That Waze is one of the best GPS navigators is no surprise and one of the reasons is its active and generous community, alerting milestones practically in real time like traffic jams, construction work, accidents or speed cameras (yes, the warning must be correctly configured speed cameras). Another popular and very useful function of Waze is its speedometer, which can inform us both of the speed of the road and the speed at which we are driving (don’t worry if it reads something different from the car speedometer). But Waze has tricks up its sleeve that make the difference.
There are those who limit themselves to using it to get from point A to point B without getting lost and that’s not bad, others use the two features mentioned above and that alone is worth it worth it, but I insist: Waze hides many other functions and I use some of them every time I take the car. Of course, some are hidden and not enabled as standard, so it takes a bit of exploration and experience, but they are worth it.
I know how much the highway is going to cost me
Although I admit that I generally avoid tolls whenever possible, there are times when I have no choice but to use a toll highway and here Waze makes the difference compared to Google Maps by telling me how much I will have to pay.
It is cured by detailing the health that the cost is approximate, but the truth is that it fails little because this price says so taking into account the information provided by the community, as well as the course and adjustments. And it sounds stupid, but These are dollars that I save: I just add the destination and when I click on directions it appears just below the estimated time.
Better without difficult crossings or unpaved sections
I said above that I generally avoid tolls and I know this because I have it marked in the navigation settings, a section that is worth a closer look because it offers several interesting options for someone who doesn’t drive a lot and who has such an urban and compact car like a Volkswagen Polo: Avoid difficult intersections and unpaved roads.
Be careful because these are two different options (one comes immediately after the other) but they save me trouble by minimizing these blind incorporations as much as possible or risking the underside of the car because I’m going down a goat path ( it’s won (it’s not the first time that Google Maps takes me on a dirt road).
Helps me refuel with gas stations and prices
Although in Pamplona I checked the few gas stations where I fill up, it never hurts to bring up “Fuel” in the “Where are you going?” box. Not only because it shows you on the map where the closest gas stations are in relation to your location, which is essential if you are traveling somewhere you don’t know, but it also offers you information such as If this gas station is open and the price.
How do you know? Thank you to your wonderful community. Besides, If instead of having a thermal car your car is electrictap the three dots and select “EV Charging” to see charging points, charger types and even available ones.
Finding parking is much easier
In the same section where gas stations are located, parking also appears and does something similar: it shows parking lots near your location (or another one you select), which is handy if you’re traveling and have nowhere. to park or Do you know places where there are generally free spaces? Much faster than using Google, although unfortunately it doesn’t offer prices.
Tells me the best time to travel
I usually have some flexibility when I travel, allowing me to leave at different times, so before I go on a moderately long trip I usually look at the ‘Find out later‘, which shows on a graph what time is best to leave taking into account the traffic situation and location.
Cover | Alex Alcolea (Xataka Mobile)
In Xataka Android | Google Maps vs Waze, in-depth comparison: which app offers the best navigation options?
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