Guide · 9 min read
Best traffic apps in the UK (2026): an honest comparison
Short answer: to get from A to B, Waze or Google Maps; for planned motorway closures in England, the National Highways website; for Scotland's trunk roads, Traffic Scotland; for Wales, Traffic Wales; for warnings, the Met Office. None of them puts all of this in one place, which is why we are building the Live Roads app. We checked every app against its official pages and store listings on 15 October 2026; anything we could not confirm is marked as such.
Which app for what
- Navigation and avoiding queues
- WazeLive driver reports and rerouting are the best around, and it reads National Highways' data. Google Maps is a close second.
- Planned motorway closures in England
- National Highways websiteIts road closure report is a rolling seven-day list of full closures. We show the same closures on motorway closures tonight.
- Scotland's trunk roads
- Traffic ScotlandIncidents, roadworks with dates, live cameras and a Met Office warnings layer, on traffic.gov.scot. Website only: it says it has no app.
- Welsh trunk roads
- Traffic WalesIncidents, roadworks with dates and CCTV images on Welsh Government roads.
- Cheapest fuel
- Google Maps or WazeBoth show Fuel Finder prices since 8 October 2026. Our fuel prices pages use the same official data.
- All of this in one place, from official sources
- The Live Roads app (coming soon)Until it arrives, Near you on the home page already shows what is happening around you.
Comparison table
Twelve things that matter if you drive in the UK. Every cell was checked against each app's official pages and App Store listings on 15 October 2026. Where the official page does not say, we mark it "not confirmed" instead of guessing.
| What it has | WazeGoogle | Google MapsGoogle | Apple MapsiPhone only | National Highwayswebsite, England | Traffic Scotlandwebsite, Scotland | Traffic Waleswebsite, Wales | Live Roads appcoming soon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Official sources | YesNational Highways data and Waze for Cities councils | YesNational Highways and local government data | Not confirmedApple does not name its UK road sources | YesIt runs the network | YesTransport Scotland's own service | YesWelsh Government's own service | YesNational Highways, Traffic Scotland, Traffic Wales, TrafficwatchNI, TfL, Met Office |
| Planned closures and roadworks | PartlyPartner closures show when active; no dated list | PartlyClosures as they happen; no dated list | Not confirmed | YesRolling seven-day full closure report | YesRoadworks with dates | YesRoadworks with dates | YesOvernight and weekend closures with dates and times |
| Live incidents | YesDriver reports: crashes, hazards, police | YesCrashes, closures and user reports | YesIncident reporting works in the UK | YesCurrent incidents and delays | YesCurrent incidents map and list | YesAlerts for active incidents | PartlyThose the operators publish, not driver reports |
| Met Office warnings | PartlyDriver weather reports, not Met Office warnings | PartlyPublic Alerts from the Met Office, in a crisis | Not confirmed | No | YesWeather warnings layer on the map | PartlyWind alerts and advice; no Met Office layer | YesYellow, amber and red, by warning region |
| Flood warnings | Not confirmed | PartlyEnvironment Agency alerts via Public Alerts | Not confirmed | No | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | PartlyEnvironment Agency warnings near you, England only |
| Rail and transport disruption | NoDriving only | PartlyLive departures and operator alerts where supplied | PartlyUK transit; disruption alerts not confirmed | NoRoads only | NoRoads only | NoRoads only | NoNot yet |
| Cheapest fuel | YesFuel Finder prices since 8 Oct 2026 | YesFuel Finder prices since 8 Oct 2026 | Not confirmedNot in the government's Fuel Finder app list | No | No | No | YesOfficial Fuel Finder prices, cheapest near you |
| EV chargers | PartlySearch and plug filters; live status not stated | PartlySearch and filters; live status for some networks | PartlyLive availability only for select providers | No | No | No | NoNot yet |
| Traffic cameras | NoSpeed camera alerts, no images | NoNo live images | NoSpeed camera alerts, no images | PartlyAbout 4,000 cameras; images only via media partners | YesLive cameras on the map | YesCCTV images, Welsh Government roads | NoNot yet |
| Turn-by-turn navigation | YesThe best, with rerouting | Yes | YesWith lane guidance and speed limits | NoNo app | NoNo app | No | NoIn a later phase |
| Privacy | PartlySets up an account itself; location linked to you | PartlyNo account needed to navigate; location linked to you | YesNo sign-in; nothing linked to you | YesWebsite, no account | YesWebsite, no account | YesWebsite, no account | YesKeeps only what you choose (places and routes); does not track where you go |
| Price | YesFree | YesFree | YesFree, Apple devices only | YesFree | YesFree | YesFree | YesFree, with a free account for places, routes and alerts |
Waze: the best for navigation
If the question is "what is the fastest way right now", Waze wins. Drivers report crashes, debris, stopped cars and police, and the app reroutes in seconds. National Highways shares its traffic data with Waze, and councils add their closures through the Waze for Cities programme. Since 8 October 2026 it also shows pump prices from Fuel Finder, the government's fuel price scheme.
- Strong at: navigation, driver reports, live queues, speed camera alerts, fuel prices.
- Limits: you cannot browse future roadworks; no Met Office warnings or live camera images; it sets up an account itself and links your location to it.
- Who it is for: daily drivers who want to get there faster.
Google Maps: the most complete
Google Maps does almost everything reasonably well: navigation, live traffic, public transport with live departures, Fuel Finder prices since October 2026 and EV charger search. Its Public Alerts carry Met Office and Environment Agency warnings when there is a crisis.
