Google Maps will soon feature an all-new Commute tab that provides one-tap access to live traffic and transit information.

google maps commute
The new tab will tell you if your commute is going to be a normal one, or if you'll need to budget extra time due to things like an accident or heavy traffic. Google is introducing support for mixed-mode commutes that involve both driving and public transit, with helpful information along each leg of the trip.

In addition, transit riders in 80 regions worldwide will be able to see exactly where their bus or train is in real time on the map. Starting in Sydney, Australia, Google Maps will also indicate how full the next bus or train is. Google says the latter feature will be coming to more cities around the globe soon.

Last, Google says it is making Spotify, Apple Music, and Google Play Music playback controls accessible within Google Maps.

The new features will start rolling out globally on iOS and Android this week.

Top Rated Comments

zorinlynx Avatar
92 months ago
And I still remember all too well how Google refused to add turn by turn navigation in their ios app, until Apple released Maps. I'll never forgive them for that and will always tilt towards other options when possible.
Google didn't have their own iOS app until after Apple released Maps because Apple DID NOT ALLOW IT, plain and simple.

The Maps app in iOS has always been Apple's. Back when it used Google Maps, it was really Apple's app using Google's data. Google did not write nor maintain that app, and it shipped as part of iOS. The refusal to have turn by turn directions in that app was Apple's, not Google's.

Only once Apple Maps came about did they finally allow Google to write their own Maps app; as far as I'm concerned that was the best thing that ever happened for Google Maps on iOS because they were extremely stifled before by Apple's refusal to let them write the app.

I don't mean to be combative, I just get tired of people getting the history behind this wrong. Apple was the bad guy here, not Google.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Aluminum213 Avatar
92 months ago
And in about 20 years we can expect this in Apple Maps
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tzm41 Avatar
92 months ago
Google owns Waze. Waze has been doing this forever. What’s the difference between the two and why switch? Not trashing google just honestly asking why make two identical apps
Maybe there are people like me who don't appreciate the cartoonishly styled and ad plagued Waze app.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
shyam09 Avatar
92 months ago
I vividly remember Google releasing their first iOS Maps app some time after iOS 6 came out with Apple Maps.

Before that, Google did not have their own Maps app on iOS. The "Google Maps" in iOS was an Apple-created app and its lack of features was on Apple.

If you have a link to information that disputes this, please post it because I don't recall any sort of alternative Google Maps app for iOS before iOS 6 came out. I'm quite curious myself if I'm actually wrong, it's just that my own memory completely supports what I wrote.
Wiki history points that you're correct:

Up until iOS 6 ('https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IOS_6'), the built-in maps application on the iOS ('https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IOS') operating system was powered by Google Maps ('https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Maps'). However, with the announcement of iOS 6 in June 2012, Apple ('https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Inc.') announced that they had created their own Apple Maps ('https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Maps') mapping service,[13] ('https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Maps_(app)#cite_note-13') which officially replaced Google Maps when iOS 6 was released on September 19, 2012.[14] ('https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Maps_(app)#cite_note-14') However, at launch, Apple Maps received significant criticism from users due to inaccuracies, errors and bugs ('https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_bug').[15] ('https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Maps_(app)#cite_note-15')[16] ('https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Maps_(app)#cite_note-16') One day later, The Guardian ('https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Guardian') reported that Google was preparing its own Google Maps app,[17] ('https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Maps_(app)#cite_note-17') which was released on December 12, 2012.[18] ('https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Maps_(app)#cite_note-18')[19] ('https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Maps_(app)#cite_note-19')
Google's Android app was released in 2008 //


On September 23, 2008, coinciding with the announcement of the first commercial Android device ('https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTC_Dream'), Google announced that a Google Maps app had been released for its Android operating system.[11] ('https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Maps_(app)#cite_note-11')[12] ('https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Maps_(app)#cite_note-12')

Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gavroche Avatar
92 months ago
And in about 20 years we can expect this in Apple Maps
And I still remember all too well how Google refused to add turn by turn navigation in their ios app, until Apple released Maps. I'll never forgive them for that and will always tilt towards other options when possible.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
69Mustang Avatar
92 months ago
Google owns Waze. Waze has been doing this forever. What’s the difference between the two and why switch? Not trashing google just honestly asking why make two identical apps
They didn't make 2 identical apps. They made one app and acquired another. There are enough people who prefer one over the other to justify the existence of both. I think Google Maps will eventually integrate most of Waze's top features and ultimately kill Waze approx. 3-4 years from now.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 26 Feature

iOS 26.1 to iOS 26.4 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Saturday October 18, 2025 11:00 am PDT by
iOS 26 was released last month, but the software train never stops, and iOS 26.1 beta testing is already underway. So far, iOS 26.1 makes both Apple Intelligence and Live Translation on compatible AirPods available in additional languages, and it includes some other minor changes across the Apple Music, Calendar, Photos, Clock, and Safari apps. More features and changes will follow in future ...
iphone air thickness

