Comparison

Waymo vs CA DMV Wallet

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Waymo

Request autonomous rides in select territories with a fully electric fleet. Customize your journey with temperature and music controls, and enjoy a safe, reliable, and eco-friendly transportation experience.

Highlights
  • Request autonomous rides
  • Ride scheduling
  • Customize ride temperature and music
  • Easy door unlock via Bluetooth
  • Share trip status
  • Multi-stop trips
  • All-electric fleet
Features
Read full description

Get there with The World’s Most Experienced Driver™ Waymo is on a mission to be the world’s most trusted driver, making it safer, more accessible, and more sustainable to get around—without the need for anyone in the driver’s seat. REQUEST AUTONOMOUS RIDES Ready to ride in any of our existing territories? Download the Waymo app and enter your destination to request your first ride. HOW IT WORKS Once requested, the Waymo car will pick you up from your current location; all you have to do is hop in, sit back, and buckle up. To begin your trip, tap “Start Ride” on the in-car passenger screen where you can also see what the Waymo Driver sees and contact Rider Support at any time. DESIGNED WITH YOU IN MIND Waymo offers the freedom of having a car to yourself without the stress of driving or parking. Day or night, you can request fully autonomous rides that are safe, clean, reliable, and customizable. Whether it’s picking the perfect temperature or streaming your favorite playlists, each ride empowers you to make it your own. MEET THE WORLD’S MOST EXPERIENCED DRIVER™ Waymo is The World’s Most Experienced Driver™ with millions of miles of experience and a proven safety track record. Every car in our all-electric fleet is operated by the Waymo Driver, an autonomous driving technology built with safety at heart. Its real-time visibility gives the Waymo Driver the capability to navigate and adapt with ease. Supported by a multilayered suite of sensors—including cameras, radar, and lidar—our systems maintain a constant 360°-view of the car’s surroundings ensuring road safety for all. YOUR RIDE, EVERY TIME. EXPLORE FEATURES Ride scheduling • Set pick up times up to one hour in advance and we’ll be there to get you. Pick the perfect vibe • Adjust temperature and select tunes all through the Waymo app or in-car screen display. Easy door unlock • Only you can unlock your ride—use Bluetooth to unlock your ride automatically as soon as you’re near. Adjust settings via the My Car Tab in the Waymo app. Share your trip • Share live arrival times with friends and family while en route. Trunk space • Store your belongings with ample trunk space. Upon exiting the car, the trunk will automatically open to ensure nothing’s left behind. Multi-stop • Add multiple destinations to your ride anytime—up to 4 per trip. Or, pull over any time with the tap of a button using the Waymo app or in-car screen. Eco-friendly • Do right by the planet when you ride with our all-electric fleet. The Waymo app is available for download in: • Australia • Canada • France • Germany • Great Britain (UK) • India • Italy • Japan • Mexico • New Zealand • Poland • Singapore • United States of America

About

CA DMV Wallet

Securely present your California driver's license or ID on your smartphone. Confirm age or identity without revealing sensitive personal data like birth date or address. Use it for airport security and age-verified purchases.

Highlights
  • Digital driver's license and ID
  • Secure data sharing
  • Age verification
  • Airport TSA screening
  • Online identity verification
  • Fraud and identity theft protection
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Now live in Pilot Phase – California DMV Mobile Wallet Californians now have a secure way to present their driver’s license or identification card using their smartphones via a Mobile Driver’s License (mDL) digital credential. California DMV Wallet gives you the control of the driver’s license data you share with others. For example, when buying age-restricted items, the app can confirm you are of legal age without having to share your birth date or address. With mDL in your CA DMV Wallet, you can breeze through the TSA queue at the airports using your phone. You can also enroll in the TruAge program via the Wallet Marketplace to purchase age-verified products at a corner store near you (starting with select pilot locations in California and expanding nationally). The Wallet will soon be supporting online identity verification for government and commercial applications. Designed with California's diverse population in mind, the CA DMV Wallet open-source platform uses state-of-the-art encryption algorithms and security technologies to combat fraud and reduce identity theft while improving privacy, transparency, and access for all Californians with a smartphone. Important note: While the mDL can be used as an official state-issued ID, per the pilot scope approved by the California legislature, you must still have a physical driver’s license or identification card with you. For more information, please visit: https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/ca-dmv-wallet/ California DMV Wallet is free, easy, secure, and convenient

