Fleet Management · head to head
Motive vs Waze
Motive
Fleet Management
ELD compliance, AI dashcams and spend management for North American commercial fleets
- From
- On request
- Free plan
- No
Waze
Maps
Community-driven GPS navigation app that uses real-time traffic data from its users
- From
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
The short version
- Only Waze has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Motive contracts are multi-year and per vehicle with hardware embedded, so a fleet that shrinks keeps paying for units that are sitting in a yard.; Waze no offline maps capability, requiring constant internet connectivity
- They diverge on capability: Motive covers ELD compliance, Waze covers Core Functionality.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Motive and Waze actually diverge.
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Motive
- ELD compliance
- AI dashcams
- GPS tracking
- Driver safety scoring
- Vehicle diagnostics
- Spend management
Only in Waze
- Core Functionality
- User Interface
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Motive
- A trucking fleet that must run FMCSA compliant electronic logs and wants cameras from the same vendornot Waze
- An operator facing an insurance renewal that requires evidence of a driver coaching programmenot Waze
- A construction fleet tracking both vehicles and unpowered assets such as trailers and generatorsnot Waze
- A fleet suspecting fuel card misuse and wanting transactions matched against vehicle locationnot Waze
Waze
- Real-time navigation and route planning with live traffic updatesnot Motive
- Reporting hazards and roadway conditions to community driversnot Motive
- Finding alternative routes to avoid congestion and accidentsnot Motive
- Connecting with first responders and emergency servicesnot Motive
- Community-driven mapping and road condition improvementsnot Motive
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Motive
- Contracts are multi-year and per vehicle with hardware embedded, so a fleet that shrinks keeps paying for units that are sitting in a yard.
- Driver facing cameras generate real workforce resistance, and fleets in tight labour markets have lost drivers over the rollout rather than the technology.
- Installation and calibration across a distributed fleet takes weeks of vehicle downtime, which is rarely costed into the comparison at the point of purchase.
- The rebrand from KeepTruckin means older documentation, integration guides and third-party references are inconsistent, which slows technical work on connections.
- Coverage depends on cellular networks, so remote route segments produce gaps in tracking and delayed log uploads that drivers then have to reconcile.
Waze
- No offline maps capability, requiring constant internet connectivity
- Routing reliability declined with reports of longer routes and restricted road directions
- Privacy concerns with location data collection and location-based ads after Google acquisition
- Stability issues including crashes on CarPlay and slow loading times
Pricing, plan by plan
Motive
On request- Motive$undefined/year
- Per-vehicle subscription over a multi-year term
- Hardware supplied within the agreement rather than purchased outright
- Dashcams, asset trackers and spend management priced as separate lines
Waze
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Waze review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Motive if
- You need eld compliance.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want ai dashcams.
Choose Waze if
- You need core functionality.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on iOS, Android, Web.
- You also want user interface.
Questions people ask
- Is Motive or Waze better?
- Neither clearly leads. Motive starts at On request and Waze at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Motive or Waze?
- Waze has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Motive and Free for Waze.
- Does Motive or Waze run on more platforms?
- Motive runs on Web, iOS, Android. Waze runs on iOS, Android, Web.
- Can I use Waze for free?
- Yes. Waze has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Motive starts at On request.
- What is Motive best used for?
- Motive is most often used for a trucking fleet that must run fmcsa compliant electronic logs and wants cameras from the same vendor, an operator facing an insurance renewal that requires evidence of a driver coaching programme, a construction fleet tracking both vehicles and unpowered assets such as trailers and generators, a fleet suspecting fuel card misuse and wanting transactions matched against vehicle location. Of those, a trucking fleet that must run fmcsa compliant electronic logs and wants cameras from the same vendor and an operator facing an insurance renewal that requires evidence of a driver coaching programme are not what Waze is typically brought in for.
- What can Motive do that Waze cannot?
- Motive covers ELD compliance, AI dashcams, GPS tracking, Driver safety scoring. Waze covers Core Functionality, User Interface.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Motive: Is Motive the same company as KeepTruckin?
Yes. KeepTruckin renamed to Motive in 2022. The products and account relationships carried over.
Waze: Does Waze work offline?
No, Waze relies on real-time data and does not support offline maps, limiting usability when without internet connectivity.
SourceMotive: Can hardware be bought outright?
It is normally supplied inside a multi-year subscription rather than sold, which is why the exit cost of a shrinking fleet is high.
Waze: How does Waze handle my location data?
Since Google's 2013 acquisition, Waze shares location history with Google's ad network and serves location-based ads. This differs from privacy-focused alternatives like Apple Maps.
SourceMotive: Does it work outside the United States?
Canada and Mexico are supported, including Canadian electronic logging requirements. Coverage elsewhere is limited.
Waze: What platforms can I use Waze on?
Waze is available on iOS and Android mobile apps, and via web through the Live Map feature accessible from any computer or tablet.
SourceMotive: Are the driver facing cameras optional?
Yes, road facing only configurations are available, and fleets worried about driver retention often start there.
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