Waze is the better app overall, scoring 8.4 to 8.1. Waze wins on 2 of the 5 scores, Airbnb on 3.
Drivers who want the fastest route right now on commutes and road trips
Families and groups who want a whole home with a kitchen
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Waze | Airbnb |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Travel & Maps | Travel & Maps |
| Category rank | #4 of 8 | #7 of 8 |
| Developer | Waze (Google) | Airbnb, Inc. |
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web | ✓ | ✓ |
Strengths and weaknesses
Waze
- Reacts quickly to crashes and traffic jams
- Community reports catch hazards other apps miss
- Free, with music and podcast controls built in
- Ads appear on the map and when you stop
- Collects a lot of location data
Waze is the best app for drivers who want to dodge traffic. Other drivers report crashes, hazards, police and speed cameras in real time, and Waze reroutes you around slowdowns quickly. It works well with CarPlay and Android Auto. The trade-offs are ads on the map, heavy location data collection and the odd detour through side streets. Get it for daily commutes and road trips.
Full Waze review
Airbnb
- Huge range of homes for groups and long stays
- Clear, well-designed booking flow
- Total price shown up front with fees included
- Fees can make stays pricier than hotels
- Quality and house rules vary a lot by host
Airbnb is still the first stop for renting a whole home, especially for families and groups who want a kitchen and space to spread out. The app is easy to use, Guest Favorites highlight reliable stays, and you can now book experiences and services too. The catch is cost: cleaning and service fees add up, and quality varies by host. Compare against hotels before you book.
Full Airbnb review
