If you are an Apple user, you surely know that CarPlay is a way which is smarter and safer to use your iPhone in the car. It permits you to be able to stay focused on the road. If you connect your iPhone to CarPlay, you are able to make calls, send and get messages, listen to music and many more things. And here, we will inform the top 10 apps for Apple CarPlay that you are able to use.
- Waze
Waze is one of the best navigation apps that you are able to use for CarPlay. You are able to access it on your dashboard through CarPlay and you are able to find the fastest route to reach your home. Through this app, you are also able to listen to music or podcasts. If you do not want to use Apple Maps or Google Maps, Waze can be your option.
If you want to use Waze on CarPlay, you have to make sure that you are using iPhone 5s or above and it must run iOS 12 and above. Also, you need to use one of the CarPlay supported car models.
To get started, you have to connect your iPhone to your CarPly supported system using a USB cable or a wireless connection. If it is connected, you have to tap on the Waze icon from the CarPlay menu to launch. If Waze is shown on your CarPlay system, your iPhone’s screen will serve as an extension for additional settings and other information.
- Tom Tom Go Navigation
Are you looking for an alternative from Waze? If so, Tom Tom Go Navigation is the answer. The maps of this app are customizable based on what you need and you are able to save offline maps. There are also weekly app updates which will help you avoid traffic with smart routes and alternative routes as a response to accidents, constructions and the other obstacles. This app also can store habitual and popular destinations and scenic areas. So, you will be helped to get locations from geotagged photos and enable you to be able to share your ETA with people who are waiting for you.
If you have this app, you are able to find it once connected to Apple CarPlay by swiping to the second screen on your head unit and then you have to look for the black icon with a white car on it.
This app is free. However, to keep the maps updated, this app works on a subscription basis. The price starts at $1.99 for a month or $12.99 for a year.
- Spotify
Do you like listening to music while driving? If so, Spotify can be your friend while you are on the go. In the Spotify music library, there are millions of titles which span all eras and genres. You are able to find specific artists and songs or you are able to let the app surprise you.
Spotify has a free version. However, if you choose to use the free version, it is ad-supported. It permits you to skip some songs in a given time period as well. If you choose to use Spotify Premium, you will not find advertisements and it will give you unlimited skips and even you can get higher quality audio for a monthly fee.
Spotify is like all other CarPlay apps where it has a clean and simple interface for browsing through your music collection by artist, playlist, song or album. Also, you have options to browse for new music and Spotify radio.
- Audible
Audible is owned by Amazon. If you have been a Prime member, you will have access to Audible channels. It offers you exclusive original series and features one of the biggest selections of audiobooks around. Here, you are able to find your favorite audiobooks including medieval epics, psychological thrillers, and the other genres.
In this app, you are able to navigate via chapter and download individual chapters for offline use. If you want, you are also able to make clips of your favorite passages to share with friends and family. There are also updates which permits you to use credits to be able to add titles to your library from the app and improved VoiceOver support.
If you are not a Prime member, you have to pay for $15 per month and it allows you to select one audiobook and two Audible Originals per month. If you are lazy with complicated interface of apps, you do not have to be worried about this app because it has a very simple interface. You will see your library of books and you just have to tap on one to carry on listening.
- Pocket Casts
This is one of the best podcast apps that you are able to use for your iPhone. This app offers advanced playback controls, an iPad interface, automatic downloading of new episodes and compatibility with Chromecast, Sonos and Airplay. However, when it is involved in CarPlay, the things will be simplified. The menus and the look of interface will be almost similar to every other media app.
If you want to use Pocket Casts for your CarPlay, you are able to choose the free version. However, if you choose the paid one, you will have to pay $0.99 per month or $9.99 for a year.
- MLB.com At Bat
Are you busy with your work but you do not want to skip any information about Major League Baseball games? Well, you are able to listen to it at MLB.com At Bat. With this app, you are able to choose between the home or road team’s broadcast and the Spanish-language transmission.
If you want to use this app, you need a subscription to be able to access each matchup’s audio feed. The price is $2.99 per month or if you want to buy it annually, you can pay for $19.99.
- NPR One
NPR One is an audio experience that can connect you to a stream of public radio news, stories, and podcasts. Now, it is available on Apple’s CarPlay. With this app, you are able to listen to local, national and even international news from your NPR member station in your vehicle which can support CarPlay.
