The 10 Best Apple CarPlay Apps

Keep the focus on driving

By
Scott Orgera
Scott Orgera
Scott Orgera
Writer
    Scott Orgera is a former Lifewire writer covering tech since 2007. He has 25+ years' experience as a programmer and QA leader, and holds several Microsoft certifications including MCSE, MCP+I, and MOUS. He is also A+ certified.
    lifewire's editorial guidelines
    Updated on July 31, 2020
    Reviewed by
    Jessica Kormos
    Jessica Kormos
    Reviewed by Jessica Kormos
    • Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
    Jessica Kormos is a writer and editor with 15 years' experience writing articles, copy, and UX content for Tecca.com, Rosenfeld Media, and many others.
    lifewire's editorial guidelines

    Apple CarPlay takes the iPhone's most widely used features, like Maps, Messages, Music, Phone, and other useful iOS features, including Siri, and places these on a car's built-in dashboard screen. CarPlay can be controlled by your voice or its touch-screen display, as well as the buttons, dials, and knobs in your car or truck. These are the best Apple CarPlay apps you should be using right now.

    01
    of 10

    Audible

    Audible
    What We Like

    • Access a large selection of audiobooks and audio shows.

    • Customizable narration speed.

    • Your first book is free.

    What We Don't Like

    • Can't buy books in the app. Must go through Amazon.

    • Can't share a paid-for Audible book with family members.

    One benefit of traveling by public transportation is the downtime that it provides to catch up on your reading. Leafing through the pages of a book while driving a car may land you in a ditch or jail cell. The Audible app allows you to keep your eyes on the road and enjoy a book or periodical, read by professional narrators and your favorite celebrities. You can choose from a selection of podcasts, making even the longest of drives a tolerable experience. Audible is owned by Amazon.

    Audible offers a 30-day free trial and monthly subscriptions to access its audiobooks library.

    02
    of 10

    MLB.com At Bat

    MLB At Bat
    What We Like

    • Real-time MLB game scores.

    • Live out-of-market games.

    • Free MLB Game of the Day.

    What We Don't Like

    • Most features require a subscription.

    • Difficult to search.

    From April through October, MLB.com At Bat lets you listen to any Major League Baseball game live through your car's speaker system. The app allows you to choose between the home or road team's broadcast and the Spanish-language transmission, in most cases.

    You'll need a subscription to access each matchup's audio feed, priced at $2.99 per month, or $19.99 annually at the time of publication. It's a worthwhile fee if you're a fan of this national pastime, as you'll never miss a pitch from Opening Day to the time the last out is made in the World Series.

    03
    of 10

    Spotify Music

    Spotify
    What We Like

    • 30 million song library.

    • Curated playlists.

    • Prompt access to newly released songs.

    What We Don't Like

    • Free accounts contain lots of ads.

    • No live programming.

    • Service is slow to learn user preferences.

    The Spotify music library contains millions of titles spanning all eras and genres. It offers the option to either seek specific artists and songs or let the app surprise you as you cruise down the highway.

    The free version of the Spotify music service is ad-supported. It only allows you to skip a certain number of songs in a given time period. Spotify Premium removes all advertisements and grants unlimited skips and, in some cases, higher quality audio for a monthly fee.

    04
    of 10

    Pandora Music

    Pandora
    What We Like

    • A highly accurate algorithm predicts music likes.

    • Create stations based on favorite artists, songs, or genres.

    • Train Pandora with thumbs-up or thumbs-down.

    What We Don't Like

    • A low bitrate of 128 Kbps for a free plan and 192 Kbps for a paid plan.

    • Frequent ads in the free plan.

    • A strict skipping policy.

    If Spotify doesn't quench your musical thirst, Pandora provides a mammoth song database. Pandora is driven by personalized radio stations that you create based on an artist, song, or genre.

