We Tested Dozens Of Free Car Play Apps, Here Are The Best Ones

Overview

We tested dozens of free Car Play apps, here are the best ones

Car Play has gone from being a "nice to have" feature for consumers, to something they actively seek out when looking for new vehicles. And that makes sense: If you've got a large infotainment screen in your car, why deal with mounting your phone like the old days? Car Play (along with Android Auto) basically projects functionality from your phone, similar to adding a second monitor to a PC or laptop. Car Play apps are designed to be easier to use from your driver's seat, with larger interfaces and clearer menus than the i OS apps they're based on. (Though you should still avoid interacting with them while driving.)

Details

It's worth noting that Car Play looks and feels different across various cars and manufacturers. Older vehicles typically require a wired connection, whereas newer models can connect wirelessly. (There are a variety of accessories that can also let you bring wireless functionality to wired Car Play models, like the Carlin Kit.) Some car makers restrict Car Play apps to small windows within their infotainment systems, while others let it take over entire screens. And if you're the lucky owner of something compatible with Car Play Ultra, which at this point only includes newer Aston Martins, then you'll get an expensive Car Play view across your driver and infotainment displays.

After using Car Play for more than five years and testing dozens of apps specifically for this story, I've narrowed down the list of Car Play apps you really need to use.

Google Maps was one of the most useful Car Play apps when they first arrived, and it remains one of the best navigation options around. The Google Maps Car Play app lets you easily set destinations using voice commands, report and respond to events on the road (like police presence and debris), and see the traffic flow of your route. The downsides? It's far more annoying to preview what's coming up in your route, compared to just swiping around a phone, and the app sometimes loses track of your location.

Despite its inauspicious launch, Apple Maps has turned itself into a true Google Maps competitor over the years. With Car Play, Apple Maps can also do a few things better, like giving you more conversation directions (I.e, "Turn right after the next light"), compared to Google Maps' more stiff tone. If you're wearing an Apple Watch, the Apple Maps app will also gently nudge you when it's time to prepare for a turn or highway exit. Some cars can also display Apple's navigation information in the driver display, which is less common with Google Maps.

If you're a heavy Spotify user, you'll definitely want to use its Car Play app. It lets you easily jump back into music and podcasts you've been listening to, find playlists and discover new recommendations. In many ways, its limited functionality is a more soothing way to use the music service, compared to its more chaotic desktop app. You can also integrate Spotify directly into Google Maps, though you'll sacrifice a bit of navigation screen space to do so.

Most major podcast apps support Car Play by now, but I particularly like Pocket Cast's collection of filters and easy show discovery. Pocket Cast also has a variety of features to help you listen to podcasts more efficiently, like the ability to trim silences and increase your playback speed. If you listen to shows across a few different devices, Pocket Casts will also instantly synchronize your progress. So you could conceivably start listening to an episode of This American Life on your computer and then finish it up on your commute.

If you're into audiobooks, there's a good chance you've amassed a large Audible library. The Audible Car Play app lets you quickly jump back into your latest title and browse all of your audiobooks. You won't be able to buy new books though — instead, you'll have to whip out your i Phone and launch Safari to accomplish that. (You can thank Amazon's disdain for paying Apple commissions for this bit of consumer unfriendliness.)

If you're a live radio addict, Tune In remains one of the best ways to listen to news, sports and music stations from around the world. The Car Play app gives you instant access to Tune In's vast library, and you can also listen to most of it for free. (You can pay a bit more to get rid of many ads.) While live internet radio has been supplanted by streaming music and podcasts (which Tune In also supports), you still can't beat the sheer wonder of instantly playing a broadcast from the other side of the planet.

Spot Hero is one of the best ways to find nearby parking, and its Car Play app makes the service even more useful. In addition to just locating parking, you can use it to quickly rebook spots you've already been to, as well as display parking passes. With support for over 400 cities across the U. S. and Canada, Spot Hero should make it easier to find parking during your next road trip (so long as you're not heading to the boonies).

Key Takeaways

We tested dozens of free Car Play apps, here are the best ones
Car Play has gone from being a "nice to have" feature for consumers, to something they actively seek out when looking for new vehicles
It's worth noting that Car Play looks and feels different across various cars and manufacturers
After using Car Play for more than five years and testing dozens of apps specifically for this story, I've narrowed down the list of Car Play apps you really need to use
Google Maps was one of the most useful Car Play apps when they first arrived, and it remains one of the best navigation options around