Orbit Orbit SI vs Waze: an honest comparison.
Waze is great at what made it famous: millions of drivers reporting traffic, police and hazards. Orbit SI does that too, and is built around two things Waze doesn't do: the weather where you'll be when you get there, and the people you care about.
| Feature | Orbit SI | Waze |
|---|---|---|
| Turn-by-turn directions with voice | YesFree. | YesFree. |
| Apple CarPlay | YesTurn-by-turn, the weather banner, radar, your family and "Ask Orbit". | Yes |
| Live traffic and faster routes | Yes | YesWaze's biggest strength: a huge community of drivers. |
| Police, crash and hazard reports | YesConfirmed by other drivers. | Yes |
| Speed limits | Yes | Yes |
| Weather along your route, timed to when you get there | YesEvery stretch of the drive at the time you reach it, with "leave later" to miss a storm (Orbit Pro). "Rain ahead" is free. | NoDrivers can report weather hazards they see, but there is no forecast for your route. |
| Crash alert that tells your family where you are | YesFree. If you don't answer "Are you OK?" within a minute, your Orbit Family gets an urgent alert with your location. | No |
| Your family on the map you drive with | YesOrbit Family, on the phone and on CarPlay. | PartlyYou can share your drive and arrival time with someone. |
| Railroad crossings | YesCrossings ahead, plus blocked crossings once two drivers confirm, with a way around. | YesRailroad crossing alerts. |
| Directions with no signal | YesOffline directions in areas you save, for dead zones and back roads (free account). | NoWaze needs a data connection. |
| Motorcycle mode | YesRide: twisty roads, loops, group rides and a ride check. Free. | PartlyLaunched in 7 countries in 2026; not in the US yet. |
| EV charging | YesChargers with live availability and driver ratings; charging stops planned for long trips (Orbit Pro). | YesChargers along your route, filtered by plug type (US). |
| Fewer voice prompts | YesQuiet drive. | Yes"Less chatty" mode. |
| Ads | YesNo pop-up ads. Businesses can pay to appear as a marked pin on the map, nothing more. | PartlyShows ads, including ones that appear when you stop. |
| Price | YesFree. Orbit Pro is $4.99 a month for the extras. | YesFree. |
Where Orbit wins
- Weather timed to your drive, and when to leave to miss it
- Crash alerts to your family, free
- Your family on your driving map and CarPlay
- Directions with no signal
- Motorcycle mode in the US
Where Waze wins
- A much bigger community of drivers reporting in real time
- Android, and countries around the world
- Available today (Orbit is coming soon to iPhone)
Orbit vs Waze: common questions
Is Orbit SI free like Waze?
Yes. Turn-by-turn, CarPlay, live traffic, speed limits, crash alert, Ride and every safety alert are free. Orbit Pro ($4.99 a month) adds weather by arrival time, storm dodge, smarter answers, flight and train alerts and EV road trips.
Can I use Orbit and Waze together?
Yes. Plenty of drivers keep both. Orbit's route weather and family features work on their own, and Orbit can be your CarPlay map on the days the weather matters.
Is Orbit on Android?
Not yet. Orbit is coming to iPhone and CarPlay first.
Does Orbit use Waze's data?
No. Orbit has its own traffic, speed limits, maps and driver reports.
Compared as of October 2026. Waze features from Waze and Google announcements and coverage through July 2026 (Gemini-powered reporting and "less chatty" mode, motorcycle mode in 7 countries, EV chargers by plug type in the US, railroad crossing alerts). Apps change; if something here is out of date, tell us at support@orbitsi.app and we'll fix it. Waze is a trademark of its owner. Orbit SI isn't affiliated with or endorsed by Waze.