Waze definitely has a personality, thanks to its colorful, cartoony design packed with big icons and bold, in-your-face alerts. It’s also got a playful side when it comes to customization. You can stream music directly through the built-in audio player (Spotify, anyone?), pick a voice “sidekick” like Halo’s Master Chief or comedian Nate Bargatze, and even set a mood once you’ve driven more than 160 kilometers.
Google Maps isn’t quite as caricatured, but it is loaded with features. It’s fantastic for exploring neighborhoods, digging into business info, or finding restaurants, parks, and stores. You can even hop into Street View to preview a location before heading out. There are plenty of layers and details too.
You can switch between satellite, terrain, air quality, wildfire zones, and even 3D buildings. Now it even has an AR-powered Lens feature that lets you use your phone’s camera to identify shops, restaurants, or landmarks around you and get quick AI-powered info on them. It might feel a little cluttered when you’re just trying to drive, but honestly, it’s kind of fun to click around and see just how much it can do.
Also: How to blur your house on Google Street View (and 4 reasons why people do it)
While Waze has basic details like business addresses and hours, what about restaurant reviews or photos? Not so much. Google Maps is a beast in this department. Full reviews, photos, peak hours, menus, and more.
I’ll admit this can come down to personal preference. If you’re into quirky extras and playful design, Waze definitely delivers. But since I’m not big on the gimmicky stuff and prefer a more feature-rich interface with plenty of discovery options that actually help me get around, I’m giving the edge to Google Maps.
