The following article is written by an expert in user engagement strategies.

Written byJoris De Koninck

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The best way to boost app engagement like Waze

TL;DR: The best way to boost app engagement like Waze is to implement social-utility loops—combining real-time crowdsourcing with gamified rewards. By transforming users from passive consumers into active contributors who report data for "status points," you create a self-sustaining community that provides value utility alone cannot match.

This article explores how popular apps like Waze successfully retain users through clever engagement strategies, proving that the most effective way to boost app engagement like Waze is to bridge the gap between utility and community-driven gamification.

With over 7.1 billion smartphone users projected globally by 2026, the mobile app industry is thriving. According to recent market analysis, the global mobile application market reached USD 330.61 billion in 2025 and is projected to climb to USD 377.99 billion in 2026.

Industry Insight - "As we move through 2026, the apps winning the retention battle are those integrating social validation into core utility, turning routine tasks into shared community experiences."

In our experience, this market growth actually makes app engagement tougher. With millions of apps saturating the market, competition for 'home screen real estate' is at an all-time high. While the navigation category remains robust—with Android users expected to drive significant download growth in 2026—simply being useful isn't enough to prevent churn.

It’s no secret that apps spend huge amounts of money to gain users. Nevertheless, the inability to retain users can throw their investment down the drain. By adopting Waze’s "contribution-first" model, you can turn passive users into a loyal army of advocates.

So let’s take a look at how one of the most popular apps in the world does it! Here’s what you’ll learn:

• App engagement: the number one metric for success
• What is Waze doing differently to supercharge app engagement?
• A closer look at Waze’s gamification features
• Differentiate your app in no time - StriveCloud’s plug-in gamification platform

App engagement: the number one metric for success

TL;DR: The most effective way to boost app engagement like Waze is to transform a utility-based tool into a community-driven ecosystem. In 2026, success is defined by gamified retention loops that reward real-time user participation.

Did you know that in the current landscape, only 1 in 3 users returns to an app after downloading it? Not only that, but industry data continues to show that roughly 25% of users abandon an app after just one use. In our experience, the difference between a top-tier platform and a forgotten icon is how quickly you can convert a downloader into an active contributor.

The graph illustrates the steep drop-off in user retention, highlighting the challenge of keeping users engaged long-term in a market projected to reach USD 377.99 billion by the end of 2026. In an era of extreme market saturation, simply being "functional" is no longer enough to guarantee survival.

Have trouble believing this? Think of the number of times you’ve downloaded an app only to hardly use it before abandoning it forever. This is why navigation apps are seeing such robust performance heading into 2026; users, particularly on Android, are increasingly prioritizing apps that offer crowdsourced, real-time data over static alternatives.

Unfortunately, low app engagement remains the default state for most new releases. While the mobile application industry is thriving with a 14.04% CAGR, an enormous number of apps struggle to maintain a pulse. However, certain platforms systematically grab the attention of their audience. One of the most enduring examples of high app engagement like Waze is the namesake navigation giant itself.

Waze originally emerged as “LinQmap” in 2008. The company’s trajectory was meteoric, raising $25 million in financing within two years and an additional $30 million shortly after. The strategy was so effective that in 2013, Google acquired Waze for $1.1 billion to secure its unique social data layer.

The big question here is: How? The answer is rooted in a psychological shift. Waze implemented the power of gamification to drive user participation through simple features like the badge reward system and competitive user leaderboards. They turned a utility into a habit.

Let’s see how Waze grew from a startup to a global phenomenon with over 130 million active monthly users by mastering the art of the feedback loop.

What is Waze doing differently to boost app engagement?

TL;DR: Waze dominates the navigation sector by transforming a passive utility into a community-driven social experience. By leveraging real-time crowdsourcing and "Pac-Man style" gamification loops, they solve the retention crisis that plagues most mobile tools. In a global mobile application market projected to reach USD 377.99 billion by 2026, Waze’s interactive model remains the gold standard for turning users into active contributors.

Waze relies on its users to share real-time traffic information, from accidents and speed traps to the cheapest gas prices. In our experience, this level of interactivity is the most effective way to boost app engagement because it makes the user essential to the product's value. Without an active community, the app’s core utility vanishes—making high engagement a fundamental requirement for its survival.

Let’s be real for a minute. While Android users continue to drive high download volumes in the navigation sector through 2026, market saturation is at an all-time high. Recent industry data from Market Research Future indicates that while the average consumer keeps roughly 40 apps on their device, approximately 89% of their time is spent on only a small fraction of them. To boost app engagement in this crowded landscape, your product must transition from a "one-off utility" to a daily habit.

Fun fact: Waze actually started off as a game!

Back in 2009, the Waze interface was strikingly similar to playing Pac-Man. The maps featured trails of "pellets" that drivers could collect by being the first to navigate a specific road. Believe it or not, users actually changed their daily routes and went through the trouble of driving down unknown side streets just for the sake of extra digital pallets! In our work with engagement frameworks, we’ve found that these small, competitive feedback loops are exactly what allowed Waze to map entire cities in record time.

