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Waze Ads

Waze Ads

Waze Ads enables businesses to reach drivers with contextually relevant, location-based advertising at critical moments during their journey, driving foot traffic and influencing purchase decisions when consumers are mobile and near points of sale.

waze.comMountain View, California, United StatesFounded 2011Parent: Google

Last updated May 11, 2026 by jonholm

Industry
Location-Based Advertising
Business Model
Advertising Platform
Target Market
SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise
Employee Count
500-1000
Funding
$363M
Stock Symbol
GOOGL
Parent Company
Google
API Available
Limited
Market Position

Leading location-based advertising platform for in-car navigation with over 140 million monthly active users

Overview

Waze Ads is the advertising platform built into Waze, the community-based navigation app owned by Google since 2013. The platform enables businesses to reach drivers through location-based advertising formats that appear within the Waze app experience. Advertisers can promote their locations, products, and services to users while they navigate, with ad formats including branded pins, search ads, promoted search results, and zero-speed takeovers that appear when vehicles are stationary. The platform leverages Waze's real-time traffic and location data to deliver contextually relevant advertising to over 140 million monthly active users globally. As part of Google's advertising ecosystem, Waze Ads operates as a distinct advertising product that complements Google's broader location-based advertising offerings. The platform is particularly valuable for businesses with physical locations such as retail stores, restaurants, gas stations, and service providers looking to drive foot traffic. Waze Ads provides advertisers with unique capabilities to reach consumers during their daily commutes and travels, offering targeting based on location, route, and driving behavior. The platform integrates with Google Ads, allowing advertisers to manage Waze campaigns alongside their other Google advertising efforts. Waze Ads has established itself as a significant player in the out-of-home and location-based advertising space, offering brands a way to influence purchase decisions at critical moments when consumers are mobile and near points of sale. The platform's integration with Waze's navigation functionality ensures that ads are non-intrusive and contextually relevant, appearing at moments when they can provide value to both advertisers and users.

Products & Features

Branded Pins

Location markers that appear on the Waze map to highlight business locations and drive navigation to physical stores

Promoted Search

Sponsored listings that appear when users search for relevant categories or locations within the Waze app

Zero-Speed Takeover

Full-screen display ads that appear when vehicles are stationary at traffic lights or in traffic jams

Search Ads

Text-based ads that appear in Waze search results when users look for nearby businesses or services

Arrow Ads

Sponsored navigation arrows that guide drivers to advertiser locations along their route

Key Features
Real-time location-based targetingRoute-based advertising deliveryIntegration with Google Ads platformNon-intrusive ad formats designed for driver safetyProximity targeting to physical locationsCampaign performance analytics and reportingSelf-service advertising platformLocal business promotion tools
Use Cases
Driving foot traffic to retail stores and restaurantsPromoting gas stations and convenience stores to nearby driversAdvertising automotive services along common routesPromoting quick-service restaurants during meal timesHighlighting hotel and lodging options to travelersAdvertising entertainment venues and events to local driversPromoting grocery stores and pharmacies in specific geographic areas
Customer Segments
Local businesses with physical locationsQuick-service restaurants and fast food chainsRetail chains and shopping centersGas stations and convenience storesAutomotive services and car dealershipsHotels and hospitality businessesEntertainment venues and attractionsNational brands with local presence

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