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Yandex.Maps VS Waze

Compare Yandex.Maps VS Waze and see what are their differences

Yandex.Maps logo Yandex.Maps

Yandex.Maps gives you access to maps of over 1800 cities and towns right in your pocket.

Waze logo Waze

Waze is the world's largest community-based traffic and navigation app. Join other drivers in your area who share real-time traffic and road info, saving everyone time and gas money on their daily commute.
  • Yandex.Maps Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-29
  • Waze
    Image date //
    2024-01-08

Yandex.Maps features and specs

  • Detailed Mapping
    Yandex.Maps provides highly detailed maps and satellite images, especially for Russia and surrounding regions, making it useful for local exploration and navigation.
  • Public Transport Information
    The service includes comprehensive public transport information, including schedules for buses, trains, and more, which is helpful for daily commuting.
  • Traffic Updates
    Real-time traffic updates help users plan their routes effectively and avoid congested areas, saving time during travel.
  • Street Panoramas
    Yandex.Maps offers street-level panoramas that allow users to virtually explore locations, similar to Google Street View.
  • Localized Business Information
    It provides detailed information about local businesses, including reviews, hours of operation, and contact details, useful for finding services nearby.
  • Multi-language Support
    The platform supports multiple languages, making it accessible to a broader range of users.

Possible disadvantages of Yandex.Maps

  • Limited Coverage Outside CIS
    Yandex.Maps primarily focuses on Russia and CIS countries, so its detail and accuracy can be limited in regions outside these areas.
  • Privacy Concerns
    As with many mapping services, there are privacy concerns regarding data collection and user tracking, which may deter some users.
  • User Interface
    The user interface can be less intuitive compared to competitors like Google Maps, potentially resulting in a steeper learning curve for new users.
  • Ads and Sponsored Content
    The platform includes ads and sponsored content, which can be intrusive and affect the user experience.
  • Limited 3D Views
    While it offers street panoramas, Yandex.Maps lacks the comprehensive 3D views available in some other mapping services.

Waze features and specs

  • Real-Time Traffic Updates
    Waze utilizes data from other users to provide real-time updates about traffic conditions, accidents, and hazards, allowing users to choose the quickest route.
  • Community-Based Reporting
    The app thrives on user-generated reports, making the information particularly accurate and timely. Users can report accidents, police traps, road closures, and other events.
  • Frequent Map Updates
    Because Waze relies on community input, maps are updated more frequently than some other navigation apps, keeping information accurate and current.
  • Customization and Gamification
    Waze offers a gamified experience and several customization options, including mood icons, which make navigation more engaging.
  • Voice Commands
    Users can use voice commands to interact with the app, making it easier and safer to use while driving.
  • Gas Price Updates
    The app shows current gas prices and can direct users to the nearest or cheapest gas stations, helping save money.

Possible disadvantages of Waze

  • Battery Consumption
    The app's constant updates and GPS usage can drain your smartphone battery quickly.
  • Data Usage
    Real-time updates require a constant data connection, which can be costly and problematic in areas with poor cellular coverage.
  • Distractions
    The frequent notifications and updates can be distracting for drivers, possibly leading to unsafe driving conditions.
  • Privacy Concerns
    Since Waze collects a lot of real-time data about user locations and movements, there are potential privacy implications.
  • Ad Insertion
    The app displays ads, which can be intrusive and annoying for some users.
  • Learning Curve
    New users may find the plethora of features and user interface somewhat overwhelming at first.

Analysis of Yandex.Maps

Overall verdict

  • Yandex.Maps is a reliable choice for users looking for a robust mapping service, particularly in regions where Yandex has strong data coverage. Its user-friendly interface, along with various features tailored to local needs, make it a competitive alternative to other map services.

Why this product is good

  • Yandex.Maps is considered a good mapping service because it offers detailed maps, accurate routing, and real-time traffic updates, especially within Russia and neighboring countries. It provides features such as public transport information, street-level imagery, and business listings, making it a comprehensive tool for navigation.

Recommended for

  • Residents of Russia and CIS countries
  • Travelers in Eastern Europe
  • Users looking for detailed street-level imagery
  • People needing real-time traffic updates

Yandex.Maps videos

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Waze videos

5 reasons you'll use Waze over Google Maps

More videos:

  • Review - Waze App Review | 3 Reason why to use Waze
  • Review - Waze App Review(In Depth)

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Yandex.Maps and Waze)
Maps
33 33%
67% 67
Travel & Location
49 49%
51% 51
Web Mapping
25 25%
75% 75
Maps & Navigation
100 100%
0% 0

