Waze is the better app overall, scoring 8.5 to 7.6. Waze wins on 4 of the 5 scores, Hopper on 1.
Drivers who want the fastest route right now on commutes and road trips
Travelers with flexible dates who want help timing flight bookings
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Waze | Hopper |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Travel & Maps | Travel & Maps |
| Category rank | #5 of 10 | #10 of 10 |
| Developer | Waze (Google) | Hopper |
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web | ✓ | ✓ |
Common questions
Is Waze better than Hopper?
Waze is the better app overall, scoring 8.5 to 7.6. Waze wins on 4 of the 5 scores, Hopper on 1.
Which is cheaper, Waze or Hopper?
Waze: Free, supported by ads on the map. Hopper: Free to search; you pay for bookings and optional add-ons like Cancel for Any Reason. On value for money, Waze scores higher.
Do Waze and Hopper work on the same devices?
Yes, both run on iPhone & iPad, Android, Web.
Which is more private, Waze or Hopper?
Hopper scores higher on privacy (6.0/10). App Store label says device IDs may be used to track you; purchases, payment and contact info, location and search history are linked to you. Hopper says the app has no ads.
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. Newer touches include personalized routes, a quieter voice mode and Gemini-powered voice reports. It works well with CarPlay and Android Auto. The trade-offs are map ads, heavy location data collection and the odd side-street detour.
Full Waze review
Hopper
- Price predictions help you time a booking
- Flexible add-ons for uncertain plans
- Simple, friendly interface with no ads
- Paid add-ons quickly raise the real price
- Changes go through Hopper instead of the airline
Hopper tells you whether to book a flight now or wait, using price predictions and alerts, and its color-coded calendar shows the cheapest dates at a glance. It also sells hotels, homes and rental cars, plus paid flexibility like Cancel or Change for Any Reason. The predictions are handy, but add-ons raise the real price and changes go through a middleman. Use it to watch prices, then compare before you buy.
Full Hopper review