If you have this app in your car and then you want to get started with your National and Local newscast which is followed by your recommended stories, you are able to tap on Catch Up. If you want to scroll through a curated list of stories and podcast episodes, you can tap on Recommendations. If you will drive longer, you can let NPR One to be your friend along the way with engaging storytelling and you can access it by tapping on Features Shows.
If you are interested, you can also try some of their favorites such as WNYC’s Radiolab, NPR’s Hidden Brain and PRX’s The Moth Radio Hour. If you want to step out of your car and after that you want to continue listening to NPR One, you are able to launch the app on your phone and then just hit the Play. If you want to find something new, you can simply swipe over to the left into Explore.
Does this app support Siri? The answer is yes. You are able to use Siri to launch NPR One, skip track, play, pause and ask ‘What’s playing’.
As we know that now WhatsApp is an app which a lot of people use for communicating with others. And the question is, does CarPlay support WhatsApp? Luckily, this app is supported in CarPlay. When you open it, you are able to choose to hear unread messages read aloud or dictate a new message. Here, you can expect all the voice commands. You are able to have Siri read your incoming messages and respond to them via voice. If you prefer to save them for later because you do not want your messages to be heard by your passengers, you can do it. Another thing that you are able to enjoy from this app is that you will be able to see WhatsApp notifications on the CarPlay home screen if you are not in the Do NOt Disturb mode.
If you wonder whether you have to pay for this app or not, as you can use on your smartphone that WhatsApp is also free on CarPlay.
- iHeartRadio
With iHeartRadio, you will not be limited to AM and FM radio stations. Even you are able to listen to sports radio on the other side of the country. Do you miss that classic rock station which offers you the soundtrack for your last vacation? You can make iHeart Radio play it for you.
In this app, you are also able to create personalized stations or listen to podcasts. Is it free? Yes, all available at no charge. However, if you choose the paid subscriptions, it will permit more flexibility, lift the song skip limit and also let you save and replay songs heard on the radio.
If you want to have iHeart for your CarPlay, you are able to download it. After having it, you are able to turn on the app before you drive. And then, you can listen to music on the go.
- Overcast
Overcast is one of the apps that you are able to have on your CarPlay. This app makes subscribing, downloading and listening to your favorites a breeze. If you are interested in listening to podcasts, then having it on your CarPlay is a must so that you are able to listen to podcasts even though you are on the go.
Overcast is a simple but powerful podcast player. This app is featured by the App Store as Editor’s Choice and even this app is critically acclaimed by TechCrunch, The Verge, AppAdvice, 9to5Mac and more.
This app is a modern podcast app which has a lot of features in a simple interface. Here are some features that you are able to enjoy in Overcast.
- It has Smart Speed which can save time without distorting the audio or sounding unnatural.
- It also has Voice Boost which can make every podcast the same volume with a broadcast-quality remastering engine.
- You are able to download podcasts for playing anytime even when you are offline.
- You are able to search and browse for new podcasts, and also get personalized recommendations.
- You are able to create custom playlists with smart filters and per-podcast priorities. Also, you are able to rearrange the list whenever you want.
- You will be able to receive optional notifications when there are new episodes.
- You are able to subscribe to a podcast or you are able to add an episode by trying new shows without having to commit.
- There is a sleep timer which automatically will stop playback after any time interval that you set.
- There is an Apple Watch app with standalone playback and cellular streaming.
- And of course, it supports CarPlay.
Even though this app is funded by ads which promote other podcasts, there is also Overcast Premium that you are able to choose to buy to be able to hide these ads. If you want to choose the Overcast Premium, the payment will be charged to your iTunes account. For renewal 24 hours prior to the end of the current period, there will be charge on your account. How much is Overcast Premium? Now, the price of Overcast Premium is $0.99 USD per year. However, it may vary from country to country. So, if you do not want to be bothered by ads, it is better for you to choose the Premium one.
Actually, there are still more best apps that you are able to use with CarPlay, but these are the top 10 best based on our version. If you like one of the apps above or you need some of the apps above for your CarPlay for being your friends when you are on the go, then you are able to download them. Now, your trip will not be boring anymore.
AUTHOR BIO
On my daily job, I am a software engineer, programmer & computer technician. My passion is assembling PC hardware, studying Operating System and all things related to computers technology. I also love to make short films for YouTube as a producer. More at about me…
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