- Strong at: navigation, public transport, place search, fuel prices.
- Limits: planned closures only show as they happen; no live camera images; location is linked to your Google account.
- Who it is for: anyone who wants one app for driving, walking and transport.
Apple Maps: the most private
On the iPhone, Apple Maps comes preinstalled and works well in the UK: navigation with lane guidance and speed limits, speed camera alerts, incident reporting and public transport. It needs no sign-in, and its App Store listing shows no data linked to you.
- Strong at: privacy, navigation, CarPlay.
- Limits: Apple devices only; Apple does not say where its UK road data comes from; no confirmed fuel prices, Met Office warnings or dated roadworks.
- Who it is for: iPhone users who value privacy.
National Highways: the source for England's motorways, but no app
National Highways runs England's motorways and major A roads. It has no consumer app in 2026: its travel updates live on its website, and the old Traffic England site now redirects there. The most useful page is the road closure report, a rolling seven-day list of full closures updated twice each working day. Its roughly 4,000 cameras reach the public only through media partners.
- Strong at: planned closures with dates, straight from the operator.
- Limits: England's strategic roads only (not council roads); no phone alerts; no navigation.
- Who it is for: anyone checking an overnight closure before a trip.
We read National Highways' data and show it by road on motorway closures tonight and this weekend.
Traffic Scotland: the most complete official site
Traffic Scotland, now at traffic.gov.scot, is Transport Scotland's own service for the trunk roads: current incidents, roadworks with dates, live cameras and a weather warnings layer on the map, plus Traffic Scotland Radio. Its own FAQ says it has no app, only desktop and mobile versions of the website.
- Strong at: incidents, roadworks, cameras and warnings in one official map.
- Limits: trunk roads only; website only; no navigation.
- Who it is for: anyone driving Scotland's trunk roads, especially in winter.
Traffic Wales: the official Welsh trunk roads
Traffic Wales is the Welsh Government's service for the M4, A55 and the other trunk roads: alerts for active incidents, roadworks with dates, CCTV images and high wind advice. Its site and terms never mention an app, and we could not confirm a current one.
- Strong at: roadworks with dates and cameras on Welsh trunk roads.
- Limits: Wales only; no Met Office layer; no navigation.
- Who it is for: anyone on the M4, the A55 or the A470.
What happened to INRIX Traffic?
The INRIX Traffic app used to be a common pick. In October 2026 we found no current listing for it in the App Store or on Google Play, and INRIX's own mobile apps page now redirects to its ParkMe parking service. So it is not in the table.
Where we come in
Live Roads is not trying to be a worse Waze. It puts in one place what is spread across several apps and websites today, read from official sources. The app will do what the website already does, on your phone, with alerts for your places and routes.
What we do better
- Official sources for the whole UK in one place: National Highways, Traffic Scotland, Traffic Wales, TrafficwatchNI and TfL, on the live map.
- Planned closures by road, with dates and times: tonight and this weekend.
- Met Office weather warnings by region, and Environment Agency flood warnings near you in England.
- Cheapest fuel from official Fuel Finder prices.
- Privacy: the app keeps only what you choose (places and routes) and does not track where you go.
What we do not do yet
- Turn-by-turn navigation: it comes in a later phase. Until then, use Waze, Google Maps or Apple Maps to drive there.
- Driver reports: our incidents are the ones the operators publish, not those drivers report.
- Traffic cameras, EV chargers and rail disruption: not on the site today, so not in the app at launch.
Questions
- What is the best traffic app in the UK?
- For navigation, Waze, with Google Maps close behind. For planned motorway closures in England, the National Highways website; for Scotland, Traffic Scotland; for Wales, Traffic Wales; for warnings, the Met Office. The Live Roads app, coming soon, will bring these official sources into one place.
- Does National Highways have an app?
- We found no official National Highways consumer app in October 2026. It publishes travel updates and a seven-day road closure report on its website, and shares its data with Google, Waze and others. Live Roads shows its closures by road.
- Does Traffic Scotland have an app?
- No. Traffic Scotland's own FAQ says it has desktop and mobile versions of its website (now traffic.gov.scot), not an app.
- Does Waze show Met Office warnings?
- We found nothing saying so on Waze's official pages. Waze shows weather hazards that drivers report, but not the Met Office's yellow, amber and red warnings.
- When is the Live Roads app coming out, and how much will it cost?
- There is no date yet. It will be free, with a free account to save your places, routes and alerts. You can join the waitlist at liveroads.co.uk/app.
- Will the Live Roads app have navigation?
- Yes, in a later phase. At launch, the app shows what is happening around you and on your route; to drive there you keep using Waze, Google Maps or Apple Maps.
Live now
Sources
- Keeping you informed about your journey· National Highways
- Road closure report· National Highways
- Traffic camera (CCTV) services· National Highways
- Frequently asked questions· Traffic Scotland
- Roadworks· Traffic Wales
- Google Maps and Waze fuel prices in the UK (October 2026)· Google
- Drivers set to save as petrol prices launch on Google Maps· GOV.UK
- Public Alerts partners· Google
- Waze account set-up· Waze
- Waze on the App Store· Apple App Store
- Google Maps on the App Store· Apple App Store
- iOS feature availability (Maps)· Apple
- Apple Maps and privacy· Apple