Sygic vs. Waze | The Ultimate Showdown (2020)

Navigation is a part of life, and there are many services which provide great navigation tools. Two of them are Sygic and Waze. Both have been here for a long time, and many great features make them different. How do both stand against each other? The blog post covers Sygic vs. Waze.

Table of contents

• Routing
• Voice and offline navigation
• Reporting
• Transit options
• Other features
  • Contributions
  • Sygic store
• Video
• Which one is for you?
• Summary

Routing

Sygic uses a third-party service called TomTom Go to get traffic updates, while Waze relies on the users to populate the traffic. Both apps use AI to calculate traffic and both are fairly correct. The traffic is updated every few minutes. To find a better service, I took a test drive comparing both. The below table presents the results from the above video.

The test drive can give us enough data about how both populate traffic. If we look at the video, we can see Sygic shows the speed limit on the map as you move to a new speed zone. Moreover, you also get essential places on the right of the screen and a small pop-up window showing how many lanes in total and which line the driver should be driving in.

Moving to some of the unique features Sygic supports

1. 1. Sygic suggests if there is a better route available.
   2. The app shows the parking nearby.
   3. You also get to preview the route.
   4. See rideshare vehicles around and book one if available.
   5. TomTom powers the 3D display on Sygic, and it looks great while navigating.

Waze, on the other hand, offers:

1. A button to play music without changing apps. The app is integrated with Spotify, YouTube Music and others.
2. You can schedule a ride.

Voice and offline navigation

Sygic comes with a few languages including English, Italiano, Deutsch, etc., while Waze comes with 75 voice options, including English, Italiano, Polski, Deutsch and more. You can also record your voice and use for the navigation. Although, a problem I must mention with Waze is, it sometimes guides when we are too close to the intersection making us take the next intersection.

Sygic’s nature of being paid changes many things. You can use the app for seven days, and after that, you will have to purchase the area to download maps on your device. Waze contrarily does not come with an option to download maps in the device at all, although the app will not stop working if you start the navigation and turn off the data.

Reporting

The reporting is one of the main sections of Sygic vs Waze because it covers the tools to stay one step ahead of the other drivers. The data below covers the combined features and which one covers what. Some of the features are available in limited regions.

Regarding the accuracy of speed, at the time of the above video, both showed about 3 km/h lower than my car’s speedometer. Since then Waze has improved and these days, there is only a difference of 1 km/h, while Sygic still shows 3 km/h lower than my car’s.

Related: HERE WeGo vs. Waze | Which One is Better in 2020?

Transit options

Regarding transport options, Waze takes the round. With Waze, you get navigation for private vehicles, taxis, and bicycles. Selecting each option shows you the best results possible. One more thing to add is integration with third-party apps like Uber. For Uber drivers, the option to start the navigation in Waze is just one button away. Sygic only supports vehicles and walking, and you can use Sygic for rideshares and taxis after manually adding the address.

Other features

Contributions

So, what are contributions? We talked about reporting tools in Waze. The list is significant, and if you report anything, you get some points. As you keep reporting, your authority builds, and when you get enough points, your report goes live as soon as you report. More scores mean a high-level Wazer, and you also get to choose between many avatars for your vehicle.

Sygic Store

Sygic comes with add-ons to help navigate more efficiently. Depending on your region, you will see different add-ons in your app. Here are some of the common add-ons for Sygic

• Dashcam add-on allows you to record the road while driving from your camera.
• Real-view navigation turns the interface in the real view of the road. With the help of cameras and GPS, the app shows you the way as you drive.
• Cockpit is another tool which records your driving style, altitude, direction and more.
• Head-up display can be used to mirror the navigation on your vehicle’s windshield. The app inverts the interface, and when you place the app close to the windscreen, you get to see the map in the glass. The tool works excellent at night.

Related: Sygic vs. Google Maps (2020) | The Final Showdown

Video

Let’s start with a warm-up video, which covers the basic topics and how both work on the road.

Which one is better where?

The answer to this question is complicated and personal. The below list is based on my own experience.

1. If you want a creamy and smooth experience, then Sygic is there.
2. If you want free stuff, then Waze is your go.
3. Are you looking for cycle routes? Waze.
4. Are you looking to drive a taxi or a rideshare? Waze is there.
5. A new driver or moving to a new place? Sygic is there to guide you about the lanes, parking, and petrol stations.

Summary

The Sygic vs Waze comparison covered the essential features. If you still need help, please share your thoughts in the comments below so we can discuss more. Also, subscribe to the newsletter to get post updates.