    It is powered by ad revenue, with an optional monthly fee required to remove commercials and unlock the ability to skip and replay tunes as often as you like. A 30-day trial lets you take the Pandora Plus subscription for a test drive before deciding whether you want to buy it.

    05
    of 10

    Overcast

    Overcast
    What We Like

    • Download or stream podcasts.

    • Optional push notifications for new episodes.

    • Custom, rearrangeable playlists.

    What We Don't Like

    • Lacks documentation on how to use features.

    • The free app is ad supported.

    The cream of the crop when it comes to iOS podcast players is Overcast. Overcast makes downloading, subscribing, and listening to your favorites a breeze. With full CarPlay support and a robust feature set, this app is a must-have for anyone interested in listening to podcasts on-the-go.

    Overcast Premium can be purchased at a yearly fee, which removes all advertisements.

    06
    of 10

    NPR One

    NPR One
    What We Like

    • A simple, attractive interface.

    • Push notifications for new episodes of favorite shows.

    • Includes local news programs.

    What We Don't Like

    • Ad supported.

    • The default sound is quiet.

    National Public Radio features the latest news from the U.S. and around the globe, as well as stories and shows dedicated to an array of topics ranging from Car Talk to Week In Politics.

    The NPR One app helps you create a customized flow of news and stories that cater to your specific interests, including noteworthy events from your local area. The app and everything within it is ad-driven and free.

    07
    of 10

    Radio Disney

    Radio Disney
    What We Like

    • Customized playlists.

    • Live streams with Disney stars.

    • Seasonal pop-up radio stations.

    What We Don't Like

    • No program schedule.

    • Not designed for adult listeners.

    Lengthy car trips can be tough, even more so with fidgety children growing bored in the back seat. The Radio Disney app features music, interviews, and other content from kid-friendly artists. Most are accompanied by videos that can be viewed on an iPhone or tablet connected to CarPlay.

    08
    of 10

    iHeartRadio

    iHeart Radio
    What We Like

    • Live radio 24/7.

    • Custom radio stations based on a favorite artist or band.

    • An extensive podcast library.

    What We Don't Like

    • Requires a paid subscription for unlimited song skips and on-demand play.

    • No live programming.

    You aren't limited to those AM and FM radio stations within your signal range with the iHeartRadio app, which streams call letters from around the world. Want to listen to sports radio on the other side of the country? Sure. Missing that classic rock station that provided the soundtrack for your last vacation? iHeartRadio will play it for you.

    You can also create personalized stations or listen to podcasts through the app, all available at no charge. Paid subscriptions allow more flexibility, lifting the song skip limit, and letting you save and replay songs heard on the radio.

    09
    of 10

    TuneIn

    TuneIn
    What We Like

    • Thousands of radio stations.

    • Live NBA, MLB, music, and news.

    • Local radio channels.

    • Includes AM/FM, internet radio, and podcasts.

    What We Don't Like

    • The free plan is ad-supported.

    • Auto-subscription enrollment after the free trial unless canceled.

    • No station curation options.

    TuneIn streams music stations based in areas other than yours from over 100,000 stations. A favorite of sports fans, the app lets you listen to live NFL, NBA, NHL, and NCAA football games, among others. Its integration with Westwood One broadcasts ensures that you'll never miss a moment of key events such as the college basketball March Madness tournament while you're in transit.

    10
    of 10

    VOX

    VOX
    What We Like

    • Very high-quality playback.

    • Combines music from different sources into one Vox Cloud.

    • No restrictions on audio formats.

    What We Don't Like

    • It takes time to locate and upload files to the cloud.

    • Some features are included only with a subscription.

    The VOX app takes a different approach than the others in this list, enhancing the quality of songs rather than providing access to songs. Vox supports multiple audio formats and integrates fully with SoundCloud. VOX's custom equalizer and ability to account for gaps and sound loss ensure that you get the most out of your listening experience. Whether you're a discerning audiophile or an average music fan, this app could make a worthwhile companion to your drive.

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