Android, which kept me from looking elsewhere.

I won’t call Google Maps mediocre, but my lackadaisical attitude led me to think it was the best map app.

It took me way too long to realize that Google Maps isn’t the best app for what I need a maps app for.

I didn’t realize this until I tried Waze, which Google bought in 2013.

Here is why I think Waze is actually better than Google Maps.

Waze is minimal and focused, unlike Google Maps

Credit: Google

I don’t need to use the Maps app every day. The daily commuters I’m friends with who use a maps app daily don’t really care about anything other than navigation.

I don’t travel from one place to another daily, but I hardly ever use the Maps app for anything other than navigation.

Google Maps is better than ever in terms of the number of features. The app has gradually turned into something more than a navigation app, but that’s also its biggest weakness.

When I open Google Maps, I usually don’t need most of what it offers. Waze isn’t that.

Waze opens to a map view and explicitly asks me where I want to go, and lets me choose the mode of transport.

This way is more direct and feels like it’s for people who prioritize navigation over everything else.

For someone who has never used a maps app, it’s easy to navigate from one point to another using Waze because of its simplicity and no-nonsense approach.

In comparison, Google Maps requires users to tap the turn button to start navigation. For someone who doesn’t use a maps app often, you may not immediately recognize the button.

Google Maps’ UI doesn’t strongly signal where to tap to start your journey.

There were multiple occasions where I felt lost for a few seconds after opening Google Maps, especially in my first few days with the app.

The lack of a more expressive UI for navigation may sound like something too minor to criticize Google Maps, but it does make a difference, especially for people like me who don’t use a maps app often.

Waze is navigation-first, with more control for users

I love how Waze doesn’t automatically take into account that fastest isn’t always best for users.

From fewer turns to avoiding certain areas, the reason can be anything behind your decision to take another route that takes slightly more time to reach the destination.

After I type my destination, it highlights the best route, the one that takes less time, by default. But it also shows more ways to reach the destination, with ETA clearly mentioned.

This is truly navigation-first, with more control for users.

Waze also helps you put more focus on driving by eliminating distractions. For example, you don’t need to switch from Waze and open a music streaming app to listen to your favorite music.

You can tap the music icon in the upper-right corner of the Waze app, and it’ll display the options to choose between Spotify and YouTube Music.

The music app opens within the Waze app, showing the playlists you saved and the tracks you played recently. You also get basic controls, like play, pause, and skip.

Does Waze miss out on key navigation features?

Credit: Google/Unsplash

If you are connected to the internet, you don’t miss out on anything important that you need for navigation.

However, Waze can’t help much if you have network issues on your device. I avoid using Waze when I know I’ll face an unreliable network throughout my journey.

I wish Waze supported full offline maps, just like Google Maps.

Waze is a community-driven app. This means you can get real-time data from users about live traffic updates, accident reports, and road condition alerts.

Google Maps also has reporting tools, but they aren’t as good as those in Waze. Again, you’ll need to connect to the internet for all this work.

Network strength isn’t an issue in places where I drive, so the lack of offline map support doesn’t really affect me.

Waze has replaced Google Maps as my default navigation app

I am new to Waze, and it already feels like I’m getting things done in fewer steps than I did with Google Maps.

I used Waze as my daily driver, and I didn’t miss anything from Google Maps. This convinced me that I don’t need Google Maps.

Instead, I need something more straightforward. Waze fits my needs perfectly, and I’m certain I’m not alone.

Waze doesn’t do anything fancy, and that’s what I like about the app. It does what I need a navigation app for better than Google Maps.

I’ll continue to use Waze as my daily driver until the day Google Maps functions as it does now.