Screenshots

Waymo4 screens
CA DMV Wallet4 screens

Verdict

The call

Waymo and CA DMV Wallet both sit at 5.0 stars, but that hides the real split: 83% of Waymo's written reviews are positive against 52% of CA DMV Wallet's. Waymo also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 weeks) and chart position (#10 vs #81). CA DMV Wallet's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Waymo holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 263K and 146K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 83% of Waymo's written reviews are positive against 52% of CA DMV Wallet's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Waymo ships an update fortnightly, CA DMV Wallet every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on October 21, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Waymo versus CA DMV Wallet: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWaymoCA DMV Wallet
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (263K ratings) — better4.8 (146K ratings)
Positive reviews83.0% of reviews — better52.5% of reviews
Number of ratings263K — better146K
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 5 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank#10 — better#81
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size177 MB172 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperWaymo LLCCalifornia Department of Motor Vehicles

Customer experience

Waymo

All ratings259,033 ratings
Positive99.4%
Neutral0.2%
Negative0.5%
Written reviews2,336 reviews
Positive83.0%
Neutral1.6%
Negative15.4%

CA DMV Wallet

All ratings145,608 ratings
Positive95.1%
Neutral1.8%
Negative3.1%
Written reviews1,124 reviews
Positive52.5%
Neutral9.2%
Negative38.3%

User reviews

Waymo

From 263K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Smooth, safe, and efficient rides
  • 👍 Easy to use app
  • 🚗 Comfortable and clean vehicles
  • 💰 Affordable pricing
  • 🎶 Music control in the car

Room to improve

  • 🚧 Limited service area
  • 🕰️ Longer wait times compared to other ride-sharing
  • 🚶‍♀️ Inconvenient pickup/drop-off locations
  • 🤖 Concerns about self-driving reliability
  • 📞 Poor customer service

CA DMV Wallet

From 146K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fast and easy setup
  • 👍 Worked well for most users
  • 💡 Potential for digital ID convenience

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Scanning and authentication issues
  • 🔒 Security and privacy concerns
  • 👎 Lack of Apple Wallet integration

Bugs and requests

Waymo

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App login issues
  • Unreliable ride booking and cancellation
  • Unexpected route changes during rides

Requested features

4 requests
  • Expand service area to more cities
  • Improve pickup/drop-off locations
  • Add Bluetooth connectivity for personal music
  • Provide option to contact support during rides

CA DMV Wallet

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Buttons and UI elements not visible
  • Repeated authentication failures
  • Inconsistent app behavior across devices

Requested features

3 requests
  • Add support for Apple Wallet
  • Improve user interface and navigation
  • Expand acceptance at more locations

In-app purchases

None

Waymo

No in-app purchases

None

CA DMV Wallet

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Waymo free?
Waymo is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is CA DMV Wallet free?
CA DMV Wallet is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Waymo or CA DMV Wallet?
Waymo is rated higher. Waymo averages 5.0 out of 5 from 263K ratings, while CA DMV Wallet averages 4.8 from 146K ratings.
Do Waymo or CA DMV Wallet have ads?
Neither Waymo nor CA DMV Wallet shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Waymo or CA DMV Wallet?
Waymo ships an update fortnightly, and CA DMV Wallet every 5 weeks. Most recently, Waymo was updated on October 21, 2026 and CA DMV Wallet on October 21, 2026.
Which is more popular, Waymo or CA DMV Wallet?
Waymo currently peaks at #10 in the App Store charts, and CA DMV Wallet at #81. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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