Waze Navigation & Live Traffic | App Report, Store and Ranking Data

I wouldn’t typically write about a navigation system because a lot of them are flawed, but this app is terrible at navigating. We were coming back from Atlanta and decided to stop in Nashville. We waited until after rush hour was over to finally get on the road and head home. Home, for context, was supposed to be 3 and a half hours away. This app took us COMPLETELY off route, without any explanation (such as heavy traffic in one area) and added at LEAST 2 hours to our trip. This is frustrating on its own, but it’s even more so when you account a) our lack of money for additional gas, and b) the fact we are women driving in the dead of night trying to get home safely. I try my best to avoid driving home prior to 12 in the morning to avoid drunk drivers or potential trafficking hotspots at a time where not many witnesses are present. As soon as we opened Apple Maps, we realized we were looped so far out of the way we were going back South, the opposite direction we were supposed to be going. Obviously, some part of this is on us and being slightly directionally challenged, but the point of the app is to combat that. Waze, do better.

I've been using this app 10 years now and it's usually my go-to for navigation, but the latest update has got me scratching my head. First off, there's this weird thing happening with the share drive feature. Like, when I tap it, my route turns green and the app says I'm sharing my drive, but I didn't even pick anyone to share with. What's up with that? Also, I can't share my drive with my buddies through Waze anymore (it used to be kinda hit-or-miss, but got better recently). Now I gotta send a link via email or text, which is super annoying and distracting when I'm trying to focus on the road. And don't even get me started on how slow it is to start navigating now. I used to just tap my destination and it would start right away, but now I gotta hit "Go Now" or wait for it to time out. Seriously, who thought that was a good idea? Anyway, I really hope the devs fix these issues soon, 'cause it's kinda messing with my vibe. Hoping for some better updates in the future!

The most recent update has removed many of the features that made Waze a preferred map. The ability to get in-app notifications has been removed. Friends can no longer share their drive via Waze rather you can only send a text message or copy and paste the link. Because I use my Focus DND feature to turn off notifications while I’m working, I allowed Waze notifications only so that I follow family member drives. With no ability to share drive via app, I can only get notice via text messages which is too disruptive. I can no longer send “beep,beep” messages or receive auto notifications that someone was about to arrive. This feature was great because you didn’t have to worry about texting/calling while driving because the person viewing the drive would get a notification. I hope this is just a new “bug” and not a permanent change.

I’ve never met any app so dedicated to getting you in a wreck. You can report officers on the highway, stuff on the road, cars on the side of the road, etc. ALL by taking your eyes off the road to do it. Not to mention my FAVORITE part of this app is it loves to take you the longggg way around. You are lost and you lose cell phone service. So then Waze can’t tell you where to go and you’re both lost. It’s done this to me at least four times. I don’t know why I kept trying. Im done. Just re-edited my review down to one star. It constantly freezes and then has no idea where I am and I’ve almost wrecked several times due to Waze. And it has made me late countless times now. It will freeze up and keep sending you down a road that you should’ve turned a long time ago.

I do not like the recent update, they have streamlined everything to the point you can’t see the arrival time with a stop added in, only directions to the destination and your eta towards current stop. They also removed the “add a stop” button and you have to go and search for the stop, and add it to the list; if you aren’t fast enough it will just automatically end your current trip and start a new one. Once you choose your route good luck finding the information without searching for it all over again, you have to have a lot of trust and faith to use this app in the current version because it doesn’t tell you anything of your drive or where you are going

Google Maps is better. This didn’t give other common alternate routes. In fact it showed a route that through practice we know is a waste of time and takes you on more stressful roads. Google lets you upfront select another route to avoid I-95 and Waze gives you like one tiny change option. Lack of ability to even customize. Was playing with it to try as part of just coming back from a trip and it was totally inaccurate at the best options. Already uninstalling. Can’t really find anything worthwhile over the other programs.

The only reason I use this app rather than another is to share my drive status with my wife. Two updates ago they added several clicks to get to the share function and after the most recent update the mechanic has been changed altogether. Now I have to text her a link rather than updates showing up in her notifications. Stop jacking around with it. You are not making it better. It’s as though Waze techs don’t use their own app. Not to mention I can routinely outthink the app regarding alternate routes.