Apple CarPlay works on select car models and is available on a few built-in iPhone apps, such as Music, Maps, etc. Additionally, several third-party apps are also compatible with CarPlay. Using these apps, you can listen to music/podcasts, get the latest notification, find directions to your destination, and much more while you’re at the wheel. So if you’ve just got a brand new car that supports CarPlay, or you’ve been using CarPlay for a while but want to get more out of it, we’ve curated a list of some of the best CarPlay apps for iPhone that can help you out.
A Few Points to Note About Apple Car Play Apps
Before we jump in and explore the best Apple CarPlay apps, there are a few things about CarPlay that you must know.
Best Third-Party Apple CarPlay Apps for iPhone
The following is a list of some of the best CarPlay apps that give you a smarter and safer way of using your iPhone in your car for entertainment, communication, and navigation.
Google Maps
Google Maps is one of the most used apps for navigation. It’s accurate, offers all the essential navigation features, and is available in most regions, including those where other services (like Apple Maps or Waze) don’t work. Maps has a pretty easy-to-navigate interface in CarPlay. You can easily add destinations, find turn-by-turn directions to different places, and locate nearby gas stations, restaurants, and cafes on it. And, thanks to the built-in voice assistant, you find destinations using your voice.
Waze
Waze is another popular CarPlay navigation app. What separates it from Google or Apple’s map service is that it uses crowdsourced information, which allows it to give some really useful features, like real-time traffic updates, alternate routes, and many more. Although Waze got acquired by Google in 2013, it’s still relevant and popular among many users for its unique interface and feature set. Information like speed tracks, road closures, and accidents/hazards, combined with a customizable interface, give Waze a great deal of appeal. If you already use Waze or live in a region that gives you access to all Waze features, it’s a great navigation app to use with CarPlay.
Spotify
Spotify is a popular music streaming platform with millions of songs from various artists across different genres. A while back, Spotify also entered the podcast space and, since then, has attracted a large audience. If you, too, prefer Spotify over Apple Music (or any other music or podcast service), then you’d be glad to know that Spotify also supports CarPlay. So you can start using it in CarPlay mode to listen to your favorite tracks or podcasts while driving. Spotify has a nice and clean interface, which is easy to use. Plus, you can also summon Siri and ask her to play your favorite music.
Pocket Casts
Listening to podcasts is another way to keep yourself entertained and pick up a thing or two while you’re on your way to work or wherever you’re headed. Pocket Casts is an excellent podcast app with a broad catalog of podcasts. It’s also your best option if you don’t like having your music and podcasts mingled. Pocket Casts gives you a pretty straightforward interface in CarPlay. And you also get the option to either stream a podcast episode or play the ones you already downloaded on your iPhone. Alternative: Overcast
Audible
If you like spending your commute time listening to books, then you’d probably be aware of the Audible app or use it on your iPhone. And if so, you’d be pleased to know that Audible supports CarPlay too. So now, you can use it to listen to the books you’ve been reading/listening to lately and catch up while you’re on the road.
NPR One
NPR One is an app that gives you access to hundreds of local public radio stations in the US. These radio stations provide the latest updates in politics, science, business, culture, etc., in addition to a decent selection of podcasts. If you prefer consuming news on the go, then NPR One has you covered with CarPlay support. This means you can now listen to the latest updates worldwide and locally or enjoy your favorite daily talk show while you’re at the wheel.
WhatsApp has become the most popular messaging app worldwide. It’s probably your go-to medium of communication with friends and family members who don’t use an iPhone. WhatsApp’s CarPlay app is pretty sleek. It gives you the option to either hear unread messages or compose replies/send new messages using voice dictation. Plus, you can even make and receive calls with your WhatsApp contacts. And the best part is all of this works with Siri, just like the Messages and the Phone apps.
Telegram
Similar to WhatsApp, Telegram is another popular messaging service. Suppose it’s your preferred mode of communication (over Messages or WhatsApp) with your peers, friends, and family. In that case, you can use Telegram with CarPlay to receive/make calls and receive/send messages using Siri without losing your focus on the road.
Best Built-In CarPlay Apps for iPhone
In addition to the third-party apps listed above, there are several built-in Apple apps that also support CarPlay and, as such, can be equally useful in an everyday scenario. Here are some built-in CarPlay apps you must check out.
Apple Maps
Apple Maps has evolved over the years and introduced new features to improve navigation. If you live in a location where Apple gives you access to all Maps features, and you’ve been using it for all your navigation needs all this time, then the Apple Maps app is the perfect companion for finding directions to places in your vehicle.
Phone
The Phone app is, undoubtedly, an essential one with CarPlay. It lets you receive incoming calls and make calls to people in your Recents, Favorites, and Contacts. Additionally, if required, you can even dial a new number through your car’s screen; needless to say, there’s also an option to invoke Siri and make phone calls, just like you do on your iPhone.
Messages
Much like the Phone app, Messages is another built-in iPhone app that can come in handy for you if you use it to communicate with your friends and family. Not only does it allow you to receive important texts from your contacts safely while you’re driving, but it also lets you respond to incoming messages, thanks to Siri integration.
Apple Music
If you prefer listening to music on Apple Music and also have its subscription, then you must use the Music app in CarPlay to enjoy music when you’re on the go. It even lets you listen to your favorite radio stations if you prefer that. Navigating the app is quite easy, thanks to the quick access tabs at the top of the CarPlay interface. Plus, you can also ask Siri to play tracks for you.
Apple Podcasts
If you use Apple Podcasts to listen to your favorite podcasts or discover new ones, then it also has a CarPlay app for listening to podcasts on the go. It’s got a simple UI with intuitive controls to interact with the playback. And you can even ask Siri to control the playback.
Get More Out of Your Car With These Best CarPlay Apps
CarPlay makes it easier and safer to use your iPhone in your car while driving. Just connect your iPhone using a USB cable to your car, and it should automatically go into CarPlay mode and give you all your CarPlay apps on the car’s head unit. Subsequently, you should be able to access these apps to perform their designated operations or invoke Siri to perform trivial tasks. As you install supported CarPlay apps on your iPhone, you’ll accrue a bunch of them. But you can always head into CarPlay settings inside the iPhone Settings app to choose which apps appear on your car’s display unit and also arrange their order of appearance. On the other hand, if you own a car that supports wireless CarPlay, you can go with the wireless method instead. For this, make sure Hey Siri is enabled on your iPhone. After this, press the voice control button on your car’s stereo or steering wheel to bring up CarPlay. Now, turn on Bluetooth and pair your device with your car. Head over to Settings > General > CarPlay and select your car to mirror your iPhone’s screen onto it.
