Verdict
Waze leans on crowdsourced driver reports for real-time hazard and traffic alerts, which is its main draw, but a recurring group of reviewers complain about battery drain and background location tracking tied to ads.
Best for
A daily commuter who wants live police, accident, and slowdown alerts from other drivers and doesn't mind keeping the app's location tracking active.
Dealbreaker
Multiple reviewers report the app draining battery fast unless you manually enable Sleep Mode each time, and others describe address search freezing or the app falsely claiming it's offline even with a connection.
The facts.
Pulled from the App Store, not written by hand. unverified
Price
Free
In-app purchases
Unknown
Ads
Unknown
Platforms
iPhone, iPad
Rating
4.8★ (3,190,566)
Version
5.23.0.1
Last updated
Aug 31, 2026
Released
Aug 1, 2009
Attributes
Native app
Category
Navigation, Travel
What reviews consistently say.
Themes grouped from 200 App Store reviews. Source feed ›
Praised for
Notifications and reminders7 reviews
Battery and performance3 reviews
Complained about
Battery and performance5 reviews
Privacy and data handling5 reviews
Crashes and stability3 reviews
Works offline2 reviews
Where this comes from
7 of 200 recent reviews raised: Notifications and remindersApp Store reviews ›
5 of 200 recent reviews raised: Battery and performanceApp Store reviews ›
5 of 200 recent reviews raised: Privacy and data handlingApp Store reviews ›
3 of 200 recent reviews raised: Crashes and stabilityApp Store reviews ›
2 of 200 recent reviews raised: Works offlineApp Store reviews ›
Listed at Free on the App StoreApp Store listing ›
Where we recommend it
The best navigation and transit apps ›Navigation apps that are well rated and still maintained, with the reason you might not want each.
Alternatives with the same rule.
Every app here is rated 4.2 or better, has been updated in the last eighteen months, and has no significant number of reviewers reporting it broken. Price is not the rule on this list — some are free, some are not. Also with a catch.
Free · 4.9★ (211,098) · Updated Sep 2, 2026
Verdict. This is a ticketing and schedule app for LIRR and Metro-North riders, not a general navigation tool. Most reviewers find it easy to use, but there's a real undercurrent of complaints about location tracking, harsh account penalties, and unhelpful support.
Best for. Regular LIRR or Metro-North commuters who want train times and mobile tickets in one place and are comfortable with an app that tracks their location and ticket usage closely.
Dealbreaker. Some riders report being penalized or suspended over ticket-timing rules with little warning, and getting dismissive customer service when they try to dispute it, on top of complaints about the app tracking location more than users expect.
Free · 4.8★ (269,545) · Updated Sep 9, 2026
Verdict. This is the official NJ Transit app, and recent reviewers say a recent redesign made it harder to use, not easier — confusing navigation, slow loading, and missing alerts are recurring complaints despite the app's overall high rating.
Best for. Someone who already knows NJ Transit's routes and mainly needs live bus/train tracking, not a first-time rider trying to figure out the system from scratch.
Dealbreaker. Multiple recent reviewers report the app became confusing and unstable after an update, with missed push notifications, buses disappearing from tracking without warning, and slow load times — problems serious enough that some say the older version worked better.
Free · 4.9★ (107,900) · Updated Sep 14, 2026
Verdict. Citymapper focuses on real-time public transit: live tracking, disruption alerts, and which-car-to-board tips, with users consistently praising its accuracy over other transit apps. A small number of reviewers report the app crashing outright.
Best for. City dwellers who ride buses and trains daily and want live disruption alerts and boarding tips, not drivers looking for turn-by-turn car navigation.
Dealbreaker. A handful of reviewers report the app crashing every time they open it, and there's an optional subscription layered on top of the free base app.