One of the things that must be prepared when going home for Eid is of course the navigation application and maps. Currently there are two navigation applications that are most widely used, namely Google Maps and Waze.
Both actually have a lot in common, both in terms of features and owners. As is well known, Google acquired Waze in 2013 and since then many features of Waze have been brought to Google Maps.
Although they have many similarities, Google Maps and Waze actually have different main functions. Google Maps relies more on data in presenting its information, while Waze is more focused on navigating and using information entered by the user.
So, what is the difference between Google Maps and Waze and which one is the most suitable to accompany your homecoming trip this year? The following is the explanation as quoted from Digital Trends, Tuesday (26/4/2022).
Waze
Waze was developed as a navigation app that relies on crowd-sourced information from its users. The way it works is similar to social media where users can share information about traffic conditions such as accidents, raids, road closures, and others.
Therefore, the route information displayed by Waze is more real time than Google Maps. The navigation provided is pretty much the same as Google Maps, such as turn-by-turn directions, estimated duration and arrival, and others.
Waze isn't just focused on navigation and driving. This application is integrated with Spotify so that users can directly listen to songs and podcasts directly from the application. Waze also provides a large selection of voices to guide navigation.
One of the main differences between Waze and Google Maps is that Waze only provides navigation for motorbikes and cars. So pedestrians who need navigation assistance using public transportation are a bit difficult when using this application.
Google Maps
When compared to Waze, Google Maps is more complete. This application provides navigation options for anyone, be it pedestrians, cyclists, public transportation users, to ride-hailing application users.
But the features that Google Maps offers are not limited to just navigation. This application can help you find the location of shops, restaurants, tourist attractions, and other important places, including information such as opening hours, menus, and phone numbers, so it is very helpful if you are going home while on vacation.
Many of Google's popular services such as Assistant, Street View, and Search are now integrated with Google Maps so users don't have to bother switching apps.
Google is also constantly updating Maps with many navigation features such as showing the most eco-friendly routes, showing odd-even, and showing toll costs. Recently, Google Maps has also started the arrival of Waze features such as real-time traffic updates.
Which one is suitable for you?
The most sought after thing from a navigation application is of course how quickly and easily the application can help you reach your destination. For driving in the city, Waze is better at finding alternative routes if there are obstacles on the road, such as traffic jams or accidents.
Waze sometimes directs users through residential streets or mouse paths as alternative routes that may be helpful in certain situations or may actually make users spend more time on the road.
Google Maps' navigation features are more common because they don't have social integration features like Waze. But Google Maps users can still view information about road conditions such as traffic jams, accidents, or road closures.
Even so, Google Maps has bigger and more informative maps than Waze. So users can see routes and other services along the way more clearly.
One advantage of Google Maps is that this application can be accessed online or offline. Users who are worried about losing their signal in the middle of the road can download maps and routes first to be accessed later so they don't have to worry about getting lost. Unlike Waze, which currently can only be accessed using an internet connection.
So if you are looking for navigation that provides real-time and fast traffic information, Waze can be an option. But if you only need simple navigation and offline access support, Google Maps is the winner.