Navigation is a part of life, and many services provide great navigation tools. Two of them are Sygic and Waze. Both have been here long, and many great features make them different. How do both stand against each other? The blog post covers Sygic vs. Waze.
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.
| App | ETA on start | ETA on end |
|---|---|---|
| Sygic | 17:19 | 17:28 |
| Waze | 17:21 | 17:28 |
The test drive can give us enough data about how both populate traffic. Looking 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 are in total and which line the driver should be driving in.
Moving to some of the unique features Sygic supports
- Sygic suggests if there is a better route available.
- The app shows the parking nearby.
- You also get to preview the route.
- See rideshare vehicles around and book one if available.
- TomTom powers the 3D display on Sygic, which looks great while navigating.
Waze, on the other hand, offers:
- A button to play music without changing apps. The app is integrated with Spotify, YouTube Music, and others.
- You can schedule a ride.
Related: HERE WeGo vs. Waze
Sygic comes with a few languages, including English, Italiano, Deutsch, etc., while Waze has 75 voice options, including English, Italiano, Polski, Deutsch, and more. You can also record your voice and use it for navigation.
Although, a problem I must mention with Waze is that it sometimes guides us 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 have an option to download maps on 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.
| Feature | Sygic | Waze |
|---|---|---|
| Static speed camera | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Police | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Speed limit | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Vehicle’s speed | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Mobile speed camera | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Crash | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Congestion | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Roadworks | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Road closure | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Object on road | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Disabled vehicle | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Fuel prices | ❌ | ✔️ |
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.
Transit options
Regarding transport options, Waze takes the round. With Waze, you can navigate 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.
Related: Sygic vs. Google Maps
Other features
Contributions
So, what are contributions? We talked about reporting tools on 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 can also 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 into a realistic view of the road. With the help of cameras and GPS, the app shows you how you drive.
- Cockpit is another tool that 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 see the map in the glass. The tool works excellent at night.
Which one is better where?
The answer to this question is complicated and personal. The below list is based on my own experience.
- If you want a creamy and smooth experience, then Sygic is there.
- If you want free stuff, then Waze is your go.
- Are you looking for cycle routes? Waze.
- Are you looking to drive a taxi or rideshare? Waze is there.
- A new driver or moving to a new place? Sygic guides 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 to discuss more. Also, subscribe to the newsletter to get post updates.
Peter
Monday 26th of September 2022
I choose Sygic any day . Waze often gives strange road suggestions and feels unreliable
Scott
Wednesday 31st of August 2022
Sygic uses cell towers to route your position so no data required. Is it the same with Waze?
Madhsudhan Khemchandani
Wednesday 31st of August 2022
No, Waze requires an internet connection to work.
Tartaruga
Thursday 21st of July 2022
Approximately 3 km/h below the speedometer is most probably the actual speed, and that is the same with all car manufacturers.
So the "accuracy" is wrong from your perspective.
Madhsudhan
Friday 22nd of July 2022
@Tartaruga, yes, most apps show about 2 to 3 km/h below the actual speed, but Google Maps has become more accurate now. In my recent tests, the difference between Google Maps and the speedometer was about 1 km/hr.
Mark Cristiano
Monday 2nd of May 2022
I have used Sygic for years ( i have bought the Premium+, including life long world wide maps and pay 2 euros a month which is really worth it. I have tried Waze and it comes no where near Sygic and have removed it. For one thing Sygic provides speed excess warnings with different notification tunes whilst Waze has one beep which you hardly notice. Sygic also provides Fuel Station prices real time by just clicking on the station and the same for car parks - providing instant prices. Personally the GUI for Sygic is more use friendly. One gripe I have and which I have reported but which have not been fixed as at May 2022 is that when using Dashcam or Sign recognition(which also uses the miobile's dashcam) the mobile really heats up to a point that you have to reboot and let it cool down, so is virtually unusable. When it does work, sign recognition is great.
Tartaruga
Thursday 21st of July 2022
@Mark Cristiano,
But also searching for a POI is a mission impossible on Sygic in 90% of the situations. WAZE is almost close to Google Maps.
Routing is another Sygic issue in smaller cities.
I have also been using it for years, with premium & lifetime maps but using more often GM recently.
Madhsudhan Khemchandani
Monday 2nd of May 2022
Thanks for the words, Mark. I have heard that Sygic works excellent in Europe, and many people use it instead of Google Maps or Waze.
Rick Dancer
Monday 9th of November 2020
Voice integration appears to be more effective and seamless between Google and Waze. I am a new purchaser of Sygic but it took me a long while to get my vehicle to use Sygic as my main GPS.
The map in Sygic looks crisper than Waze but Waze was just as effective.
Jury is out as to whether I should go back to Waze or stay with Sygic
Madhsudhan
Monday 9th of November 2020
It depends on the location. Both tend to work great in the US, Europe and some other countries. Sygic offers premium features, but it can't compete Waze in the basic features such as traffic reporting.