Google Maps is an excellent tool that I use almost every day. Even when I don’t need it to get from place to place, I still like to load it up in Android Auto just to get a sense of how long my trip will take and if I’ll be running into construction. It’s so integrated into my drives, that sometimes it’s just second nature to start using it. Any time I’m planning a vacation spot, it’s one of the first things I check.
With all that said, Google Maps isn’t the perfect solution to everything. It’s actually much more of a jack-of-all-trades app instead of being something that overly excels in one area. I’ve been trying to go outdoors more and touch literal grass, and in doing so, I’ve been picking up hobbies I couldn’t have dreamed of doing even a year ago. One such hobby is hiking and backpacking, and I found that Google Maps has many limitations in this regard.
In the case of hiking, it’s good enough to tell me where I have to park my car, but that’s the extent of its help. Once I’m on the trail itself, there are other apps that carry the load.
- OS
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iOS, Android
- Brand
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Google
- Price
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Free
Google Maps is very limiting
Still good, but don’t expect the world
The best thing about Google Maps is finding out how to get to places and how people feel about those places. It’s nice to read the reviews and get an idea of whether something’s worth my time or not. Google Maps doesn’t really provide this type of service for trails, and that’s where something like AllTrails picks up the slack. AllTrails is an app that gives you a better idea of what the trails you’re visiting will actually be like before getting on them.
Before I went on my trip, I researched the area extensively using this app, and it told me that a beginner backpacker such as myself would be able to navigate it based on the reviews of other users. In that way, it’s almost exactly like Google Maps, just for trails. The thing I like is that you know the difficulty of the trail before hopping on, and it had me confident that I could tackle a moderate trail. While that was biting off more than I could chew for the first trip, I still felt like I got a good idea of what to expect beforehand. I knew when there would be elevation, and when I veered off track a little bit, the app had the trail I was supposed to be on highlighted in green. It was also nice to see a real-time compass showing me directly where I was facing, so I never got too far off track.
What’s nicest of all is that all of this is available completely free of charge, but there is a paid service that gives you some cool additional features. The thing that appeals to me the most about the paid subscription is the offline mode, which lets me keep my phone in airplane mode to extend its battery life. Maybe that’ll be something I will look into down the road once I start doing this a bit more. I might even look into some of the AllTrails alternatives. I’ve heard good things about Gaia, but that’s something I’ll test later on.
Another thing about AllTrails is that it almost acts as a fitness app. It keeps track of my times for each mile, and it tells me things like how much my elevation gain was over the course of the hike. To be fair, Google Maps doesn’t set out to be a tool like this, so it feels unfair to compare them in this way.
This isn’t me ditching Google Maps by any means, and nothing’s going to take its place in my car. I’m just glad I found something that I can use once I get off the main roads. I’ll keep on using Google Maps when I cruise around the city as it still works perfectly fine while on a bike.
QuizWaze map app
Trivia challenge
Think you know the world’s most popular community-driven navigation app? Put your knowledge to the test.
NavigationFeaturesHistoryCommunityTech
In what year was Waze originally founded?
That’s right! Waze was founded in 2008 in Israel, originally under the name FreeMap Israel. It grew rapidly thanks to its community-driven approach to real-time traffic data.
Not quite — Waze was founded in 2008 in Israel, starting life as FreeMap Israel. It would go on to become one of the most downloaded navigation apps in the world before being acquired by Google.
Which tech giant acquired Waze in 2013?
Correct! Google acquired Waze in June 2013 for approximately $1.1 billion, one of the largest acquisitions of a startup at the time. Waze has continued to operate as a separate app since then.
The correct answer is Google. The search giant snapped up Waze in June 2013 for around $1.1 billion, outbidding rivals including Apple and Facebook. Despite the acquisition, Waze has kept its distinct identity and community-driven model.
What is the name given to Waze’s volunteer map editors who help keep road data accurate?
Spot on! All Waze users are called Wazers, and the most dedicated community contributors who edit maps and assist others are part of what makes the platform so accurate. The community is central to Waze’s entire model.
The answer is Wazers — that’s what all Waze users are called, including its active community of map editors and contributors. This community-driven approach is what sets Waze apart from traditional GPS navigation apps.
Which of the following real-time hazards can Waze users report directly in the app?
Correct! Waze users can report police speed traps and speed cameras in real time, alerting other drivers on the same route. This crowdsourced alerting system is one of Waze’s most popular and distinctive features.
The right answer is police speed traps. Waze lets drivers report the location of police and speed cameras in real time, which then appear as alerts for other Wazers on the same road. It’s one of the app’s most talked-about features.
What unique routing approach does Waze primarily use to calculate the fastest route?
That’s right! Waze’s core strength lies in its use of real-time data contributed by its community of drivers. By aggregating speed, incident, and congestion reports from active users, Waze can suggest faster routes that traditional GPS apps might miss.
The answer is real-time crowdsourced traffic data. Waze collects live information from millions of active drivers to calculate the most efficient route at any given moment. This community-powered approach is what makes it stand apart from map apps that rely solely on static or historical data.
Which of the following well-known voices has been available as a navigation voice option in Waze?
Great recall! Arnold Schwarzenegger famously lent his voice to Waze as part of a promotional campaign for Terminator Genisys in 2015. Waze has offered many celebrity voice packs over the years to make navigation more entertaining.
The correct answer is Arnold Schwarzenegger, who recorded navigation directions for Waze in 2015 to promote Terminator Genisys. Waze has a long history of offering fun celebrity voice packs, making driving directions a little more entertaining.
What does Waze use from background drivers — even those not actively navigating — to help improve its traffic data?
Exactly right! Even when users aren’t actively entering a destination, Waze can passively collect GPS speed and location data in the background. This helps build a richer, more accurate picture of real-time traffic conditions across the road network.
The answer is passive GPS speed and location data. Waze can run quietly in the background, collecting movement data from users even when they haven’t entered a route. This passive data collection helps fill in traffic picture gaps across the entire road network.
What is the name of the points-based system Waze uses to reward users for contributing reports and driving with the app?
Correct! Waze uses a ranking system called Waze Rank, where users earn points for activities like reporting incidents, editing maps, and simply driving with the app active. Higher ranks unlock new profile icons and recognise the most active community members.
The correct answer is Waze Rank. Users accumulate points by driving with Waze, submitting reports, and editing map data, which raises their rank over time. It’s a gamification system designed to reward the community contributions that make the app so valuable.
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Google Maps has other direct competition
It’s coming from inside the house
For a real Google Maps replacement, look no further than Waze. These two have been in competition for a long time, and it’s actually funny because are Google companies. I wish the two of them would fully merge together and get the best of both worlds. This happened with the Fitbit app and Google Health, so I don’t see why it can’t happen with a maps app.
I still use Google Maps just because it’s what I’m used to, but when I tried out Waze as an alternative, there was a lot that I liked. It’s clear that Google Maps could be more, but it means more work has to be put in. I’m not sure if it’ll ever become an all-encompassing app that replaces the need for a dedicated trails app, but it’d be cool to see that happen.
