I have a horrible sense of direction. If it's possible to get lost while driving, I'll almost always find a way to do it. With that in mind, I've pretty much always relied on Waze to find my way around when I'm behind the wheel.

There's a lot to like about Waze when it's directly compared to Google Maps. First, it prioritizes the quickest route and automatically offers alternative paths when traffic gets hectic, even if you decide to take matters into your own hands and head down a weird side street because, for a split second, you think you're smarter than its algorithm (you aren't).

I also prefer Waze's intuitive, straightforward user-interface over Google Maps, especially in CarPlay and Android Auto. It's just easier to follow during stressful moments, like when I'm trying to find a public parking lot in the busy core of downtown Toronto. Additionally, I really like the ability to plan a route so you arrive on time. This feature analyzes traffic for that day of the week and time of day, and provides an estimated arrival time. As someone who likes to plan ahead and hates being late, I find this really helpful.

And that's not even getting into Waze's relatively recent EV charging station features, which include route planning, plug types, and filters for charging networks (to be fair, Google Maps offers a few of these EV-focused features). The navigation app has a lot of personality, too. Can Halo's Master Chief or a 90s Pop Star give me driving directions with Google Maps? Definitely not. Lighthearted features like this go a long way to make driving an overall more enjoyable experience.

I could go on, but while all of the above features are important to me, the key reason I stay locked to Waze is its crowdsourced reporting.

Waze's real-time community reporting keeps me informed and safe

Google Maps offers similar features, but they aren't as good

With Waze, users can actively report various hazards, including traffic jams, crashes, road closures, lane closures, potholes, debris, and more, right as they happen. This means that if a Waze user is driving a few miles in front of you and reports debris on the highway, an icon instantly appears on your screen indicating something is on the road. You and other Waze users can then confirm or deny that report as you pass through the area.

Reporting also helps indicate law enforcement's location — I don't really drive much above the speed limit, but it's still welcome peace of mind to know where the 5-0 are, especially on highway drives where radar speed traps are common. All of this data, which is gathered by actual Waze users in real-time while they're on the road, is used to reroute your drive to avoid potential issues. If a report is repeatedly validated, it stays live for longer, but when people drive past and note the obstacle isn't there anymore, it disappears quickly.

In one situation, I pulled over on the side of the highway to find something important in my car. It took me less than 30 seconds, but by the time I looked up to drive away, there was already a report for my stopped vehicle in Waze — it really is that quick. At this point, I can't even count the number of times Waze's community reporting features have helped me avoid a bad traffic jam or a highway closure.

Google Maps offers similar community features, but the data is collected passively and anonymously. This results in hazards, accidents, speed traps, and more not appearing as quickly or as frequently as they do with Waze. In my experience, by the time Google Maps reports an on-road issue, it's often already resolved. This isn't just anecdotal either. I've been in situations where I'm using both Waze and Google Maps simultaneously to find the quickest route to an appointment I'm already late for, and in some cases, it can take 20 minutes or more for a hazard to appear. This obviously isn't ideal.

Waze is so good, I've never even wanted to try another navigation app

It makes long, boring drives slightly less painful

Adding to the real-time reports is Waze's points and leveling system. It's not necessary or particularly useful, but it helps keep me locked into the platform. You get three points per mile, plus bonus points for reporting and confirming hazards on the road, like traffic jams, hazards, construction, and more.

As you gain more points, you'll hit different ranks. I don't take this feature seriously, but it's a welcome bonus. There are also weekly and all-time leaderboards. After over 10 years on Waze, I've achieved Waze Royalty status with over 70,079 points.

But it's really the crowdsourced updates that have me locked into Waze. I use the app through CarPlay every time I get in my car, and I don't see that changing any time soon. Hopefully, Google will continue to allow Waze to operate mostly independently of Google Maps for years to come.