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

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The Best Navigation App for your Car or Truck

Which is the best navigation app for your car or truck?

If you are a driver of a certain age you probably recall the days of patiently watching your odometer to track the miles until the next turn, a backup road atlas, and directions that were printed out to guide you. These days, computerized NAV is available on nearly every single new car and mobile phone. While all navigation services give the same kind of info, what and how the info is shown can be very different. With so many apps, how can you figure out which is the best navigation software for your car? We’ve decided on our top 3 suggestions are Waze vs Apple Maps vs Google Maps. CarPlay® is installed in so many brand-new vehicles that it may appear to be the leader, but Google Maps and Wave have their own unique built-in benefits as well.

Google

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

Google Maps Advantages

• Download capable – No cell service, no worries. Download your map.

• Street View – View real pictures of your location on the map.

• Traffic in an instant – See how much time that traffic jam is going to add to your trip.

• More than only cars – Google Maps can help you on your next walk, bike ride, or train ride.


Apple Maps

Thanks to the CarPlay® integration with many new cars, Apple Maps could be the easiest NAV app to use on the market. ​The one issue with Apple Maps is that it is only available on iOS devices.

Advantages

• Look Around by Apple – See both a map view of your location and images of the area. Very useful if you are lost.
• Pit Stops from Apple – Find different attractions and nearby fuel stations.
• Several different options for NAV – Apple has map options for driving, walking, and public transportation.

Waze

While other NAV applications now use some form of crowd-sourced traffic info, Waze was the first to use the technology too.

Waze Biggest Advantages

• Updates in real-time – User update information as they drive, that info is used to calculate the quickest route based on road conditions.
• Get more than directions – Get real-time info about construction, roadside incidents, and even speed traps.
• Integration with Facebook – Post your location and share your road trip with friends and family.

The Winner

It should be no surprise, but the best NAV App depends on how you use it. If you get lost easily, drivers can use the Look Around option on Apple Maps which can help you find your way. If you use Navigation to plan your next cycling road trip, Google Maps has you covered. However, if you just need to get from Point A to Point B in the fastest time, then Waze is your choice. Waze, Google Maps, and Apple Maps all have features and you really can not go wrong with any of them.