Traffic is one of the most prevalent everyday stressors. It seems to worsen constantly, and there’s no way to avoid it. But you can use the best traffic apps on your iPhone to ease things a bit.
These keep you informed of traffic conditions and help you work out the best routes that can get you to your destination on time. Of course, they also include maps and other navigation features that add convenience to your life. So, take your pick from the list below.
- Waze Navigation & Live Traffic
- Google Maps
- Apple Maps
- Sygic GPS Navigation & Maps
- MapQuest
- Scout Maps
- TomTom GO navigation
- Traffie navigation & alerts
- ETA – Live traffic alert
- Yandex.Navi
Waze is my favorite traffic app because of the real-time traffic information provided by users. This allows you to avoid jams and adjust your route on the fly. Moreover, the data is more trustworthy because it’s from drivers rather than algorithms.
It also helps you find the cheapest gas station on your route and supports Apple CarPlay. You can even listen to music, podcasts, and more right within the Waze app to keep you company. Choose from various voices to guide you while you drive.
Pros
- Real-time route changes based on traffic, accidents, construction, etc.
- App gets better at learning your frequently used routes and destinations
- Constantly updated to be accurate
- Compatible with CarPlay
Cons
- Interface could be improved with fewer ads and visual clutter
Price: Free
2. Google Maps: Most widely available
The world’s most popular maps app provides accurate traffic information too. Use it to find the best route with automatic re-routing based on live traffic, incidents, and road closure. You can track real-time ETAs and save time with automatic re-routing based on live traffic, incidents, and road closure.
Additionally, this app is a must-have for the wealth of information it provides about places around you. You can know what’s open, find places to eat or order from, and save places to view later. You can even get an idea about the surroundings with the innovative street view.
Pros
- Accurate real-time traffic and navigation information
- Automatic re-routing
- Clean, intuitive user interface
- Many additional features such as places, street view, etc.
- Compatible with CarPlay
Cons
- Sometimes it cannot tell which direction the user is going, which can be confusing.
Price: Free
3. Apple Maps: Default iOS traffic app
Apple Maps is the default maps and traffic app on your iPhone and iPad. It has plenty of good features but is quite limited to certain regions. At the moment, it only works in big cities and can give incorrect directions when you try it in less popular places.
However, since it’s a stock Apple app, it’s convenient and efficient if you live in a big city. You can get real-time info about traffic, incidents, and road closures. Further, see speed limits for the road you’re driving on and get guidance on which lane you should stay in before your next move.
Pros
- Consistently updated
- Integrates with Siri
- Attractive iOS-style interface
Cons
- Maps are limited to certain regions, mostly big cities.
Price: Free
Sygic comes with a price tag, but it’s worth it if you want the most feature-rich traffic app. To start with, it offers all the usual traffic app features you need, such as turn-by-turn directions, offline maps, and accurate, real-time traffic information from data collected from millions of global worldwide.
But apart from this, there are advanced features such as the head-up display (HUD) that projects navigation onto your car’s windshield to make it safer to drive at night.
There are many other safety measures, too, like real-time route sharing and a Dynamic Lane Assistant that guides you into the correct lane. You can try it free for seven days and if you love the features as much as I do, go for the premium subscription.
Pros
- Global availability, so it’s great for travel
- Offline maps
- Compatible with CarPlay
- Multiple safety features
Cons
- Paid app
- Search functionality needs improvement
Price: $26.99 per year (7-day free trial)
5. MapQuest: Best route options
Does the name MapQuest ring a bell? It’s been around since the 90s and was used to print out directions to take along with you when driving. Of course, the world has come a long way since then, and so has MapQuest. It’s now one of the best map and traffic iOS apps.
As expected, it provides turn-by-turn navigation with real-time traffic updates and live traffic cameras to help you plan the best route. It also has many other features like route choices to give you more suggestions to reach your destination and route options that help you avoid things like highways and toll roads.
Pros
- Real-time traffic updates and alternative routes.
- Live traffic camera feature shows you how many vehicles are on the road.
- Handy, colored “traffic bar” at the top to show traffic flow and route progress.
Cons
- Tends to drain the battery
- Location data is not as accurate as Google Maps
Price: Free
6. Scout Maps: Feature-rich
Scout helps you beat traffic jams through real-time traffic and live speed updates. It’s convenient to find the quickest routes to your destination with clear, turn-by-turn directions. However, it’s much more than just a navigation app.
For instance, you can conveniently find shops, restaurants, gas stations, etc. You can also save your customized route preference and favorite map views. Further, schedule personalized departure alerts for home and work to stay on schedule.
Pros
- Real-time traffic alerts
- Shortcuts to your favorite places
- Intuitive interface
Cons
- Too many features make it complicated to use
Price: Free (In-App Purchases start at $4.99)
TomTom Go is the only app that has an audio warning of speed and red-light cameras. Most of the other traffic apps only offer visual alerts, but audio ones can be extra useful because you can focus on the road.
It shows you the quickest and best ways around traffic congestion backed by precise distance and time calculations. Further, it offers offline maps in 150 countries plus advanced features like moving lane guidance. Although it’s a paid app, you can try it free for 30 days.
Pros
- Audio warnings of speed and red light cameras
- Accurate traffic info, thanks to user-reported data
- Advanced lane guidance to ensure that you stay in the correct lane
Cons
- Offline maps don’t function as expected
Price: Free (In-App Purchases start at $4.99)
Traffie alerts you instantly about traffic and road situations, including delays, construction, accidents, crashes, and more. It automatically shows alternate routes and suitable parking spots near your destination for everyday convenience.
In addition to the regular map features, it also supports Siri Shortcuts, making it quicker to start navigating. Further, the Head-up Display option projects navigation onto the windshield of your car. This makes it easier to navigate when it’s dark outside, potentially reducing the risk of using the app while behind the wheel.
Pros
- Head-up Display
- Supports Siri Shortcuts
- Beautiful graphics
Cons
- Quite pricey
- No offline version
Price: Free (In-App Purchases start at $2.99)
9. ETA – Live traffic alert: Most versatile
With an Apple Watch and Today View widget, ETA is like your personal assistant to quickly access traffic information, travel times, and driving directions. Driving times to your locations are conveniently presented on a single screen along with the traffic situation.
The interface is well-designed and easy to use. It provides you with all the info you need to navigate your city. Moreover, the app supports Shortcuts so that you can use it in a variety of different ways.
For instance, you can launch directions to your frequently visited places from the lock screen itself. Or, you can string a shortcut with the Carrot weather app to receive traffic and weather conditions at a set time each morning. Pretty nifty!
Pros
- Beautiful interface
- Includes Apple Watch complication
- Works with Siri Shortcuts
- Today View widget for info at a glance
Cons
- Somewhat pricey
Price: $4.99
Yandex is a Google competitor in Russia. Its traffic and navigation app is better able to handle Russian searches than Google, so it’s a must-have when you’re traveling to Russia. It’s also available in Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Turkey, and France.
You can use it to beat traffic with real-time GPS routing and find alternative routes. Further, you can easily find parking spots near you, avoid accidents and construction, and stay safe with turn-by-turn directions.
Pros
- Useful for Russia and Ukraine
- Easy to use
- Feature-rich
Cons
- Does not work as efficiently in the United States
- Does not support Apple CarPlay
Price: Free ($2.99 for Yandex Plus )
That wraps up my list of the best traffic apps for iPhone and iPad that get a green light for their features and ease of use. If you’re looking for more app recommendations, let me know in the comments below.
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