Google Maps is preinstalled on almost all Android phones, but that’s not how it gained popularity. It’s the number one navigation app because it does many things right.
As many of my colleagues at Android Police point out, Google Maps is the best all-round navigation app, and none comes close. But things can change quickly if Google doesn’t address some of its biggest issues.
Google Maps needs several small improvements, and they should come quickly. The company can brainstorm all it wants to add innovative features, but let’s pick the low-hanging fruit first.
If I were at the helm, I would add these four navigation features to Google Maps to make the commute better.
Bringing real-time crowdsourced incident reports from Waze
No half measures, please
Live traffic was Waze’s biggest strength, and I’d argue it still is, even after Google adopted the idea years ago for Google Maps. Like Waze, you can report crashes, objects on the road, construction, and other road hazards on Google Maps.
On top of this, you can see reports others submitted and confirm whether they are still relevant. These additions are inspired by how Waze handles live traffic.
This isn’t a surprise, as Google owns both. Google Maps shows real-time incident reports submitted by Waze users. Real-time human observation tends to be more accurate than Google collecting information from devices, so this was a welcome move in 2024.
However, Google’s attempt feels half-hearted. The real-time reporting isn’t nearly as robust as in Waze. In the Waze app, you can report potholes, bad weather, and anything else you need to know while driving.
On Google Maps, these reports aren’t as detailed as I get in Waze. I get why Google Maps doesn’t follow Waze’s aggressive rerouting approach, but what’s stopping Google Maps from being as accurate and detailed as Waze?
I hope this will change sooner rather than later.
Google Maps needs to stop making offline maps feel complicated
Offline maps should be simple
When I was a Windows Phone fan in my school days, I used to boast to my friends with Android phones about my phone’s offline map support. By the time I switched to Android, Google added offline maps support to Google Maps.
However, the offline maps support isn’t as good as what my decades-old Windows Phone had. Forget Windows Phone; many navigation apps on the Google Play Store did a better job implementing the feature than Google Maps.
When I search for a place in Google Maps, it gives me a placesheet, containing options like Directions, Start, Share, Save, and more. It doesn’t have a dedicated button to download an offline map for that location.
Instead, the option to download an offline map is hidden behind a “More” button that appears in the placesheet. Worse, you must swipe left to reveal the button on the sheet.
Many users don’t know that they can download offline maps from the placesheet, and it’s not their fault. I sometimes forget it has a hidden button to download offline maps.
I want a dedicated button in the sheet to download offline maps quickly. I don’t want to swipe left or right. Also, it doesn’t make sense to limit users to drawing a rectangle to download maps on the Offline maps page.
In addition to drawing a rectangle, the Offline maps page should have a search button to enter the places you want to download. This makes more sense.
Forcing Google Maps to follow custom routes
It needs a true lock button to stop rerouting
Android and its apps are all about flexibility, but some of Google’s apps don’t reflect that. Google Maps is an example.
While rerouting in Google Maps isn’t as aggressive as Waze, I can’t always ride the route I want. For this, Google Maps should offer an option to disable auto-rerouting or anything that locks the current path.
Google Maps needs this feature more than ever, as I keep seeing people complain that the “faster route” often makes them arrive late. I’ve also experienced this a couple of times in the last few months.
I wouldn’t mind the auto-rerouting feature, but that’s only when the suggestion is spot on every time.
I’m least optimistic that Google will add this feature to Google Maps. Introducing it might be perceived as an admission that its rerouting feature isn’t as good.
My prediction is that Google would rather make rerouting near-perfect than add the ability to lock a route. Until then, adding stops is the only viable option if you want to lock your path.
Better handling of future trip planning
Google Maps’ trip planning is poor
You can plan your trip on Google Maps by setting a departure or arrival time, which sounds familiar to Waze’s ability to leave later. However, trip planning on Google Maps feels basic compared to Waze.
Set a time on Google Maps, and it’ll show you basic traffic and how long it might take to reach the destination. The app won’t help if you are unsure of the best time to leave to reach your destination faster.
Waze offers more comprehensive trip planning than Google Maps, as it analyzes traffic patterns and shows the best time frame to leave, along with highlighting ETAs for different departure times. Waze’s UI is also simpler and more direct.
It’s baffling that Google Maps, despite having so many resources, hasn’t copied something from one of its own. Do whatever you want to do with the UI, but bring the feature to Google Maps as early as possible.
If it happens, I would call it one of the biggest additions to Google Maps in decades, even bigger than the arrival of AI features. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
I use Google Maps every day despite the flaws
Google Maps isn’t anywhere near perfect. Even if you ditch it for something better, like Waze, for navigation, you can’t ignore some of its other handy features.
For example, I use Popular Times in Google Maps before I start a journey to an unfamiliar place.
Also, since many people use Google Maps worldwide, the Reviews section gives you the most accurate sense of whether a place is worth visiting.
I also love the Timeline feature. While many users flag it as something bad for privacy, I love going down memory lane and seeing the places I visited over the years.
I use Waze when I drive, but I also use Google Maps daily for some of its excellent features.
