WAZE vs. TomTom - Comparison of GPS in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada

[allanc]

I thought that I might have some fun and also be somewhat enlightening by comparing the free WAZE app for IPhone and a not so cheap $250 (CDN) TomTom Go Live 1535.
These are just my observations and I am not attempting to be scientific in any way.

First let me say the following about using the TomTom downtown that I have been using for about 4-5 years now:

• When driving in downtown Toronto, I am frequently instructed to make a left where there is none permitted at any time of the day.
• Same with lefts that are restricted based upon time of day.
• I notified TomTom a couple of years ago about these specific directions/intersections but the map has not been fixed.
• Sometimes the GPS has no clue where I am at all. At other times it has me going on a parallel street further north. Sometimes I am going east and the GPS thinks I am going north.
• All these issues have existed from day one.

The following comparison is based upon being 20 minutes from my destination in downtown Toronto.
Now for the review:

1. Accuracy of E.T.A: WAZE calculated an E.T.A. of 2:38 pm and the TomTom 2:30 pm. They both chose different routes with highways, etc. enabled on both. The TomTom had chosen a much more direct route with no highways. WAZE had chosen a longer route which was a combination of highways and regular streets. At some point in the drive I had to decide which route to follow. I chose the TomTom (big mistake). .
2. The TomTom was displaying two shortish delays (1 and 2 minutes). Then I hear a beep on WAZE and it tells me that there is a 10 minute delay coming up soon on TomTom's route. TomTom is showing an e.t.a. of 2:32 pm. Waze is displaying 2:39 on TomTom's route. I think that the 2 GPS were about 7 minutes apart at this time. Well, in any case the WAZE delay of 10 minutes was right and the TomTom delay of 3 minutes was wrong. Actual arrival was about 2:40. The math might not be exactly right, but you get the idea.
3. Accuracy of permitted turns: WAZE was 100% accurate through both the totally restricted and time-of-day left turns. TomTom - not accurate - see above.
4. Dead spots: WAZE - none. TomTom - see above.

There you have it.
Feel free to comment .

 

[NJW]

My situation: I have never used Waze; my primary GPS is TomTom GO on Android because I'm grandfathered in to their traffic service for three years following the withdrawal of the older Android app.

The accuracy of the position data (i.e., your position on the map) is, of course, dependent on the quality of the GPS data available to each device. I suspect that your TomTom is disadvantaged here, being an older design with less efficient GPS antennae – it probably really needs clear line-of-sight to the sky. Add in the environmental conditions (in a car, in a close urban area) and it quite likely struggles to place you accurately, more so if, for example, your windscreen has any sort of metallised coating (sun protection) or embedded heating elements.

How are the TomTom and iPhone placed in the car?

Both Waze and TomTom use croudsourced data from users to determine current traffic conditions, so each is dependent on the number of respective users in a given area. It would appear that Waze has reached that critical mass that provides accuracy, but TomTom hasn't, for that part of downtown Toronto, at that time of day.

TomTom support forums are littered with complaints of wild eta – not an excuse, but nothing new.

I frequently submit map corrections, supported with a couple of GPS-tagged photos, and they are generally incorporated in map updates within 6-9 months. The Android app has no provision for on-the-go map submissions, so I use the online Map Share Reporter. I have no idea how TomTom goes about systematically updating maps. I would imagine (hope) that there is some means for urban authorities to fast-track data to TomTom and the others. Here in very rural France, I guess there's just us users when it comes down to road names in small villages.

 

[allanc]

My situation: I have never used Waze; my primary GPS is TomTom GO on Android because I'm grandfathered in to their traffic service for three years following the withdrawal of the older Android app.

The accuracy of the position data (i.e., your position on the map) is, of course, dependent on the quality of the GPS data available to each device. I suspect that your TomTom is disadvantaged here, being an older design with less efficient GPS antennae – it probably really needs clear line-of-sight to the sky. Add in the environmental conditions (in a car, in a close urban area) and it quite likely struggles to place you accurately, more so if, for example, your windscreen has any sort of metallised coating (sun protection) or embedded heating elements.

How are the TomTom and iPhone placed in the car?

Both Waze and TomTom use croudsourced data from users to determine current traffic conditions, so each is dependent on the number of respective users in a given area. It would appear that Waze has reached that critical mass that provides accuracy, but TomTom hasn't, for that part of downtown Toronto, at that time of day.

TomTom support forums are littered with complaints of wild eta – not an excuse, but nothing new.