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Yandex.Maps and Waze

Yandex.Maps Reviews

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Waze Reviews

The Best Travel Apps for 2025
While Google Maps tells you about officially reported problems on the road and whether there's traffic, Waze knows the nitty-gritty details, like the location of police traps and potholes. This free community-driven app for traffic and road conditions is popular among taxi and car service drivers, although it's equally useful for everyday drivers. Waze can also tell you the...
Source: www.pcmag.com
7 Alternatives to Google Maps for Navigation
Actually, Google now owns Waze. But it’s still an alternative! The key to Waze is that it’s a crowdsourcing app. Users can report accidents, traffic jams, speed traps, and other hazards. Then, their reports are shared with other drivers in the area.
Going Beyond: The Best Alternatives to Google Maps in 2024
This allows you to avoid traffic jams and get to your destination faster. In addition, Waze offers features such as speed camera alerts and gas stations with the lowest prices, making it a handy app for drivers. Due to its considerable popularity, Waze was purchased by Google in 2013. However, it is still a standalone app, not part of Google Maps.
Source: stratoflow.com
Top 15 Google Maps Alternatives (2024 Edition)
Waze is another popular free Google Maps alternative. You will get the best directions to work from Waze, as it relies on crowdsourcing to warn you about traffic, police, and hazards.
9 Google Maps Alternatives to Use in 2022
Waze is a crowd-funded map service for desktop, Android, and iOS devices. The intuitive and highly interactive system also allows you to alert your fellow drivers about the traffic changes, speed cams, congestion, and hazards on the road. Due to its immense popularity, Wave was purchased by Google in 2013 and still exists as a stand-alone application and not a part of Google...
Source: geekflare.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Waze should be more popular than Yandex.Maps. It has been mentiond 12 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Yandex.Maps mentions (7)

  • Mind-Bending Soviet Era Oil Rig City on the Caspian Sea
    Here's another article about Neft Daşları with more photos: https://web.archive.org/web/20240225112359/https://guerrillasemiotics.com/2012/11/spatial-poetics-stalins-atlantis/ Bing Maps shows the bridges and some platforms with good resolution: https://www.bing.com/maps?cp=40.061519%7E49.607735&lvl=12.0&style=h&v=2&sV=2 Yandex Maps shows the constellation of isolated platforms to the south-east:... - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago
  • The great Polish Sea -or- We forgot Poland (2006)
    After the second stage of Russian aggression on Ukraine in 2022 the Yandex maps have removed country borders entirely. It makes for a very interesting map: https://yandex.com/maps I believe it was in response to the annexation of territories/oblasts that Russia didn't even control (lol). - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • Discussion Thread
    Yandex maps still doesn't have any national borders. This annexation thing doesnt seem to be going very well, nobody in Russia knows where Russia is. Source: over 2 years ago
  • [Megathread] Russian Invasion of Ukraine, D+224
    Hahaha, check out yandex maps right now. It's Russia's version of Google maps. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Map Data: False Assumptions Programmers Make
    I'm not sure if your question is rhetoric, but somewhere I've read that some map providers show it depending on what country the user (website visitor) is in - so users in country A see the disputed territory as belonging to country A, users in country B see it as belonging to their country, and everyone else sees this territory as "disputed between A and B". Governments of both A and B might have opposite demands... - Source: Hacker News / almost 3 years ago
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Waze mentions (12)

  • Best app, like, ever?
    Waze (Free) - Would have said Google Maps but Waze helps me get places AND tells me where speed cameras are. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Is someone using my API key or am I being stupid?
    Had the exact same thing happen to me, including waze.com as referring domain and same billables. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Alexandria to Chantilly
    I would suggest using waze.com from wherever you currently are over the next few days. At the time you expect you would actually leave Alexandria for Chantilly, use waze.com's "Live Map" feature to see the route. It will show you a remarkably accurate estimate of the best route and the time it will take. It will also show you a couple of alternatives. Source: over 2 years ago
  • How is the commute from Ashburn to Arlington?
    If you want to get pretty accurate actual times for your commute, after next Tuesday (when traffic is getting back to normal levels after the holidays), use waze.com AT THE TIME you would commute to view their "live map" of the trip. It will show you a pretty accurate estimate of the time it would take right then. Source: over 2 years ago
  • There is a water main break on Belair Rd
    We are updating Waze with live closures and detours. Source: over 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Yandex.Maps and Waze, you can also consider the following products

Google Maps - Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

Apple Maps - Maps features an all-new design with smart features to make finding and getting to your destination easier than ever.

HERE WeGo - HERE WeGo - Maps - Routes - Directions - All ways from A to B in one

OpenStreetMap - OpenStreetMap is a map of the world, created by people like you and free to use under an open license.

MAPS.ME - Fast, detailed and completely offline maps for mobile devices

Outdooractive - The digital home for experiencing the great outdoors