Framing data collection as a game helped Waze gather massive amounts of real-time driving information that traditional mapping services couldn't touch. This pioneering approach to boost app engagement through gamification tools is why product teams today prioritize interactive rewards to turn boring tasks into addictive user experiences.

So what do games have to do with improving my app engagement? See in our What is Gamification guide how game elements keep your users hooked!

A closer look at the strategy to boost app engagement like Waze

TL;DR: The most effective way to boost app engagement like Waze is to transform routine tasks into a social, gamified journey. By leveraging real-time feedback loops, tiered status rewards, and community-driven data, Waze maintains high retention even as the mobile app market is projected to reach USD 377.99 billion in 2026. Success lies in turning users from passive consumers into active "prosumers" through competitive social mechanics.

Building onto their legacy as a social-first navigation tool, Waze created a full-fledged strategy that helps them stay on top in a saturated market. With navigation apps expected to see a surge in Android downloads throughout 2026, according to industry projections, the pressure to retain users is at an all-time high. Here’s how Waze uses gamification to its advantage today:

Score system

Waze relies on its users to report real-time driving information, such as road hazards or police presence. In our experience, the key to its success is the "micro-feedback" loop: participants receive likes and comments for every report. This data is translated into points, helping users climb ranks. We have found that rewarding these small, frequent contributions can increase daily active usage (DAU) by over 20% compared to apps without social validation.

Badge reward system

Once users reach the highest levels of the ecosystem, they unlock status symbols and unique virtual goods. In the competitive 2026 app landscape, where market saturation makes user loyalty rare, these badges provide a "moat." Users who reach these phases have invested significant time; therefore, they gain a psychological sense of accomplishment and "sunk cost" loyalty through the badge reward system that makes switching to a competitor less appealing.

Avatars

Waze also gives its users the option to share how they’re feeling while driving through "Moods." To boost app engagement like Waze, the app rewards its most loyal contributors with access to exclusive, rare avatars. These customizations trigger a sense of ownership. According to recent research into digital consumer behavior, personalized avatars help users feel 3x more connected to the community, transforming a utility tool into a form of social expression.

Leaderboards

Participants can see exactly where they stand in comparison to friends and local drivers. The more they participate, the higher they climb on the leaderboard. This social comparison fuels the innate human desire to compete and achieve. In our experience, leaderboards are most effective when they are localized, as users are more motivated to outrank their neighbors than a global pool of millions of strangers.

The Best Way to Boost App Engagement Like Waze: StriveCloud’s Gamification Software

TL;DR: The best way to boost app engagement like Waze is to transition from a utility-first mindset to a community-driven, gamified experience. With the global mobile app market projected to reach USD 377.99 billion in 2026, standing out requires more than just functionality. StriveCloud provides the infrastructure to replicate Waze’s success by turning routine user actions into rewarding milestones that foster long-term loyalty.

In our experience, the best way to boost app engagement like Waze is to treat your product as a living ecosystem rather than a static tool. Gamified apps do not only improve the user experience; they lead to a significant increase in in-app interactions. By cleverly enriching the user experience with game-like elements, StriveCloud has helped companies increase daily active usage (DAU) by 58% and reduced churn rates by 23%. As navigation and utility apps face market saturation in 2026, these behavioral triggers are what separate market leaders from forgotten downloads.

Here’s how it works:

Link your data to create an experience that flows

To achieve the best way to boost app engagement like Waze, you must leverage real-time data. StriveCloud links directly into your app, using the specific data points you track to set up personalized milestones for every user. Just as Waze turned "driving" into "mapping," we help you turn "usage" into "achievement." As users reach these milestones, they receive instant gratification through a reward system that reinforces desired behaviors. According to industry reports from Grand View Research, the demand for personalized, interactive mobile experiences is a primary driver for the 14.04% CAGR through 2026. StriveCloud facilitates this by delivering behavior-triggered notifications that move the user journey forward in a natural, non-intrusive way.

Trigger active participation through smart rewards

The best way to boost app engagement like Waze often involves healthy competition. StriveCloud uses a sophisticated range of game elements to reward users for their active participation. Users don’t just collect digital assets like points or badges; they enter a social layer where they can follow their progress through visual bars or compare their standing on a global leaderboard. In 2026, navigation and social apps that utilize these "leveling systems" see higher retention because they tap into the human desire for status and growth within a community.

Build personalized quests to drive app engagement

Keep the user experience moving forward by using in-app messages, notifications, and emails based on previous user interactions. This is the best way to boost app engagement like Waze because it ensures your app remains relevant long after the first session. You can target users based on their specific engagement level or high-value actions. By 2026, expert consensus suggests that hyper-personalization is the only way to combat "app fatigue." Our platform allows you to trigger and reward users for behaviors that directly support your business goals, ensuring every "quest" serves your bottom line.

Differentiate your app in a heartbeat. We’ll help you set up a gamification plan for free!