Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
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**ZDNET’s Key Takeaways**
CarPlay dramatically simplifies the experience of using iPhone applications while driving, transforming them into a safer, more intuitive dashboard interface.
Keep your primary focus where it belongs—on the road ahead rather than on your apps.
Most CarPlay-compatible apps replicate or extend the core functionality of the apps already installed on your iPhone, ensuring a seamless transition from handheld to in-vehicle use.

I’ve always enjoyed driving, which is fortunate given that I live in a largely rural region where a car isn’t just a convenience—it’s a necessity. My daily life and work often demand long drives, whether commuting to assignments or venturing out to remote locations. Recently, I’ve been particularly intrigued by section-hiking Hadrian’s Wall, a passion that regularly sends me far from home. Over the past twelve months, my odometer has climbed by more than 25,000 miles. That’s an extraordinary amount of time spent in the driver’s seat—ample opportunity to discover which CarPlay apps genuinely enhance each journey, making every outing as smooth, efficient, and stress-free as possible.

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As a committed iPhone user, Apple’s CarPlay remains my platform of choice whenever I hit the road. On the rare occasion that CarPlay refuses to cooperate—something that tends to happen only when I least expect it—I sometimes resort to plugging in an old Android handset and attempting to get Android Auto running. However, this article focuses purely on the CarPlay ecosystem. Android users, though, need not feel excluded; many of the apps I’ll discuss can also be found in the Google Play Store.

And before you start wondering why the steering wheel appears to be on the wrong side of my car, rest assured I haven’t been driving recklessly—the explanation is simple. I’m based in the United Kingdom, where vehicles are right-hand drive, and we drive on the left-hand side of the road.

### My Driving Philosophy
Driving is an inherently dynamic and unpredictable activity. It can change in a split second from calm and predictable to hectic or even dangerous. For that reason, it deserves—and indeed requires—your full, undivided attention. The more complex your dashboard interactions become, the greater the potential risk of distraction. As a rule, any fiddling with apps must be minimized to an absolute minimum to preserve full situational awareness.

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Whenever you find yourself needing to do anything beyond tapping a button or issuing a brief voice command to Siri, my strong recommendation is to pull over in a safe area. Only then should you continue adjusting your apps or devices. It’s a small act of caution that can make a considerable difference.

### The Apps I Use
My iPhone contains dozens of applications, but only a small fraction work within CarPlay’s ecosystem, and of those, an even smaller subset truly proves useful on the road.

Don’t want unnecessary or irrelevant apps cluttering your CarPlay display? Customizing your interface is remarkably easy. Head to your iPhone’s Settings, open CarPlay, select your vehicle, then tap Customize. Here, you can remove an app by tapping the red minus icon next to it or rearrange the layout simply by dragging icons to new positions.

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Keep in mind, however, that the CarPlay experience intentionally differs from the native iPhone interface. The design philosophy behind it emphasizes simplicity and safety, which means the interface is stripped down to only the essentials and heavily relies on Siri’s voice commands. Visual distractions are kept to a minimum, and many apps adapt accordingly. For instance, while video conferencing platforms such as Microsoft Teams or Zoom do have CarPlay versions, they restrict interactions to audio-only functionality.

Connectivity is another factor to consider. Because you’re effectively traveling inside a moving metal shell—often at speeds exceeding 80 miles per hour—signal interruptions and brief network drops are inevitable, particularly as you transition between cell towers. So expect occasional hiccups and plan around them; anticipating imperfections leads to a smoother overall experience.

With those preliminary guidelines in mind, let’s explore the specific apps I rely on, organized by category, along with a few specialized alternatives designed for particular needs.

### Navigation
The long-standing debate among mapping enthusiasts—Waze versus Google Maps versus Apple Maps—is one I prefer to avoid. Each has distinct advantages and legions of loyal fans, and arguing over them is much like debating which bakery makes the best pie or who cooks the perfect burger. In truth, every driver has personal preferences shaped by habit and experience.

In my case, Waze has been my trusted companion for years. It may have its quirks, but it’s astonishingly reliable, receiving constant real-time updates from millions of contributors. When it does fail, as it occasionally did recently when it refused to load maps, I simply switch over to Google Maps without missing a beat. Redundancy is key—always keep a backup ready in case your main app misbehaves.

