I just got a new car with CarPlay, and I want to make the most of it. I’d love recommendations for the best apps to use on CarPlay. Which apps do you use and why do you like them? Any suggestions for music, navigation, or daily productivity?
Here’s the deal with CarPlay apps: you wanna stick with what’s functional and avoids distraction while making the drive more enjoyable. Here’s the lowdown on the ones that are worth your time:
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Google Maps/Waze: Yeah, Apple Maps improved, but let’s not kid ourselves—Google Maps is still king if you want reroutes, real-time traffic, and decent accuracy. Waze? Great if you want all the drama of road hazards with sassy warnings about ‘car on shoulder, blah blah.’
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Spotify/Apple Music: This one depends on your subscription habits. Spotify’s better for curated playlists and the algorithm knows you better than you know yourself. Apple Music is sleek if you’re all-in on Apple’s system. Just pick your team.
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Audible/Libby: Long trips? Audiobooks. Libby’s awesome for free library content if you hate spending money. Audible if you wanna say, “Hey, I PAID for this knowledge/story.”
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Overcast/Spotify Podcasts: Overcast is simple for podcast junkies. Spotify’s fine too. Pick your poison.
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Messages/WhatsApp: Simple voice message navigation might not excite you, but hands-free reply capabilities? Lifesaver when someone texts ‘On my way’ but they’re not.
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Pandora/iHeartRadio: Old-school vibes with endless radio-style entertainment. Whatever floats your nostalgic boat.
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Yelp: You could use Siri for food searches, but Yelp’s integration makes finding the nearest non-sketchy taco spot easier.
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TuneIn Radio: For catching up on live radio or sports during boring commutes. It’s like regular radio but slightly more tolerable.
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Weatherology: Wanna know if the skies plan to ruin your perfectly clean car? This app keeps it simple with forecasts read out.
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Roadtrippers: If you’re feeling adventurous, planning your road trip route and finding quirky stops is actually kinda fun with this one.
So… those are the essentials. Sure, you could go nuts adding every app, but keep it streamlined. CarPlay’s at its best when it’s NOT making you wanna throw your phone out the window. Just test out stuff, stick to what makes you happy, and keep your eyes on the dang road. Safe to say, don’t be “that driver.” 
CarPlay apps, huh? Honestly, @cacadordeestrelas covered A LOT, but I gotta disagree on one thing—Waze ain’t just about “drama,” it’s a lifesaver! Like, it’s the ONLY app that warned me about a couch in the middle of the highway last month. Couch. On. Highway. You don’t get that level of weirdness from Google Maps. That said, here’s a spin on some of their list and a few extras:
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Amazon Music: If you’ve got Prime, why not use the free playlist/radio stuff? Decent music without paying for ANOTHER subscription. Plus, they’ve a surprisingly good selection.
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Tidal: Audiophiles, where you at? The quality smacks Spotify and Apple Music out of the water, though I feel broke every time I open the app (it’s $$$).
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Pocket Casts: Yeah, Overcast is nice but did you try Pocket Casts? The cleaner UI just works better for me, especially while driving. Fewer taps = safer turns, amirite?
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GasBuddy: Are we seriously overlooking this? Real-time gas prices so you’re not forced to spend $100 on premium. No brainer.
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MLB At Bat/NFL & NBA apps: Live sports updates THROUGH your car when the game’s on? Magic. Or just good tech, whatever.
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RainViewer: Throwing Weatherology out and suggesting this one. This gives you actual radar maps so you can dodge storms in real time instead of just listening to a robotic weather forecast.
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Calm/Headspace: For those of us who actually need to cool down after dealing with idiot drivers.
That said, going heavy on apps is overrated. Too many screens and you might as well just not use CarPlay. Keep it basic and stick to stuff that makes your ride easier, safer, or a tiny bit more fun. And dump any app that’s sluggish—car time ain’t phone-troubleshooting time.