I frequently submit map corrections, supported with a couple of GPS-tagged photos, and they are generally incorporated in map updates within 6-9 months. The Android app has no provision for on-the-go map submissions, so I use the online Map Share Reporter. I have no idea how TomTom goes about systematically updating maps. I would imagine (hope) that there is some means for urban authorities to fast-track data to TomTom and the others. Here in very rural France, I guess there's just us users when it comes down to road names in small villages.

This is the inside of my car except I do not have the upgraded sound and climate systems.
Neither my GPS or IPhone are mounted.
In the picture - my GPS would be forward of the gear changer on the 'shelf' just below the CD player.
My IPhone is with me on the driver's seat.
I used the term 'crowd sourced' too loosely - thank you for correcting me.
What I meant is that it seems to me that *I* can manually provide more real-time / specific information to WAZE than with my TomTom.
Actually, a couple of days ago WAZE popped-up with something similar to 'You are traveling very slow, are you in heavy traffic'!
I thought that was pretty cool and yes, I was in heavy traffic.

When I submitted my left turn woes/corrections there was a mod online in the forums who lives in Toronto.
He does some of the evaluating of map corrections in Toronto.
I gave him details like 'when you are driving south on University and are at the intersection of xxxxx street - plot a new destination of this address yyyyy' (which was south/east). The TomTom religiously directed me/him to make one illegal left turn after another.
The 'no left turns' were 24 hours a day.
Even now, years later, the TomTom directs me to turn left at those intersections.

I can't speak to the *online or App* versions of TomTom, but I think that the maps that you d/l are updated every 3 months?
According to my readings I think that the WAZE maps are updated about 3 days after a correction.

 

[Megaarch]

Traveling back to Canada in a couple of months and need offline maps. From my research "HERE" seems to be good, is this a good app for Canada? Any other recommendations?

 

[allanc]

Traveling back to Canada in a couple of months and need offline maps. From my research "HERE" seems to be good, is this a good app for Canada? Any other recommendations?

By 'here' - I meant here in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
WAZE, as far as I know, is designed for being in a vehicle.
As mentioned above, I use it on my IPhone and am really enjoying it.
Google Maps, as far as I know, can also be used for walking.
HTH.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Had a TomTom years ago. Since Google Maps is on all smart phones now.....TomTom started just sitting in the glove box...and then got moved to the garage..and I don't even know where it is now.

IMO, smart phones with built in Google Maps has made GPS's extinct.

 

[allanc]

Had a TomTom years ago. Since Google Maps is on all smart phones now.....TomTom started just sitting in the glove box...and then got moved to the garage..and I don't even know where it is now.

IMO, smart phones with built in Google Maps has made GPS's extinct.

What do you use on your bike?

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

What do you use on your bike?

Either a map on my tank for long long trips (old school)...or more often, when I pull over, I whip out my phone and check.

 

[Altster]

I've never driven in Canada, but in the states when I need driving directions I use Google Maps on my Android phone - has never let me down that I can recall.

 

[NJW]

In the picture - my GPS would be forward of the gear changer on the 'shelf' just below the CD player.

I think that's why TomTom has trouble placing you on the right road. The map display snaps the position arrow to the nearest road, so it wouldn't surprise me if it's occasionally showing you on a cross street, travelling 90° to your actual route, especially moving slowly. I think you'd get better results if the TomTom was above the dash (so rip out that OEM display panel ). Your options are clearly limited.

I'm not defending either TomTom the GPS unit or TomTom the company and I agree that the performance (of both) is not very good. Things have moved on and discrete GPS receivers don't have the advantages that they once had. I have the TomTom Android app because it doesn't cost me anything at the moment and – big deal for me – the map is entirely offline and traffic data requirement is tiny. I have a very small data allowance on my phone and frequently poor-to-no network signal. Online maps are a deal-breaker for me.

 

[Megaarch]

By 'here' - I meant here in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
WAZE, as far as I know, is designed for being in a vehicle.
As mentioned above, I use it on my IPhone and am really enjoying it.
Google Maps, as far as I know, can also be used for walking.
HTH.

By HERE I meant the App named HERE https://here.com/en. Was also thinking of google maps but 3 years ago when I used it in Canada, i felt it wasn't great. Waze as far a i know is online only, also I will be using it for driving.

 

[LivHolmes]

Waze has been reliable for me as a community based traffic and navigation application.

 

[TechLady]

I LOVE Waze and I sing its praises to my clients all the time. It's totally saved my bacon driving around Los Angeles, which is some of the worst traffic on the planet. Have a Garmin, but don't have much use for it except places like Death Valley that have little to no cell signals. Don't care for TomToms myself.