Google Maps Beats Waze 6-3 in ZDNET Navigation App Review

1 articles · Updated · ZDNet · Jul 15

ZDNET’s head-to-head test gave Google Maps 6 category wins to Waze’s 3, naming it the better overall navigation app.
Google Maps pulled ahead on transit support, offline maps, EV routing, platform reach and deeper Gemini integration, while Waze won on instant rerouting, live incident reporting and police or speed-trap alerts.
Google Maps was judged stronger for broader trip planning, with Street View, map layers, business discovery and AI tools such as Ask Maps and Lens extending beyond turn-by-turn driving.
Waze still stood out for drivers who prioritize the fastest route and granular road alerts, including voice-based hazard reporting and automatic reroutes when traffic changes.
The review said the gap is narrowing as both apps add AI features, but framed the choice as breadth and versatility in Google Maps versus driver-first speed in Waze.