If there’s one smartphone feature that’s underrated, it’s built-in GPS. Not even two decades ago, getting to a new location required a pre-planned route, MapQuest printouts, or an expensive disposable TomTom or Garmin display. These days, every smartphone user on the planet can get anywhere they want, just by typing an address into the navigation app of their choice. The only variable that really remains is which app you use.
On Android, Google Maps seems like the obvious answer. It comes pre-installed by default, regularly receives upgrades and new features, and helps gather information like radar and construction zones. There’s not much to it not like Google Maps, although I will readily admit that they are not perfect.
While I admit my experience is anecdotal, over the past few years I’ve noticed that Maps often send me on routes that don’t make a lot of sense. Sometimes it’s easy to explain these mistakes — avoiding a busy road by going through nearby side streets could theoretically save me time, until I have to turn left onto more busy highway without traffic lights. Other times I’m completely lost, routinely re-navigating the route until I’m back on a path I already know is faster. And talking to other drivers in my life, it seems I’m not alone.
Google Maps vs. Waze: The Final Showdown
Which navigation app is right for you?
Perhaps this is one of the reasons why Waze remains so popular. Google’s “other” navigation app may not have the name recognition — or slick user interface — of Maps, but its dedicated fan base keeps it in the conversation regardless. As we saw in a new study this week, drivers found Waze to be 30 percent more effective than Google Maps at alerting drivers to speed cameras. This is thanks in large part to how much Waze users love Waze; this is probably why Google kept it with Maps rather than merging the two teams into one.
Although I expect to get some heat for its inclusion in the comments, iOS users does also read Android Police, and I suspect some of them have jumped on Apple Maps. It’s a service that took a long time to shake off its initial bad reputation, but these days I see a lot of iPhone users relying on Apple’s default service. There are some things I like about Apple Maps – including its visual design, which Google recently drew inspiration from for its own app – their closed nature means it’s never going to be a service I’d gravitate towards, even when I have an iPhone in my pocket.
I’m putting these three apps in the poll by name only, but I have no doubt that many of our readers have found alternatives outside of Google or Apple. Honestly, I’m excited to hear about them — years ago I relied on Here WeGo for offline navigation when data wasn’t an option, and I almost turned it on until I saw that its reputation had recently declined quite a bit. If you don’t use one of the big three, announce yourself in the comments with the app of your choice. I am more than open to switching to another good navigation app.