Apple Said to Cut iPhone Air Production Amid Underwhelming Sales

Friday October 17, 2025 8:29 am PDT by
Apple plans to cut production of the iPhone Air amid underwhelming sales performance, Japan's Mizuho Securities believes (via The Elec). The Japanese investment banking and securities firm claims that the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are seeing higher sales than their predecessors during the same period last year, while the standard iPhone 17 is a major success, performing...
ios 26 1 liquid glass opaque

iOS 26.1 Beta 4 Lets Users Control Liquid Glass Transparency with New Toggle

Monday October 20, 2025 10:57 am PDT by
With the fourth betas of iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, and macOS 26.1, Apple has introduced a new setting that's designed to allow users to customize the look of Liquid Glass. The toggle lets users select from a clear look for Liquid Glass, or a tinted look. Clear is the current Liquid Glass design, which is more transparent and shows the background underneath buttons, bars, and menus, while tinted ...
iOS 26

iOS 26.0.2 Update for iPhones Coming Soon

Friday October 17, 2025 7:35 am PDT by
Apple's software engineers continue to internally test iOS 26.0.2, according to MacRumors logs, which have been a reliable indicator of upcoming iOS versions. iOS 26.0.2 will be a minor update that addresses bugs and/or security vulnerabilities, but we do not know any specific details yet. The update will likely be released by the end of next week. Last month, Apple released iOS 26.0.1,...
Apple iPad Pro hero M5

New iPad Pro Has Six Key Upgrades Beyond M5 Chip

Saturday October 18, 2025 10:57 am PDT by
While the new iPad Pro's headline feature is the M5 chip, the device has some other changes, including N1 and C1X chips, faster storage speeds, and more. With the M5 chip, the new iPad Pro has up to a 20% faster CPU and up to a 40% faster GPU compared to the previous model with the M4 chip, according to Geekbench 6 results. Keep in mind that 256GB and 512GB configurations have a 9-core CPU,...
iPhone Siri Glow

Some Apple Employees Have 'Concerns' About iOS 26.4's Revamped Siri

Sunday October 19, 2025 7:39 am PDT by
iOS 26.4 is expected to introduce a revamped version of Siri powered by Apple Intelligence, but not everyone is satisfied with how well it works. In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said some of Apple's software engineers have "concerns" about the overhauled Siri's performance. However, he did not provide any specific details about the shortcomings. iOS 26.4 will...
HomePod mini and Apple TV

Apple's Next Rumored Products: New HomePod Mini, Apple TV, and More

Thursday October 16, 2025 9:13 am PDT by
Apple on Wednesday updated the 14-inch MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, and Vision Pro with its next-generation M5 chip, but previous rumors have indicated that the company still plans to announce at least a few additional products before the end of the year. The following Apple products have at one point been rumored to be updated in 2025, although it is unclear if the timeframe for any of them has...
m4 macbook air blue

M5 MacBook Air Coming Spring 2026 With M5 Mac Studio and Mac Mini in Development

Thursday October 16, 2025 3:57 pm PDT by
Apple plans to launch MacBook Air models equipped with the new M5 chip in spring 2026, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple is also working on M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro models that will come early in the year. Neither the MacBook Pro models nor the MacBook Air models are expected to get design changes, with Apple focusing on simple chip upgrades. In the case of the MacBook Pro, a m...
14 inch MacBook Pro Keyboard

New 14-Inch MacBook Pro Has Two Key Upgrades Beyond the M5 Chip

Thursday October 16, 2025 8:31 am PDT by
Apple on Wednesday updated the 14-inch MacBook Pro base model with an M5 chip, and there are two key storage-related upgrades beyond that chip bump. First, Apple says the new 14-inch MacBook Pro offers up to 2× faster SSD performance than the equivalent previous-generation model, so read and write speeds should get a significant boost. Apple says it is using "the latest storage technology," ...