About This App
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Category
Auto & Vehicles
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Installs
1M+
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Content Rating
Everyone
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Developer Email
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Privacy Policy
https://support.google.com/waymo/answer/9184840
Screenshots
Editor Reviews
Waymo is a transportation app designed to help you get around using self-driving cars. The service started back in 2009 as a project inside Google, and it became its own company in 2016. You can download the app from the Google Play store or the App Store, and it is completely free to install. The app itself doesn't cost anything, but the rides are paid for through your linked payment method. You do need to create an account and register before you can book a ride, and it shows the price upfront so there are no surprises. The app has a lot of installs now, especially in cities where the service is active, and it keeps growing as they add new places to drive.
When you open the app, you just put in where you want to go and it finds the closest self-driving car for you. You can watch the car approach on a live map, which is pretty cool. It tells you the car number and where to meet it, so you don't have to look around. Once you get in, the car drives itself and you just sit back and enjoy the ride. A tip I always tell my friends is to make sure you have the app updated before you go out, because sometimes the map glitches if it is old. Also, when you book a ride during busy hours, it might take a bit longer for a car to reach you, so plan ahead. The car also has a screen in the back where you can see the route and how long it will take, which I find easy to use.
I have tried other ride hailing apps like Uber and Lyft, but Waymo feels different in a good way. There is no driver to talk to, so you get more privacy, and I honestly feel safer because the car follows all the rules perfectly. The ride is smooth and the car is always clean too. With Uber, you sometimes get a car that smells or a driver who drives too fast. Waymo is not perfect, but I have used it many times now and it never gets old. It is also nice that you can adjust the temperature or music from the back seat. I think once you try it, you will see why I keep choosing this app over the others.
Features
- 🚗 Full self-driving rides without a human driver. You just get in and the car handles everything. It uses sensors and maps to move safely through traffic, which is way more advanced than just using Google Maps for directions.
- 📱 Easy booking process that takes only a few taps. You can pick your pickup spot and destination, see the fare, and pay in the app. It is much simpler than calling a taxi or waiting for a bus.
- 🛡️ Safety features that are built into the system. The car checks its surroundings all the time and can react faster than a human. It also has a support team you can contact from inside the car if you are worried.
- 🎵 In-car controls for music and temperature. You can change the climate and play your own audio from your phone through the car's speakers, which most ride hailing apps don't offer at all.
Pros
- 👍 The app is very easy to navigate and the live map is really helpful. You always know where your car is and how long you have to wait, which is better than Uber's tracking in my experience.
- 👍 The cars are always spotless and well maintained. I have never gotten into a messy or broken car with Waymo, but I have had that happen with other services multiple times.
- 👍 Pricing is clear with no surge surprises at pickup. The fare you see is the fare you pay, and that makes budgeting for rides much easier compared to Lyft pricing changes.
Cons
- ⚠️ The service is only available in a few cities right now, so many people cannot use it yet. That is a big limit compared to Uber which works almost everywhere.
- ⚠️ Occasionally the car takes a longer route than I would choose myself, which makes the ride last a bit longer than expected.