For those venturing into areas with poor cellular signal or off-grid adventures, *OsmAnd Maps* offers an exceptional solution. Unlike typical navigation apps, OsmAnd supports comprehensive offline maps, advanced topographic overlays like hill shading, and even visualization of 3D buildings. Designed not only for motorists but also for cyclists and hikers, it supports GPX file import, recording, and navigation. It is a sophisticated, feature-rich tool with a steeper learning curve, so familiarize yourself with it before heading into remote terrain. While the CarPlay integration requires a paid subscription, in my experience, it’s worth every penny if you frequently explore off-road tracks.

### Weather
Weather is an unpredictable companion to every journey. Sudden changes can quickly transform an otherwise peaceful drive into a tense or frustrating experience. I prefer apps that inform me specifically about the weather conditions along my route, rather than overwhelming me with global forecasts.

Two standout options dominate my dashboard: *Carrot Weather* and *Weather on the Way*. Carrot Weather is both powerful and endlessly customizable, drawing data from multiple weather sources. Users can personalize its personality from formal to sarcastic—even humorously profane if one wishes. It is my go-to app for staying informed across devices, seamlessly syncing between iPhone, Apple Watch, and CarPlay. By contrast, *Weather on the Way* serves a more specialized purpose: it maps real-time weather forecasts directly onto your route, providing straightforward insights into what conditions await you ahead. Before most trips, I launch this app for a quick overview and consistently find it accurate and easy to interpret.

### Music and Audio Entertainment
When it comes to in-car entertainment, CarPlay shines by offering clean integration with your favorite streaming platforms. Whether your preference leans toward Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, or SiriusXM Radio, the general behavior across apps remains similar. Navigating through playlists, albums, or curated stations is straightforward, but for safety, I strongly recommend relying on pre-made playlists or preset radio stations rather than manually searching for individual tracks while on the move.

If you’re traveling with passengers, Apple Music’s *SharePlay* function introduces a delightful collaborative element by letting others take over as DJ from their own iPhones, a feature that often transforms long drives into shared musical adventures.

Of course, road entertainment extends far beyond music. Many drivers, myself included, turn to podcasts or audiobooks for more immersive listening. Though I’m not personally an avid podcast follower, Apple’s built-in Podcasts app satisfies my occasional curiosity. Power users often gravitate toward Pocket Casts, Overcast, or Downcast for added customization and discovery tools.

As for audiobooks, my loyalty lies firmly with *Audible*, an app I’ve subscribed to since long before either the iPhone or CarPlay existed. It houses hundreds of hours of content that have accompanied me through countless miles. If you prefer alternatives, *Kobo Books* and *Google Play Books* offer similar ecosystems for digital listening. For those managing personal audio collections, *BookPlayer* provides meticulous file organization and playback, while *Libby*, the free digital library app, connects seamlessly with local libraries so you can borrow audiobooks using your membership card.

### Fuel and EV Charging
For refueling, I typically rely on Waze or Google Maps, both of which efficiently point out nearby gas stations without forcing me to juggle additional apps. However, drivers who wish to dig deeper into price comparisons will appreciate *GasBuddy*, which draws upon real-time crowdsourced data to highlight the most affordable stations. For electric vehicle owners, *ChargePoint* serves an analogous role, helping locate compatible charging stations along your route.

### Parking
When searching for parking, Waze generally suffices by identifying available spots near the destination. Nevertheless, if you prefer specialized solutions, *EasyPark* excels at on-street parking management and even integrates electric charging zones, while *SpotHero* focuses on allowing users to prebook spaces within commercial garages—a convenient option for city driving or longer stays.

### Other Useful Apps
A handful of additional apps populate my CarPlay interface as occasional yet valuable companions. *Telegram* offers secure, encrypted communication; *WhatsApp* allows for spontaneous audio calls and quick messaging; and *ChatGPT*, surprisingly, has become a tool I sometimes engage through dictation to clarify an idea or generate a quick summary while driving—hands-free, of course.

Through continuous trial and real-world testing across tens of thousands of miles, these carefully selected CarPlay apps have proven themselves indispensable. They collectively transform isolated stretches of highway into interactive, informed, and even enjoyable experiences—all without compromising the paramount priority of safety behind the wheel.

Sourse: https://www.zdnet.com/article/i-drove-over-25000-miles-last-year-here-are-the-carplay-apps-i-used/