When comparing Waze vs AdAway, the Slant community recommends AdAway for most people. In the question“What are the most useful Android phone apps?” AdAway is ranked 2nd while Waze is ranked 36th. The most important reason people chose AdAway is:
Use the hosts files to block ads, so it works for everything.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Notification about police
Pro Shows traffic speeds during rush hour
Shows red during heavy traffic along with mph, and orange for mild traffic.
Pro Route options
You can select the route icon and it will give you 3 options with milage and time to get you there if you want to choose your own route.
Pro Live routing and alert reports from other waze users
Each waze user has the ability to report traffic and road information changes as well as accidents, road closures, police locations and other alerts in real-time. This information is then displayed on the map to benefit other drivers and used to recalculate optimal route.
Pro Lists traffic accidents
Pro System wide blocking
Use the hosts files to block ads, so it works for everything.
Pro Doesn't consume CPU time or memory
The app updates the hosts file periodically but doesn't need to run in the background in order to block ads, which is especially convenient for older phones.
Pro Can use systemless host
Can be used without modifying the system if rooted with magisk.
Pro Can use custom host files
Lots of people and keep their own updated host files used for blocking ads and ad away supports loading them in or even adding their source for autoloading.
Cons
Con Advertisement supported
The advertisements usually shown when the vehicle is at rest, and they cover the entire screen. There is no way to get rid of them, it's strictly a free ad supported app.
Con Very high battery consumption
This app literally DRAINS your mobile. With an iPhone 6s, one can drive just a couple of hours before running out of battery.
Con Can freeze up when connected to Apple Play
Especially on iPhone 6s and Toyota Highlander 2020 pairing.
Bad routes, slow to determine where one is in a few locations (for example, exiting the highway and the exit is located lower than the highway).
Con Needs root (by design)
Needs root to update the hosts file.
Con Won't block same domain ads
Because the host file can only redirect domains, if the ad and content are on the same domain the ad will be displayed.